British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

B00thy · County player

Week 18 – ITF W35 - Fukuoka, Japan - Carpet

DF · Tennis legend

Katie was trailing 1-3 but has taken the first set 6-4

DF · Tennis legend

Katie is now serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set

the addict · Tennis legend

SF:- Katie Swan (GBR) WR269 [1] def Valentina Ryser (SUI) WR374 [4] 6-4 6-3

*****

F:- Katie Swan (GBR) WR269 [1] v Rina Saigo (JPN) WR300 [2]

DF · Tennis legend

SF:- Katie Swan (GBR) WR269 [1] def Valentina Ryser (SUI) WR374 [4] 6-4 6-3 smile

Too slow wink

-- Edited by DF on Saturday 9th of May 2026 07:14:07 AM

the addict · Tennis legend

Katie now showing as inside the top 250 on live rankings (waiting for this match to be entered)

foobarbaz · Club Coach

Katie showing there's more to tennis than hitting the cover off the ball. What good is a big booming serve if it only lands 50% of the time. So many of Ryser's ground strokes went long, the unforced error count is off the scale. Swan could afford to play safe knowing that opportunities would come her way. Katie just played her normal counter-punching game, with accurate passing shots when Ryser approached the net, and then when at the net herself did really well with deft winners. Key point in the 1st set was holding serve to go 5-4 up. Well done Katie Swan.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, foobarbaz, from the bit I saw, towards the end, Katie was ultra rigorous - which I love
Every shot (or nearly ), she'd bounce, adjust, bend, balance, hit through - it sounds easy but it has to be every shot - and so many players can't keep it up - and you only have to be a little off, and you hit the error.
Very clean, very tidy, difficult to get past

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 9th of May 2026 07:46:46 AM

B00thy · County player

I thought Katie's level was very poor in the first half of the first set, although to be fair it was a bit blustery. After she went behind she seemed to lift her game to where is should have started. After that there were breaks both ways but Katie always looked the better player. Pleased.

foobarbaz · Club Coach

B00thy wrote:
I thought Katie's level was very poor in the first half of the first set, although to be fair it was a bit blustery. After she went behind she seemed to lift her game to where is should have started. After that there were breaks both ways but Katie always looked the better player. Pleased.

My thinking is that "you only play as well as the opponent allows". At the start of the match Ryser was the hitting the ball so hard, and had at least some accuracy. The points were over very quickly, and it wasn't easy to get into a rhythm. Yes, Ryser was in the ascendency at first, but gradually as she became even more erratic, Swan came more into the match. At 4-4, after multiple breaks of serve, Katie broke the pattern with a strong service game and then let Ryser self-destruct once again. There was a certain inevitability about the 2nd set, Swan could be more relaxed, knowing what she had to do in order to prevail.

foobarbaz · Club Coach

Katie won the final 6-1 6-3, in fine style, making so few errors and keeping her Japanese opponent Saigo pinned to the baseline where she was much less dangerous. Saigo had won through in a very close 3hr+ semifinal yesterday, and Swan certainly kept her running in the match today. Despite a late rally from Saigo, facing a match point and breaking Swan's serve, Katie didn't panic and closed out the match in the following game. Shot of the match imho, was a glorious forehand winner corner to corner when Katie was a full stretch.

JonH · Tennis legend

Well done Katie, good week and first singles title of the week for GB players.

wolf · Tennis legend

F:- Katie Swan (GBR) WR269 [1] defeated Rina Saigo (JPN) WR300 [2] by 6-1 6-3

DF · Tennis legend

Well done Katie smile

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Crackerjack !!!!