In a qualifying field lacking such depth, Laura as a top 4 qualifying seed, was a little unlucky to draw Pliskova ( q5) in her section, close to her in the rankings and from her record reasonably at ease on grass. Czink ( who also could have been a danger ) was the only other player in the top 500 she could have met in qualifying..

That said, I had certainly hoped for a win here and then see what she could do in the main draw.

Been really a very interrupted, no doubt very frustrating year for Laura so far, but I think all she maybe needs is to stay fit for an extended period and to get many more games under her belt to get back on a good path again.

I thought it was quite good she was in qualifying, so getting more games.  The trouble here was, with due respect to her first two opponents, she got no sort of test for 2 matches and then got Pliskova,

Keep your chin up, girl.

Any winner other than Bally would surprise me in all honesty.... Perhaps Jade if Tamarine is playing her usual form but if she comes out as the grass court fan she seems to be its very unlikely. Why Bally is even here I dont know!

Just back from Nottingham  

 

Very very sad to see Laura lose. She was the much better player for the 1st set, maintaining a break up and almost getting a couple more.

After that Peskova really upped her game - seemed to have more power than Laura and Laura got a bit fed up with herself.  Although to her credit I felt she kept trying to re-focus but P just loosened up and  powered through.

Quite exciting in the 3rd when Laura saved 3 match points whilst serving  but then couldn't get near a break in the final game.

When both girls were taking a break between sets  I walked up to look at Abbi Melrose's match.  She was flying around at great speed and I was impressed with her play.

I think it is unfair to criticise Laura's performance, she hasn't been able to train or practice since playing in America a couple of weeks ago. She is badly lacking matches and fitness following the bad injury she picked up at the start of the year. The injury is still not 100 % so we will probably not see the best of Laura until the Autumn.
Having said that this was a match she was in control of at 4-1 0-40 up in the first set. Not taking any of those BP chances meant that come the second set she didn't have quite enough confidence to take the opportunities that arose at that stage.
Got a bit down on herself as the match wore on, but Pliskova played pretty well.
I believe she is going to play in Holland next week.

Presumably we are talking about the leg issue here with regards to Laura,  Phil.

I thought I had read somewhere on this forum that she was now basically fully fit medically wise  ( if understandably lacking in physical fitness and match practice ). So all I was now really looking for her was the hope that she would now have an extended fully fit period and more competitive matches to get herself back moving upwards again, without having too high hopes for her at this stage.

What to do you know of the prognosis here with regards to what is still wrong and when it is likely to get back to 100% ?  And say maybe what advice she has had for the coming weeks ?

I am curious that she supposedly has been unable to train or practice, but is playing competitve matches including doubles both last week and this week       Reduced training and practice I could more understand, though that would still worry me to some extent re any danger with her playing.

If completely stopping playing ( while say also doing what stengthening routines are required to aid recovery ) would help speed up a full recovey then I'd say so be it.  I worry about this stop / start not totally recovering period being extended by still trying to play competitively.

I would imagine she is getting good advice. Just seems a bit of a strange one to me, and I wondered if you had read / heard any more insight.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 6th of June 2011 10:50:01 PM

Jade's match against Tamarine is just starting.