Another point to make is that we've only ever had 38 Grand Slam winners and were pretty lucky to have two of them (just) still playing now: we're pretty lucky. We've not really had a Golden Age when we've been winning everything in sight. Poor Andy was very unfortunate to have three superlative players playing at the same time as him. He would I'm sure have won more GSs if not for having played in such a freak time.
At the moment we've got a number of women who've certainly got the ability to get a few rounds in a GS provided they can get themselves fit enough to be in great shape (if you look at many well known names in tennis if not household names, many have never got beyond the fourth round of a slam - we know it's very hard!): Katie B, Katie S, Jodie and obviously Emma are all contenders, possibly Fran. We've got a great prospect in Hannah coming through and a few other potentials, like Isa who beat a top 100 player at 16 in one of her first senior tournaments. There's plenty of interest in the women's game if not at the very top.
In the men's game Jack is the obvious player who has the talent to go to the very top if only he can keep himself fit.
If I were in the LTA I'd spend a big amount of money in the very best nutritionists and fitness people to make sure our
players stayed fit.
It does seem a strang one, but the ilkley Gazzette has a long history of reporting tennis centred around the Ilkley tournaments and Northern tennis more generally. Im guessing with ilkley event in 2 weeks they are pushing more tennis reporting generally as publicity .
I cant remember their old reporters name, he will be well retired , but daily well informed tennis articles were to be expected in the pre 2000s
It was interesting to actually know what Jodie's injury was. She was truly awful yesterday with no consistency on her shots at all.
It does however add an element of excitement to have 4 women fighting to get to the number 1 slot. Its hard to predict who will get it as frankly all of them struggle with injuries and form but can be very good as well. I think Katie Swan may be the one to pull ahead but it could be any of them
Dodin took a bad fall at *3-5 and is currently having a medical timeout at the back of the court. Doesn't look great for continuing much further into the match given she's not been able to get back to the chairs.
As an aside, the fall happened on game point and - most likely having been distracted by it - Katie netted and the score is therefore Swan leading *5-4.
Distressing way for the match to end, it was a tough battle and arguably Dodin was in the ascendency, after Swan had taken an early lead. Both players were playing well. Swan's a fighter, reeling off 4 points to hold for 5-3, and is going to push her opponents to the max.
-- Edited by foobarbaz on Thursday 8th of June 2023 11:17:02 AM
Harriet trying to force it on every shot. She's in control in every rally, but not patient enough. Be sure to land the ball in court, and just move her around.