British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

verveandsolley · Lower Club Player

Week 26 - Wimbledon, Women's Qualifying - Grass

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I could only stay for part of the day - and was racing around trying to see as many GB and French players, as poss, as well as some random others I had on my radar

So it's possible my takeaways today don't fit into other people's

But here goes:

I feel that Millie played pretty much 100% her best. Of course there were missed opportunities but I've seen her play quite a lot and, to me, she was really playing her level .... now she needs to be more dynamic if she's going to move up a level, she has to 'recover' from her serve quicker, because better players will get her serve back, and she needs to be more ready. And adjust quicker. And obviously mental wobbles are part and parcel of that - if you feel a touch vulnerable, you come unstuck in tight situations
But I don't think she could have done anything more

Whereas Katie Swan, to me, had a chance to really impose herself and didn't go for it. Now, I 100% realise that it's such early days for her and, as people said, maybe it came a little early, maybe the level in the wildcard playoffs wasn't strong enough to really test her
But she was stroking her forehand, guiding it, even pushing it at times - to be careful. Which isn't enough - she needed to hit it ! And she did occasionally but she was too scared to do it too often. And it meant she wasn't really dicatating the points - it all became chippy, and careful - and she was on the losing end whereas you felt she had the game to be a little braver

Emily App, bless, is for those who love a good stomach acid attack
But she gets no LTA help that I know of, and doesn't really seem to have a proper coach? But she plays a nice game on grass and she got the job done so say no more

Ella produced a really nice performance for two sets - the best I've seen her play - some excellent net play, great ground shots
But her coach was yelling at her SO much, with SO many instructions, and SO much energy stuff - I sort of wondered, can Ella not get motivated without you yelling at her? In which case, there's a problem.
And can she really remember all those instructions? Honestly, in 5 seconds between points, he's telling her to open it up, go down the line, keep low, ...... I can't remember it all and I'm not sure Ella could either
So good tennis, a lot of improvement, but I'd have liked to see a bit more of her own grit and gumption out there, not pseudo gumption from the coach

Only saw a few balls of Lily (it wasn't high on my list). And Ranah - as always, some lovely stuff, but you never quite believed it was all going to happen. None of Katy D. And none of Marni - but well done, girl !

ADD: I do realise that my criticisms of Ella's coach may sound as though they contradict my praise of Oli's coach on the men's thread. But Oli's coach gave him some specific advice at a key part of the match. Whereas Ella's was saying 6 or 7 rapid-fire things, every time he had a chance, it was an avalanche

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 24th of June 2025 09:44:46 PM

Deucebag · Intermediate Club Player

Thanks for the write up guys. I cant believe we cant view this anywhere other than Court 1.
Good luck to all British girls remaining.

Hal R · Newbie

vipleaguestreams.com/tennis1
Here is a link if you want to watch

simon381 · Lower Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
I feel that Millie played pretty much 100% her best. Of course there were missed opportunities but I've seen her play quite a lot and, to me, she was really playing her level .... now she needs to be more dynamic if she's going to move up a level, she has to 'recover' from her serve quicker, because better players will get her serve back, and she needs to be more ready. And adjust quicker. And obviously mental wobbles are part and parcel of that - if you feel a touch vulnerable, you come unstuck in tight situations
But I don't think she could have done anything more
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 24th of June 2025 09:44:46 PM

Good analysis CD, better than anything I could give!

I watched the whole of Millie's game and really thought she could have won it, just lost her way (in the old British way) on the crucial points at the set ends.

She noticeably dropped at the start of the second having given away the first. I was trying to clap and cheer her on throughout, but I do feel it is a pity that the British dont feel comfortable actively supporting their players especially when things arent going our way.

I saw a fair amount of Katie too. A few more matches before Wimbledon and she would have been more confident. Well done to Marni and Emily, neither of which I saw much of.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Marni 0-3*

She's 0/3 on break points, Kawa 2/6.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Lost the first set 6-2.

Went a break down, broke back, was broken again, missed two break points. She's so close in this match but Kawa just that little bit better.

*2-4

PaulM · Tennis legend

Marni loses 6-2 6-4. Fair score.

the addict · Tennis legend

I watched this with Indi. Kawa's got a big forehand and didn't make many mistakes today (apart from DF's). Good effort by Marni but the 130ish difference in rankings showed.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Emily playing well against an opponent who looks a bit miserable (and came through against probably the worst grass court player in the draw in round one).

She has 30-0* at 5-1, but Palicova wins four in a row so she'll need to try and serve this one from *5-2. Just like yesterday....

indiana · Tennis legend

Good trip home, TA. I'm now stting on the bank beside Court 6 on a lovely sunny evening, watching a nice drama free QR2 win for Emily App.

Sounds a nice script to me to end the day, so go with it Emily, please.

First set 6-2

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 25th of June 2025 04:43:16 PM

Danny1312 · Intermediate Club Player

indiana wrote:
Sitting on the bank beside Court 6 on a lovely sunny evening, watching a nice drama free QR2 win for Emily App.

Sounds a nice script to me to end the day, so go with it Emily, please.

First set 6-2

Let's not curse poor Emily biggrin

emmsie69 · Top national player

indiana wrote:
Good trip home, TA. I'm now stting on the bank beside Court 6 on a lovely sunny evening, watching a nice drama free QR2 win for Emily App.

Sounds a nice script to me to end the day, so go with it Emily, please.

First set 6-2

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 25th of June 2025 04:43:16 PM

Don't slide down

the addict · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
indiana wrote:
Good trip home, TA. I'm now stting on the bank beside Court 6 on a lovely sunny evening, watching a nice drama free QR2 win for Emily App.

Sounds a nice script to me to end the day, so go with it Emily, please.

First set 6-2

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 25th of June 2025 04:43:16 PM
Don't slide down

Been there, done that ! (Last year) Now sitting at Barnes station waiting for a train

-- Edited by the addict on Wednesday 25th of June 2025 05:30:13 PM

PaulM · Tennis legend

Oh Emily

Tense tiebreak but she is going for it and gets to *6-4

Hits the right serve out wide, short reply, is up to it early and has a huge space to hit into but blasts it way long. Then keys a fairly straightforward pass to lose the set.

6-2 6-7(6)

She just had to get that second shot anywhere on the ad side and she'd won the match