Week 10 - ITF ($25K) - Preston, UK Hard

TomTraubert · Futures level

RE: Week 10 - ITF ($25K) - Preston, UK Hard

paulisi · Tennis legend

steven wrote:
philwrig wrote:
What happened to Katy's LL spot, or did something go awry there ?!
There just weren't any - she was obviously gutted, having thought that being first in line would give her a good chance, especially when Birnerová pulled out with illness after playing 5 games, tweeting that she would given her the prize money to have had a chance to play - a tweet she seems to have since diplomatically deleted.

Katy said something similar to me when I asked her. She was gutted that Birnerova started when she probably shouldn't have.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Excellent day at Preston - nice set up and plenty to watch.(men's report to follow)

On the women's side - I didn't see to much of Tara's game, but she was playing very well and her doubles partner wasn't. The reason it got close at the end was due to the Russian upping her game. No reason why Tara cannot have a good run this week.

Sam v Jess - very one sided. Sam never had to get out of first gear as Jess is out of her depth at this level. Jess made error after error and her backhand needs massive improvement.

Jade - very disappointed with Jade. Her opponent played very well and court coverage was excellent. However Jade's serve was not particularly strong and she made a lot of errors. However she does have an excellent backhand. When I spoke to her later, she said she was fully fit from the whiplash(neck was the problem), but she said it would take a few weeks to get confidence back and playing as she can. I'd like another look at Jade's game when there are no excuses.

Manisha - nice solid game, good court coverage but no major weapons. Should be capable of making top 500. Plishkova was very erratic and her serve and her game were very up and down, but there was the occasional flash of brilliance.

Naomi - played very well. Never in trouble, served well in general and dominated from start to finish. In fact the one thing that I though may be an issue, her backhand was pretty good and we saw a few flashing backhand winners. Very capable of putting a run together if she can keep this form going.

Jade and Sam look like a good doubles partnership. Tara and her partner won, but it was a bit edgy and Tara has done quite a bit of doubles work this week. Shame I didn't get to see Joss(who is huge) and Anna play. Lets hope they make another final so I can see them then.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Good information form the front line. Thanks for taking the trouble to write it up.

"...didn't get to see Joss(who is huge)"

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

AliBlahBlah wrote:
Good information form the front line. Thanks for taking the trouble to write it up.

"...didn't get to see Joss(who is huge)"

Pretty sure he meant 'hugely tall' which she is - makes Anna look tiny on the court when they play together. Although, I suppose still no reason not to be able to see her.

-- Edited by The Optimist on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 10:21:27 PM

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

The Optimist wrote:
AliBlahBlah wrote:
Good information form the front line. Thanks for taking the trouble to write it up.

"...didn't get to see Joss(who is huge)"
Pretty sure he meant 'hugely tall' which she is - makes Anna look tiny on the court when they play together. Although, I suppose still no reason not to be able to see her.

Yes that's what I thought too. I liked the matter of fact phrasing

Sam Murray just started and is live on the stream. 1-1*

Good luck, hope when I get back she'll have produced a good result!

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Lost first set quickly 6-1.

Sam like Jade seems to be going backwards just now. Here hoping she can turn it round.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Sam was out for quite a long while with injury (Jade a bit too but far shorter, although very recent).

Sam's rankings (nothing to do with her actual tennis) have been completely driven by very intense batches of point-scoring. which has distorted things quite strangely. This time last year she had about the same ranking and various people said she'd never make the top 200 as she didn;t have the game. BUT she had practically zero points to defend all over summer and was bound to make the top 200 (as long as she turned up and won a couple of matches here and there). And she did a bit better than that and got a few good victories.
Her problem came in autumn when she was now defending the MEGA points that she'd suddenly got in the space of a couple of weeks in autumn 2012 (but not really followed up). Being injured she couldn't, and so fell hugely. Now she's back.
Frankly, I don't think her game has changed much.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Let me clarify my wording....(i'm guessing some of the comments are tongue in cheek)

Joss is a very tall lady and i wanted to see Joss and Anna play doubles as i'd not seen them in this format before, but they got a walkover.

Hopefully i will get to see them play at the weekend.

Sam is playing the top seed and is just coming back from injury, so to be competitive would be excellent.
Naomi has one of the rising stars, so Tara has the best chance of progressing.

briteny · Intermediate Club Player

Can anyone give me a link to watch live match ?? Mine is not working

Long time reader · Lower Club Player

Naomi

live.drakulastream.eu/static/popups/20528004997210.html

Tara

http://live.drakulastream.eu/static/popups/20527704997200.html

-- Edited by Long time reader on Thursday 6th of March 2014 01:26:26 PM

briteny · Intermediate Club Player

Thanks. :)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Let me clarify my wording....(i'm guessing some of the comments are tongue in cheek)

Joss is a very tall lady and i wanted to see Joss and Anna play doubles as i'd not seen them in this format before, but they got a walkover.

Hopefully i will get to see them play at the weekend.

Sam is playing the top seed and is just coming back from injury, so to be competitive would be excellent.
Naomi has one of the rising stars, so Tara has the best chance of progressing.

I don't know Anett at all but I know Ons Jabeur quite well (the second seed whom she beat). And I wouldn't give Annet too much kudos for having beat Ons inside on hard (although I knwo she's had a few decent runs on hard courts).

TomTraubert · Futures level

naomi and tara both looking real good
especially impressed with naomis improved movement

tara 2-0*
naomi 5-3*

TomTraubert · Futures level

jabeur likes clay mostly i thought knotaveit would win that match
ive heard before that the tunisian gets too much political interference from her federation. she is a talent though