Saguenay 50K challenger

Sheddie · administrator

RE: Saguenay 50K challenger

Salmon · Tennis legend

World ranking!

Tara rarely dominates her opponents.

Not too bothered... That's the second last of my worries concerning her.

Happycynic · Pro player

A little too early for a Tara ranking chart, perhaps, but this would make her enter at around 1225. Beating Elizabeth would put her in the 1130s. Actually qualifying would put her in the top 1000.

In the new world where ranking points are hard to get when you start out (i.e. qualify for a 10K and win a round), this was a very smart tournament to enter.

Salmon · Tennis legend

She and her coaches are very smart. She enters six tournaments every week, so that she can head to any location in case the cut falls.
Three of her four women's tournaments have been successes, a great ratio for a 14 year old.

-- Edited by Arka at 15:39, 2007-02-11

Salmon · Tennis legend

Tara lost 1 and 3.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

But

for Elizabeth Thomas!

Sheddie · administrator

Elizabeth is 8 years older so more experienced and probably a harder hitter.

Elizabeth will now face American 4th seed Chrissie Seredni for a place in the main draw. Although Seredni is ranked nearly 300 places higher at 624, it's a good chance for Elizabeth to make her first 50K main draw as the American has been really struggling with form lately. Since October, the only player she's beaten who has a world ranking has been a Polish player with just 1 ranking point, in round 2 here.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Elizabeth Thomas qualified. Don't know the score...

Main Draw

(5)O'Brien vs (WC)Pantic

(3)Johansson vs (Q)Thomas

(7)Tetreault vs Borwell

steven · Tennis legend

Arka wrote:

She and her coaches are very smart. She enters six tournaments every week, so that she can head to any location in case the cut falls.

That's actually the Robert Dee method of tournament entry

though of course, it works better when you have a realistic chance of winning a match or two!

I've often wondered why more GB players who aren't certain of direct entry at any particular level don't cover all the bases like this - odd things sometimes happen to entry lists and that can create good opportunities.

Salmon · Tennis legend

steven wrote:

Arka wrote:

She and her coaches are very smart. She enters six tournaments every week, so that she can head to any location in case the cut falls.
That's actually the Robert Dee method of tournament entry though of course, it works better when you have a realistic chance of winning a match or two!

I've often wondered why more GB players who aren't certain of direct entry at any particular level don't cover all the bases like this - odd things sometimes happen to entry lists and that can create good opportunities.

I know that.

I've posted elsewhere that she acts like Dee.

I think that the reason because of which most of our players can't do that is the money. People outisde the top 400 get ridiculously less amount of backing at times. Tara gets a lot of support from IMG (she deserves it!!) and hence such trips are all planned a few weeks in advance.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

johnnylad wrote:

Elizabeth Thomas qualified. Don't know the score...

Main Draw

(5)O'Brien vs (WC)Pantic

(3)Johansson vs (Q)Thomas

(7)Tetreault vs Borwell

Borwell d. Tétreault 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

O’Brien d. Pantic 6-4, 6-1

(1) O'Brien/Okamoto def Albanese/Frankova 76(4) 16 76(5)

Sheddie · administrator

Sarah has reached the quarters, she beat Heidi El Tabakh 6-1, 7-5

However, Katie lost 6-4, 6-4 to Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, pretty much expected. Brenda was in the world's top 10 a decade ago before being forced to prematurely retire due to shoulder problems. However, a couple of years ago she decided to give tennis a go again and returned to the tour. She's currently made her way up to 276 and still has one of the biggest serves in the game, last year she regularly hit serves at over 120mph. I reckon she could become top 100 again.

Sheddie · administrator

Btw, Elizabeth Thomas lost 7-5, 6-1 in round 1 to Mathilde Johansson. Been a great week for Elizabeth, qualifies for her first 50K (absolutely hammering the out of form Chrissie Seredni in the final qualies round) and then gives the 3rd seed (ranked in the top 150, about 750 places higher) a reasonably close match in round 1

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Sarah B! Great week for Sarah,. Nice to see her back in winning form after he injury struggle at the end of the year...

Who's she got in QF's?

Sheddie · administrator

Yeah it's good to see her clocking up the wins again, she didn't have the best of starts to the season but seems to have found her form in the last few weeks

Sarah now plays 17 year old German Sabine Lisicki. Lisicki is only ranked 433 but she knocked out the 2nd seed Stephanie Dubois (ranked 137) 6-4,1-6, 7-5 in round 1 and followed that up by defeating Brazilian clay-court specialist Maria Alves (a former top 150 player) 6-3, 6-3 in rd2.

Sarah's got quite a few points to defend in the first half of this year, she made a 25K final in Japan last May, won a 10K in March and also made a couple of 25K quarters in Greece. However, after Wimbledon there isn't much at all to defend so hopefully she can take advantage and push on towards the top 150.