I would just like gauge what the general opinion on is on here about Nicole Vaidisova, both on what you have seen so far, and on whether you think she can have a successful career i.e. win grand slams. The reason I am asking is that I haven't been able to see many of her matches. With 2 grand slam semi-final appearances and 6 titles, she does seem to have made outstanding progress so far, and is doing better considerably better than her fellow youngsters i.e. Ivanovic, Kirilenko and Golovin. From what I have heard, she has a big serve which could develop into a lethal weapon. Like all Bolletieri's graduates, she has powerful groundstrokes and a fierce will to win, but does she stand out from the rest of the drones produced from this academy. What are your thoughts?

Well she does everything a Bolletieri girl can! But in my opinion she dosen't have any flare, eg. Jankovic is just a pleasure to see!

But Vaidisova is emotionless, i don't know is she has what it takes! Possibly the Schnyder of the future! I don't know!

I could be completly wrong! :wacko:

I think Vaidisova has the game to be a multi slam champ, her serve is right up there already. If she improves I think she could be top 5 when Amelie, Kim etc. start to fade.

Saying that I don't if she will be though; she needs to be a bit more consistent. And perhaps one aspect lacking is her mentality, she doesn't seem to be able to fight back when she's down. Im not talking about a one set deficit here I mean when she's 5-2 down in the final set. A champion needs to be able to come back in these kinds of situations. I don't know if Vaidisova can work on this or not, or whether a champion's mentality is something you are born with. Some players have succeeded despite being a but mentally questionable.

But to sum up, I would be shocked if Vaidisova doesn't win a slam at some point in her career at least. A future world number one? Or a future world number five? I don't know. But she has the game imo. (abit one dimensional admittedly, but it hasn't hurt sharpie)

I think she'll be a Kuznetsova-type player, Qualify for Yecs, win one slam, just cling onto top 5 position when you don't achieve much through-out the year

I'm not really a fan of Vaidisova, but objectively i can see she has bags of potential. I mean two semis at Slam level isnt too shabby really :lol:

She has a big game, her serve has great technique, very Sharapova-esque, with the motion( great reach and arm-extension into the serve). It gives her a lot of cheap-easy points, and even in her young years does vary the serve around well, has a great kicker down the middle. Her forehand is a very clubbing shot, big, early takeback before contact and she does hit through it well. She impressed me how well she coped with high balls to the forehand. Showed great core strength.

To me though the really weakness is the backhand. Good enough preperation( Venus-esque), but its played to close to her body, there's no fluidity moving off from the shot. Sometimes it is so lacking, she can only plaintively plop it back in court. Her movement also, which seems to be the norm with the Bolliteri teachings, poor movement. Footwork looks sloopy to say the least at times.

I dont see her as a Slam winner yet, but there is Slam potential. Needs to become a better match-player also. She looks increasingly agitated and irate when things arent going her way. Not the mental prowess her game has.........

Spot on! :ok:

I think the key with Vaidisova is her age. She has done as a 17 year old what most girls on the tour never will. Her mental toughness will come in time, how many 17 year olsa are mentally tough? I think she will be a force on the tour in a couple of years time

i think her style of play is boring. i dnt think and i hope that she wont be a major competitor in grand slams in the future.

If she were to ask nicely, and there was not a Mrs. barrystar, she would have some prospects of a rumble with me :devil:

Sometimes champions take a while to gather their mentality. She has weaknesses movement, backhand and mentality but they can improve with hard work - she is still so young.

Serena despite her first slam in 99 couldn't bring the mentality and everything together till 02 and then look what happened. Vaidasova's serve has the potential to be the best or on of the best serves out there.