I'm sorry but this is getting a little boring...



"King, ranked 83rd in the world, came into the US team after Serena Williams was forced to pull out with an inflamed right knee. "
If Serena can't be arsed she can't be arsed.... but retire already....
If this continues she is making a mockery of the game... The WTA and fans must know this, yeah we are interested in her comeback but only if she puts the effort in like the rest of the girls... maybe she can come back and beat the lot of them, that says how talented she is but... it doesn't gain her any respect when she plays hardly any tournaments and shows a complete disrespect for the FANS and sport that has made her who she is. We moan abut Clijsters and her retirmement but at least she has the manners to say "I have had enough and would rather be doing something else"

Grrrr.. :angry:
I hope Serena proves me wrong..

No wonder I found myself cheering Justine when they met....

Well first of all before I jump to Serena's defence, I would like it to be noted that recently it is I who have been doing the criticising. But not this time ;) Im doing going to write this post because I know that there is an unjust perception, that Trisco has highlighted, that Serena fakes some of her injuries.

Firstly I would like to point out that at least despite being injured the previous week Serena actually turned up and won a singles rubber for her country unlike fellow top players, Sharapova, Justine and Clijsters.

Also if her agenda is going to come into question, then why did she sit watching the whole match cheering on Vania then participating in the victory lap with her fellow US Teamates. There are some great pictures which I can't seem to get up.

But down to the core of the matter:

Serena Williams scratched from Fed Cup match

4/22/2007 1:10:00 PM

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) -Serena Williams pulled out of her Fed Cup singles match Sunday against Belgium because of slight inflammation in her right knee, and she was replaced by 18-year-old Vania King.
The soreness surfaced after Williams won her match Saturday against Caroline Maes. Williams was examined Sunday by a team doctor, and U.S. captain Zina Garrison decided to replace her as a precaution.
The team said the inflammation wasn't related to Williams' groin injury April 10, when she retired from a match in Charleston, S.C.
The U.S. team entered Sunday with a 2-0 lead, giving King a chance to clinch the victory in the best-of-five match. King, ranked 83rd, was to play Kirsten Flipkens.
Copyright © 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

It sounds to me like it was more Zina saying to Serena, no need to risk another injury to yourself, this is effctively a dead rubber. Sit this one out, you did great yesterday.

The decision was only announced an hour before it was scheduled to take place, indicating to me that Serena was intending to play all day and that it was only at the last minute she was pulled out. As a precaution so as to not hamper her chances on clay, where she is entered for Berlin in a couple of weeks and then Rome.

Knee injuries can be very dangerous and career threatening, in fact the injury to Serena's other knee virtually ended her career, so I can understand why she's cautious. Also I was speaking to somone who suffers from knee injuries and gets inflamed knees. He said that they can flare up at any time last for a couple of days, but during that time they're extreemely uncomfortable and hampering, and you really can't stress them.

Serena's knees are pone to injury and she needs to protect them, as anyone who has watched her play will know she generates a lot of her power from her legs as she bends down during shots, especially her forehand, she really likes to bend with her knee to really get a good swing on it. It was her knee problems in 2004, that made her forehand somewhat of liability and cost her more matches and slams than I care to remember :angry:

Anyway, go USA 5-0 :yahoo:

Im off to bed :lol:

Gotta agree. And that's what King would have been there for too... to come in if need be.

By the way Trisco that barrage wasn't aimed entirely at you, but simply for anyone who wondered the circumstances in which Serena withdrew :)

Serena should rest that knee more than ever know, especially with red clay looming. Red clay really tugs at the joints, so serena is wise just to rest and prepare for berlin. Still she won a rubber and basically ensured US progression. Go serena :D

I think players more need of a agenda check is Maria ' miss USA' Sharapova, and Kim ' i cant wait for my career to end' clijsters :rolleyes: roflmao

Well that put me in my place didn't it??! lol :P

I did write that after a few beers and arguing with someone... :blush:

I gladly accept I was wrong.

Zina Garrison's choice apprently not Serenas