Amongst the best possible draws for Heather as she begins her defence - Pereira is truly awful unless on clay, where she's rather good. Heather's ranking would be ~85-90 without last years winners points.
Johanna has a tough task, but last year's model would stand every chance.
Naomi's exploits in Auckland seem to have meant that she could not enter Q here in time, and so is absent.
R1: Heather WATSON (GBR) 55 vs. Teliana PEREIRA (BRA) 46 (CH 43 10/2015) H2H: 1-0 2014: Indian Wells, USA, Hard, QR2, HW(WC) TP[q21], HW won 6-2 6-2
R1: Johanna KONTA (GBR) 48 vs. Dominika CIBULKOVA (SVK) 38 [3] (CH 10 03/2014)
Here's hoping Heather can bring her good form from Perth and go deep to defend most (or all!) of last year's points; likely R2 against 4th seed Niculescu ranked 39 if she gets past Pereira.
Cibulkova blows hot and cold (she lost 1&1 to Vinci in Brisbane R2); fingers crossed Jo can get her first W of 2016 and open up that quarter.
Both Brit's scheduled on the main court tomorrow, which means they'll be on the legit, free, HD stream that this tournament provides on YouTube.
Here's their channel, and the stream appears when play is live: www.youtube.com/channel/UCVZaOfurYLhPjwaYZjMhQBg
Johanna 2nd after 00:00 UK time
Heather, defending champ, is featured night match, at a very favourable time for us of, not before 08:00 UK
Figuratively, and literally, a bit aimless at the moment. *0-3
Horribly scrappy match to date, and Miss Stakes is clearly the dominant player. 3 breaks to 1 to Cibulkova at the moment., and Jo on trouble in every service game so far. The Konta FH seems to have forgotten what it learned so beautifully in the second half of last year, and so has resumed it's preference for spots 2-3 feet beyond the baseline, or wide. 1-5*
First real flashes of quality from Jo, including two well won points at net and a deep FH winner(!), recovers one break. *2-5
Despite no first serves, Jo holds, and forces Domi to try close the set out, having been broken her last two services. 3-5*
Cibulkova with 2 horrible errors, including a Sunday morning mixed attempt a a smash that almost bounced before the net, is broken for a third successive time. Jo slightly improved, but by no means good... yet, though he signs are more promising. *4-5
And we're all square! A Love hold for Jo. Quality is still very poor, but the malaise is at least affecting both now. Can Jo keep her momentum? 5-5*
In fairness to the players, in the background, you can see trees being bent back and forward by about 20° by the wind, so conditions are probably pretty tricky. Cibulkova scraps a hold. *5-6
Two second serves from Jo, two strong returns from Cibulkova, *0-30 Two strong first serves from Jo, no response from Domi, *30-30 And two more well hit spots on serve take us into the TB 6-6
Domi querulous over a few calls on Jo's serves 1-0* *2-0 *2-1 3-1* 4-1* Cibulkova DF *5-1 Unplayable swinging Konta serve fading away, clipping the outside of the center line *6-1 Nice classic one two punch. 6-2* 6-3* back to back routine FH long by Johanna *6-4 three poor FH unforced errors in a row *6-5 6-6* Jo opened the court up perfectly with nice BH for an easy DTL BH winner, but elected to go cross court again and blazed wide 6-7* 6-8
First set tie breaker heartbreaker 6-7(6)
-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Monday 11th of January 2016 03:49:13 AM
Both players with considerable trouble with the ball toss in the wind. Well, Jo at least re-grouped well to hold in the opening game of set 2. 6-7(6) 1-0*
No rhythm in that Slovakian service game. Jo had an almost accidental first BP, but well earned a second one with excellent scrambling defence, and then forced another error from Domi, to break and take the early lead. 6-7(6) *2-0
Which she surrenders with a very untidy service game, capped by a DF on the BP 6-7(6) 2-1*
Jo's FH comes alive - for the first time really in the match showing that crispness and power from the end of last year - to set up and close out the first point, 15-0* From there to 40-15*, and 2 BP The first spurned by... *surprise* a blazed FH long! But... the second is well secured! And now... hold! 6-7(6) *3-1
But, there is no hold, more untidy play, and for the second service in succession, a DF on the BP to again relinquish the advantage It is not a good match - far too random, and precious little quality. 6-7(6) 3-2*
Back on serve 6-7(6) *3-3
How quaint, and nostalgic, to see a tournament sponsors board around the sides of the court for, Woolworth's! Both 2nd serves are a liability today (~35% points won for each) Bad serving from Jo, good returning from Domi, means another fairly lifeless break Johanna calls her coach on court for a pep talk (the exchange hidden by the sun shade) 6-7(6) 3-4*
Some better deep hitting saves a game point, and gets Jo to deuce. An excellent return, to Domi's toes, forces an error and earns a BP, but a decent body serve is unreturnable. Domi then opens up on an off FH for another game point, but Jo hits a nice cross court FH winner to return it to deuce. Another BP from a net put away, which is secured. It's ding dong scrappily on high! 6-7(6) *4-4
Better service game from Konta, more first serves. Comfortable hold, secured with a BH onto the baseline forcing an error from Domi. Come on Jo! finish this set! 6-7(6) 5-4*
Probing FH DTL forces an error, 15-0* Medium length rally ends as JK BH wide off the tape, 15-15* JK BH rally shot an inch long, 15-30* DC FH cross court a foot long under moderate pressure, 30-30* Key point... was typing like an idiot, so missed it, but..BP! 40-30* 3 Quick short points give Domi the hold. 6-7(6) *5-5
From *40-0 despite good serves, Cibulkova gets it to deuce. The last point a really bad snatched miss on an easy put away from Jo, into the net. Then a BP... 5 straight points lost by Jo the last, another routine FH 2 feet long Domi will serve for the match. 6-7(6) 5-6*
15-0* Cibulkova's turn to blaze long 30-0* Jo set's up a point perfectly, opens up the court for a BH winner, cross court, and goes wide when it would have been a winner if it were 2 feet inside the line, 30-15* Poor play *2 means a MP... 30-40* But Domi DF! Deuce Forced error brings MP #2, Ad Cibulkova And, fittingly enough, it ends as Jo's FH is long
Did see bits of it during her comeback in the first set when she did look good, but seems I found a very favourable selection! I'll try see more of it later.
Hopefully her game's not too far away if she can get her range finder working.
-- Edited by indiana on Monday 11th of January 2016 06:26:49 AM