Week 18 - Womens ITF 50K - Gifu, Japan

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

Week 18 - Womens ITF 50K - Gifu, Japan

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Mel throws in a bagel but loses

Well done to Natasha and Katie!

Happy birthday Katie!

GO DEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RedCabbage · Club Coach

The Panda Bear wrote:

I wanted Mel to win that.

I didn't. :)

I'm beginning to think that Mel's progress last year is as good as we're going to see from her. It's a terrible shame, but we're in May now and she's barely won a match. I sincerely hope that it's 2007 that's the blip and not 2006.

Still...she might win a couple of rounds at Wimbledon and we'll all be happy again.

Sheddie · administrator

That was a bizarre scoreline in the South-Khan match, Natasha did well to come back so strongly from getting bagelled. So another disappointing loss for Mel, the losing streak continues...maybe she should drop back down to 10Ks just to get some wins as she can't hardly buy a win at this level atm...even though she's getting pretty good draws, her confidence must be rock bottom atm.

I did want Mel to win that even though I'm a fan of Natasha too...just really want to start getting some wins again with so much in June and July to defend. People on here seem to be writing off Mel atm, ok she's had a dire 2007 to date but she's still only 20 !!! Doesn't turn 21 for a few weeks yet, she's got bags of time to raise her game and get back up the rankings again even if she does slip down quite a way. From 2005 - 2006 she increased her ranking by over 300 places...as happens with some players, maybe the ranking rise was too fast and she's not quite ready to compete at this level week in, week out.

Sheddie · administrator

Rd2: K O'Brien (GB)(6) v M Kato (Jap)(q)

N Khan v A Morita (Jap)

Katie's opponent is 17 and ranked 695...she battled past someone in the 300s in 3 sets in rd1. This is Kato's first tourney since October, maybe she can't afford to travel abroad.

Morita will be v tough, she's only 17 yet ranked 191 !!! Reached no 3 in the juniors last year. Made a 25K quarter-final earlier this year but her results in 2007 have been a bit disappointing by her standards, maybe Tash has a chance

Sheddie · administrator

Just seen that Natasha lost 6-2, 6-2

Katie leads 7-5, 4-3

Happycynic · Pro player

K.O'BRIEN d. M.KATO 75 64

Nice progress in this 50K tournament.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Good going Katie O B!

Morita is going to be big methinks! Natasha can be pleased with her win over Mel and a R2 in a 50K!

Drew · May 3, 2007

Bally beat Katie easily in the Aberdeen Cup last year and that was Bally's first match in ages and was only 90% fit...Katie was tight on the night but this is the level Bally should be playing soon hopefully...well done to Katie !!!!

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

Brill one Katie.

Great chance to add some points.
Not far behind Anne K.

Happycynic · Pro player

QF: (1) Yung-Jan Chan def Katie O'Brien 6-4 6-3

Not surprising, and actually a good peformance from Katie. Her opponent is a star to be-17 I think, from Chinese Taipei, and already ranked top 100 in seniors. Would have been a struggle to stay with her.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Not a bad score at all. Good run here from Katie. Won well until she met top seed and then performed respectably.