Serena Williams v. Irina Spirlea 1998 AO 1R highlights

[@regulusarcturus]

You could so clearly tell Serena would become a great player even back in 1998. Her athleticism, movement, speed, power, grit, determination and just total mastery of angles and court awareness at only 16 was simply astonishing. I’ve never seen anyone play this well at 16, not even Graf/ Seles/Hingis.

[@chriscze6153]

Absolutely this! Truly inspirational. People always think she is a ballbasher, or was, but even here you see excellent use of angles and some high balls to neutralize a rally. She definitely was more error prone but she always had all the tools. Incredible.

[@co9971]

I beg to differ. Hingis vs Pierce 1997 Aussie final was one of the best displays of tennis mastery from a 16 yr old that I've ever seen. Sure Hingis didn't have power, but she didn't need to she had the court sense, balance, timing and shot selection of someone twice her age in 97. I still go back and watch it and find educational takeaways from that match and im definitely a Serena stan.

[@JCole-fg3rr]

@@co9971 Serena at 16 showed greater potential and skill than anyone else

[@co9971]

@@JCole-fg3rr Hingis actually won 2 slams at 16. she showed potential and backed it up by taking out a 22 year old Mary Pierce who won the same grand slam 2 years prior. Look, I love Serena but im not here for standom that obscures facts. Serena grew into being great but she didnt start to show real skill over her peers until 1999.

[@JCole-fg3rr]

@@co9971 and she still didn’t have greater potential or more skill than Serena. Serena showed amazing skill before 1999. That’s the facts. Next fucking case.

[@manupeni]

Was waiting for this video after reading about the "bump" at the US Open. Little sis took revenge to another level on the turkey. Thank you.

[@chriscze6153]

My pleasure! I think both of Serena's matches against Spirlea at the majors were great in 1998. Check out the other one I posted too if you haven't ;)

[@manupeni]

@@chriscze6153 🙂❤❤❤

[@chrisw7910]

the tukey hahahah love it. Irina was one hit wonder...the bump b****

[@OSB1111]

Wonderful highlights as usual!! Thank you Chris!

[@chriscze6153]

Side note to any of my Dementieva fans/followers - I am posting this match as well as Serena's other match against Spirlea at the 1998 USO this week because I haven't received all the matches I need for my next series (also because I like Serena so why not), which is Elena's main Fed Cup victories, so you can expect that from early March. I think the 99 Fed Cup match will segue well after these two early Serena matches anyway. Thanks for your patience!

[@JCole-fg3rr]

I always enjoy your Serena uploads and Elena uploads too. Do you have an email I can reach you at?

[@chriscze6153]

@@JCole-fg3rr Yes of course - check my about page and you can find my email there.

[@JCole-fg3rr]

@@chriscze6153 I looked there, your email isn’t written down. Your PayPal is though.

[@chriscze6153]

@@JCole-fg3rr You need to look at "Details". Details For business inquiries: [e-mail]

[@JCole-fg3rr]

@@chriscze6153 I’m sorry. I only use the app and occasionally use the mobile website. It’s not on either. I just now see that it’s on the desktop version.

[@olaraay]

this serena would destroy osaka . end

[@chriscze6153]

lol I like the idea of a 16 year old Serena stomping the floor with Osaka. It's hard to say, racket technology has changed a lot since 1998, Osaka objectively hits harder than Serena probably ever did because of that. But all things being equal...perhaps.

[@olaraay]

@@chriscze6153 would be good match , but serena is damn fast, Oaska wont get the ball past her

[@JCole-fg3rr]

@@chriscze6153 Osaka definitely doesn’t hit harder than Serena ever did. Serena just has more spin, so her ball is much more heavy. Serena easily up the mphs, but she knows there’s no need. I mean, we’re talking about a woman who can clock forehands at 120mph.

[@sebaslasalle7598]

Do you have Schett Vs. Sanchez Vicario AO 99????

[@flytrapp]

Anyone know why Serena is wearing Nike in this match? In her next match against Venus, she is wearing Puma. I know Puma "signed" her in 1998, so did they sign her after this match? Was she trying to get a deal out of Nike maybe? Or trying to force Puma to put pen to paper? Or she just wore what she felt like? Anyone have any ideas?

[@cedrichapman]

Are you sure she was wearing a Puma one against Venus ? In my memory, she was just testing the two brands at the beginning of 1998, she was also looking for the brand that could have bring her the best, the coolest outfit, and... yes after, maybe the money had a part in her final choice.

[@أفراحياسر]

سنة 1997 spirlea فازت على Venuse بالغش والان فازت سيرينا على سبيرل بكل أمانة اخذت حقها وحق اختها باللعب السليم

[@patrickclohessy8339]

Hated Spierla

[@carlosuriel6687]

why?

[@talismon63]

She hated Venus for nothing! Sprierla bumped Venus at the open because she was jealous Venus was getting all the hype from the media which Spierla claimed Venus hyped herself and the rest is history. Sprierla journey woman, Venus 7 grand slams!

[@manupeni]

@@talismon63 she did so intentionally. Then had the nerve to spew her hate on public media in the interview. Her smile on bumping Venus was 😈

[@chriscze6153]

@@talismon63 I wouldn't call her a journeywoman. She was a top ten player and won titles, plus had good wins. I think this is so far back in the past now that I recognize she said some questionable stuff, but her game was nice for that era.

[@lower_than_furries9727]

Spirlea's game was nothing but a cheap knock off version of Graf's. Personality wise, as an athlete, she was rubbish.

[@nirmalaupadhyay1565]

Egoistic serena

[@أفراحياسر]

سنة 1997 spirlea فازت على Venuse بالغش والان فازت سيرينا على سبيرل بكل أمانة اخذت حقها وحق اختها باللعب السليم