Week 18 - ITF ($25K) - Chiasso, Switzerland - Clay

Josh · Challenger level

RE: Week 18 - ITF ($25K) - Chiasso, Switzerland - Clay

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

True, yes I don't remember her doing anything really memorable for ages. Not since Hopman cup.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Miriambee wrote:
At the back end of last year I heard the tennis pundits discussing Laura, after an interview with her, and they pointed out that her schedule was badly planned or not planned.
So I think it's more likely that there's some last minute booking with thinking more along the lines of ... 0h the clay season is coming where can we get you in some practice quickly? there's a 25k in europe where you'd get in as a DA, if you play doubles with someone, doesn't matter who, then a bit more practice.

I wouldn't say her schedule was badly planned, when you've had the number of injuries she's had it is very difficult to plan ahead. At her best she is a top 100 player, but following injuries her level can drop substantially.

Playing this event makes perfect sense, given it is her weakest surface.

The next 3 weeks are about getting enough clay court practice so that she can do herself justice at the Fench Open whilst at the same time picking up as many ranking points as possible.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Laura is first up tomorrow at 8.30 our time.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Playing this event makes perfect sense, given it is her weakest surface.

The voice of reason biggrin

And we were quite enjoying the speculation wink

philwrig · Hall of fame

Laura's doubles was played indoors, so no match practice for her on the red stuff.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Won in 3 sets according to british tennis tweet.

Plays Khromacheva next. I'm not sure if it's possible to be the underdog when you are the number 1 seed and playing against a 16 yr old qualifier. Lol, but Irina will be tough.

P.S. I read somewhere that it was possibly raining, so I hope she didn't play indoors. That would defeat the whole point in coming here.

-- Edited by Maza1987 on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 12:54:07 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Tougher than expected but Laura makes it through to the 2R winning 5-7 6-4 6-3. Will need to up it next against Kromacheva but given it was her 1st match on clay this year and her 1st for a long long time on the red stuff not a bad start.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

^yay, I beat you by 3 secs. Get in there! hehe

philwrig · Hall of fame

Maza1987 wrote:
^yay, I beat you by 3 secs. Get in there! hehe

Yes , and then you quite cunningly edited your post with more details.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Maza1987 wrote:
Won in 3 sets according to british tennis tweet.
Plays Khromacheva next. I'm not sure if it's possible to be the underdog when you are the number 1 seed and playing against a 16 yr old qualifier. Lol, but Irina will be tough.
P.S. I read somewhere that it was possibly raining, so I hope she didn't play indoors. That would defeat the whole point in coming here.

-- Edited by Maza1987 on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 12:54:07 PM

Laura played indoors yesterday, but after a delay this morning, pretty sure they would have played outside today(weather ok). Khromacheva also won in 3, so you'd probably call that match as 50/50.

steven · Tennis legend

Maza1987 wrote:
^yay, I beat you by 3 secs. Get in there! hehe

I'm still trying to work out how the LTA got hold of a result for a Brit playing overseas before any of us did - that's a first! ashamed

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

steven wrote:
Maza1987 wrote:
^yay, I beat you by 3 secs. Get in there! hehe
I'm still trying to work out how the LTA got hold of a result for a Brit playing overseas before any of us did - that's a first!

Yes, hope it's accurate - not that the beeb have ever reported anything wrong lol

philwrig · Hall of fame

Much better from Laura today, faster conditions probably helping.
She won 6-2 6-2.

Jan · Hall of fame

great news - thanks!