I was reading the WTAWorld blast from the past forum the other day and a thread that really interested me was the Evert vs. Austin rivalry thread. Something which I knew hardly anything about previously - well I do now :D

Anyway, one of the issues brought up was how a new comer to the game with hardly any points to defend, fearless of the seasoned champions, can cause so many upsets and possibly even taken up their mantle...well, not quite!.

It's funny to think about it really, Graf did it - she kept it up for 15 years, Seles did until :(, Hingis did it but couldn't really maintain it for more than 3 years as more and more players started coming through. Now she's the one with everything to lose rather than a fearless youngling.

And at one point Serena and Venus were fearless upstarts with nothing to lose and only predictions and hopes for the future. Now it is they who have points to defend and their reputations as the best to defend. (Off the point I think it is reaching her former heights that has been a burden to Venus the last couple of years, still insignificant compared to injuries of course).

But it was while considering all of this that I though how similar the 1979 US Open Final was to the 2004 Wimbledon Final. The US Open Final is actually the only Austin/Evert match I have seen. (I try to forget the Wimbledon Final!)

Two very young players, with bright futures ahead of them come and shock the top player in the world by taking them apart in a Grand Slam Final. The tennis world cannot believe what they are seeing, HUGE upsets. The seniors cannot handle the pressure, they are aware of the importance of the match, ranking points to defend, 3 in a row, 5 in a row, history. The young player plays freely goes for their shots, beats the older at their own game and leaves them floundering.

Yet in the end order is restored a couple of years down the line, the head to heads have been turned around and easier scorelines appear again. The elder overcomes a temporary blip of desire and confidence to reassert themselves and figure out the game of the younger.

Broad, yet interesting comparisons :)

Sadly the Austin/Evert rivalry was cut sadly short :( Someone on WTAW mentioned what classic FO Finals they could've had.

Hopefully Serena and Maria can play many more matches.

Anyone else care to mention their views on fearless newcomers.......