It’s Day 2 of the Australian Open and one of the primary matches that has caught my attention is Pavlyuchenkova versus Vekic. By all accounts today has a stellar lineup, and there has already been some phenomenal matches with quite significant upsets, however, this matchup, albeit is quite underrated, but both players are quite senior on the WTA tour having either been on the cusp of the Top 10 and/or hovered just inside the Top 20. Most interestingly, Pavlyuchenkova and Vekic in their own right have featured in the “What is Your Game Missing Series” for good measure. Irrespective of their previous and current ranking, both of these players have had stints throughout their career that almost align with the 7 Keys.
Of course, the most significant question is why if a player already has access to and/or knowledge of almost all 8 Keys would they progress towards the Top 10 yet not progress to become a barrier breaker? And that’s the most substantial catch. Whilst we have talked about a level of maintenance throughout this body of work, essentially, we are referring to a level of consistency that is near uncompromised. By that, is an important reference in respect to not simply controlling and/or managing where the ball goes and/or dictating play, there is so much more to it when we are talking about “How to Develop a Top 10 Tennis Ranking”.
Pavlyuchenkova Is an exceptional player in her own right that without reviewing her longevity on the WTA tour, it is widely known that she is a dark horse on any given day. Why? Quite simply, the player has the capacity to draw upon the key metrics, disclosed in the 7 Keys. However, knowledge of these keys is nearly one side of the coin. Having a team and/or coach who is privy to not simply the 7 Keys, but also the latest release that unveiled the 8th Key, is absolutely paramount as both work in tandem. Insofar as the player’s metrics are concerned, Pavlyuchenkova has the capacity to draw upon her kinetic chain as her knowledge of elastic energy through to momentum is quite clear. If this is new to you, I would encourage you to get your hands on the “What is Your Game Missing Series” – three texts that have extensively analysed on a quite extensive technical scale players who have reached significant heights at Grand Slams. Pavlyuchenkova is one such player who has done this on more than one occasion when we consider a Round of 16 performance or further as noteworthy.
By all means results prior to this round carry equal merits, but what we primarily look for when using our unique formula to analyse these players are assimilated with in one way, shape or form, all of the 8 Keys.
Without getting into the technicalities of these players, and their subsequent mechanics, when it comes to Pavlyuchenkova there is a reason why competing against her in a Grand Slam, let alone any other event, is incredibly dangerous. Not only does Pavlyuchenkova have the capacity to switch on the primary metrics, disclosed in this body of work and run home in “How to Develop a Top 10 Tennis Ranking“, the player has the capacity to draw on her level of maintenance and consistency when her game is in sync. However, there is also a reason why Pavlyuchenkova has been a Grand Slam finalist and consistently made deep runs at Grand Slams, but also why earlier exits to not being seeded are also relative to the player’s metrics.
When it comes to Vekic, this is a player with substantial potential that oftentimes falls short due to the lack of power-play when up against a more powerful opponent — with equal amounts of ‘craft’. However, it is important to be clear in respect of falling short – not becoming a barrier breaker due to the 8 Keys not being complete. That said, Vekic has a substantially impressive capacity to toe the line with most players inside the Top 20 irrespective of being ranked slightly outside (yet previously peaking slightly inside this ranking range). It is quite clear, irrespective of Vekic’s ranking, on any given day this player more often than not can compete against players of this calibre and walk away with the win. But when it comes to power-play and a higher rate of application and consistency of the key metrics against players, that more purposefully leverage key technical parameters, this is more often than not where Vekic is mismatched and these players are primarily ranked inside the Top 10 and/or on their way to become a barrier breaker.
One of the more important analytics of Vekic is her capacity to draw upon the 7 Keys from time and as a result, she is more than capable of toppling some of the best players in the world. But what Vekic’s game lacks is the aforementioned consistent application in conjunction with higher rates of frequency.
With both of these players facing off against the other in the first round of the Australian Open, it is definitely one to not simply watch, but also I would encourage players, coaches, parents and/or guardians, and all others, to not simply review this match, but to keep a close eye on their metrics. Whilst these remain incomplete, there is a substantial amount to learn from these two players who have substantial longevity on their side. Irrespective of Pavlyuchenkova’s current ranking or Vekic hovering slightly outside the Top 20, both of these women have a relatively high level of maintenance in their own respective technical parameters to afford them a place on the main stage. Of course, for either player to progress inside the Top 20 and/or progress closer towards this ranking range, a greater level of maintenance of the key metrics shared in the 7 Keys to securing knowledge of the 8th Key, extrapolated in “How to Develop a Top 10 Tennis Ranking”, is absolutely pertinent for those Round of 16 appearances, and further, to feature in a players results throughout a given season, with a more frequent application of the aforementioned metrics at the Grand Slam level of play.
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