LordBrownof wrote:

---

Err, this was one of the more favourable WTA draws she's had for a while. Could've made the final.

---

That is certainly very fair comment and I had put my previous point without total conviction ( and I admit without being fully aware of the draw ) although I could see ther reasoning with the effects on Bally of going deep in the tough Texas conditions.

But if she had reached the SF and then beaten Kerber ( good draw, but still against a player who ended last season in the top 50 ) that would have represented 130 points more than just reaching the QF ( 200 to 70 ) with still a final to come.

I do think a good case then for to hell with the US Open for now ( and its 100 points for a 1st round win, 160 if she could win R2 facing probably Kuznetsovsa ), it could take care of itself however when she got there.

I guess the US Open has prestige value once you make some progress, but a title here would certainly have been prestige  Prize money is more at the US Open for winning round 1 than extra she'd have got from reaching the final here, but slightly less for reaching R3 than she would have got extra for winning the title here, so not a particular factor.

Now Bally, better win that 1st round at the US Open 

Anyway, think you certainly had good case for an  "err"   

I imagine Bally herself was trying her best to win her QF here and simply lost on the day ratherr than was thinking about the US Open, in which case it's all theoretical...