Swan broke Ito immediately at the start first set, then lost the next 4 games, clawed it back to 4-3. Then got broken again, and Ito served out for the set. Straight away Katie called for the medic, and was doing stretches and rotations to mobilise her back. In fact there were signs throughout that first set that the back was causing discomfort, with Katie trying to twist and rotate with the shoulders between points, without making it obvious to her opponent. This undoubtedly was the reason Swan landed very few 1st serves, and it also must have hindered the ground strokes too.

Then there was her opponent, with a game style the polar opposite to Swan's. Ito was very quick around the court, and adept at just flipping back to a good length anything out wide on both wings. However when the ball came back directly at her, that's when she would put more on the return and redirect the ball to the corners. The harder Katie hit the ball at Ito, the faster it came back.

Midway through the 1st set, Swan realised that a change of plan was needed, and she started to mix it up, playing some loopy returns and trying to keep Ito on the run. It was working, and it looked like Katie would draw level, but the discomfort from her back was obviously getting worse, and starting to take it's toll. Katie trying to shorten the points, meant taking more risks, and the set was lost.

It was midnight here, and I was getting tired, and so I didn't watch the 2nd set, but partly it was because I found it too distressing to see Swan suffer again with the problem that has re-occurred in so many of her matches over the last few years. I wasn't surprised to find out in the early morning, that Katie had nearly taken the 2nd set, because she is a proven fighter. Too many matches recently, however, it's seemed like she has been playing with one arm tied behind her back. It must be so tough to deal with, having ticked all the boxes (the drive, determination, skill, work ethic, and physique) only to be let down by what seems like an attritional ailment. I hope she is able to come to terms with it all, the LTA must do their bit to provide support.

I really hope Swan can keep herself fit, and in-form for the start of the grass court season, and that she is able to show the British crowds yet again what we on this board know she is capable of.