Week 18 - WTA ($220K) - Estoril, Portugal - Clay

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RE: Week 18 - WTA ($220K) - Estoril, Portugal - Clay

steven · Tennis legend

L32: (Q) Heather Watson WR 115 v Lucie Hradecká (CZE) WR 98 (after a big drop today, CH 41 last June)

They have met once before, in Monterrey 14 months ago, with Hradecká winning in 3 sets 5-7 6-2 6-2. A pretty good draw under the circumstances, I would say.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Great great win for Hev, earlier wins had hinted she had a good shot today but still she was the underdog.
Decent draw as well as Hradecka isn't in great form and probably isn't as good as Stephens.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

How come Sloane wasn't in the MD as she was WR 78 against Hradecka's WR 98?

steven · Tennis legend

Helen40 wrote:
How come Sloane wasn't in the MD as she was WR 78 against Hradecka's WR 98?

The clue is in my "after a big drop today" above - Hradecka was ranked 71 last week (and possibly even higher when the main draw cut was made) before dropping 27 places today when her points for reaching the Final at Barcelona WTA last year came off. She is defending Prague 50K title points this week too. The bad thing about that is that even though she has not been in good form recently, she has done very well during the red clay season in the past.

Jajon · Club Coach

This match reminded me a bit of Heather's matches against Mchale around this time last year-which she lost. Hopefully, winning this one will give her the confidence to climb the rankings like Michale has done.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Good stuff Hev.

As others have said a winnable 1st round. If she is to keep on moving up its a match she should be winning really

DavidC · Tennis legend

Both Bally and Hev are on second (after 11) tomorrow, with Hev returning later for doubles with Alexandra Panova

DavidC · Tennis legend

Sloane got the LL spot (against Kanepi)

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

How are LL spots allocated in the WTA? Is it the sam eas in the men's?

I'm absolutely not suggesting that their friendship had anything to do with the result......

helki · Futures qualifying

Well done Hev. I take my to you.

steven · Tennis legend

stevemcqueen wrote:
How are LL spots allocated in the WTA? Is it the sam eas in the men's?
I'm absolutely not suggesting that their friendship had anything to do with the result......

Yes I think so, and they were the top two seeds left in the FQR, so if the LL spot was already known about, the loser was certain to get in. I can't imagine they would have played that long a match if they weren't both trying very hard to win though!

Jan · Hall of fame

Am I right in thinking that if they both were to lose in the first round, the actual qualifier would get the points, but the LL wouldn't?

steven · Tennis legend

If I remember right, the way it works for WTA Intl 220 events is that:

A qualifier gets:

- 16 points for qualifying + 0 main draw points if they go out in R1 (i.e. they don't get the 1 point for a R1 loser as well)
- 16 points for qualifying + points for the main draw round reached if they go beyond R1

A lucky loser who lost in the FQR gets:

- 10 points for reaching the FQR + 0 main draw points if they go out in R1
- 0 qualifying points (i.e. they don't get the points for reaching the FQR) + points for the main draw round reached if they go beyond R1

Jan · Hall of fame

Thanks Steven - it's a bit more complicated than I thought, but definitely better points-wise to be the qualifier than the LL.
It seems a bit mean not to give the qualifier the 1 point if they lose in R1, but I'm sure they have their reasons!