Click here for the blog entry I'm responding toif you haven't read it yet.


Of course we know Maria's first round exit comes as a shock, especially losing to #52 ranked Maria Kirilenko (but I have to give Kirilenko props, she played amazing.)

But we've got to examine some of the facts that Rodman (well atleast in my opinion missed)

1. Maria hasn't played at any slam tournaments since 2008 Wimbledon-I think if you ask any player the difference between playing at a slam and a regular WTA tournament like Indian Wells, the atmosphere is very very different. There's more on the line, money, points, pride..all ties into the slam atmosphere. A year and a half away from the atmosphere of a slam will make you forget when you eventually return and get hit like a ton of bricks, which is obviously what happened to Maria (Just look at her unforced error count)

2. Rotator Cuff surgery is serious business- The rotator cuff muscles are important in shoulder movements and in maintaining shoulder joint stability, in tearing the rotator cuff, you're damaging one of the most important muscles in your shoulder, thus reducing the power your shoulder once had, I've noticed Maria's game has completely changed from the 2008 Australian Open which she won and watching her play against Kirilenko.

3. New Equipment-Maria's been through 3 different frames the past few years, most notably the Prince O3 White, when she returned from injury she was seen using the Prince o3 Speedport Black, and just recently switched to the EXO3 Black, she'd barely had time to adjust to the Speedport when she was thrown into a new frame to use for the first time at a slam tournament, which as point 1 states, she hasn't played one in a year and a half.

We can agree to disagree all day long, but let me know what you truely think about her first round exit.

The Guru has spoken.