Week 41 - ITF 50K - Barnstaple, Great Britain

wolf · Tennis legend

RE: Week 41 - ITF 50K - Barnstaple, Great Britain

seagull · Hall of fame

Korina Perkovic (Ger) bt Samantha Vickers (Gbr) 6-3 6-1

steven · Tennis legend

Given how quick the LTA were with Katie's win, I get the feeling that there'd have been a report on Laura by now if she'd won ...

-- Edited by steven at 16:01, 2008-10-08

stfletch · Junior player

steven wrote:

Given how quick the LTA were with Katie's win, I get the feeling that there'd have been a report on Larua by now if she'd won ...

While I fear you may be right, this is the LTA website we're talking about. They probably blew their remaining budget for the year getting that report out so quick.

steven · Tennis legend

Good point!

steven · Tennis legend

Kerber beat Robson 7-6(8) 4-6 2-6 cry

Clearly playing at top 150-250 level though smile

Report: http://www.lta.org.uk/News/All-news-items/2009-10-06/Kerber-beats-Robson-in-three-set-battle/

-- Edited by steven at 16:28, 2008-10-08

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Going to have be patient. Wait for her to develop. She seems to have faded towards the end 7-6(8) 4-4 then lost 8 of the final 10 games. Anyway, they should learn a lot from each of her matches against decent opposition. Better than easy victories or even careless losses at 10K level.

-- Edited by kundalini at 16:45, 2008-10-08

Happycynic · Pro player

I think the issue will be strength and stamina-stepping up to this level requires both, as the older opponents serve harder, hit it back harder. I think Laura can match this intensity at the start of matches, but I would be very surprised if she didn't often have to work very hard indeed to maintain over sets 2 and 3.

And I also think this is totally normal. Physical stamina and strength is a biological process that comes with age and you can't get over quickly. The talent, fortunately, is the bit that doesn't always come with age, but Laura has in massive quantities.

stfletch · Junior player

Agree with those above about building stamina.

If you look at any superstar players early career results (both men and women) you will find lots of tough three and five set losses with one-sided final sets. This is simpmly a factor of that players skill level being good enough but their physical and mental stamina (which only ever comes over time and with practice) not quite being up to par yet.

Gary · Social player

Precisely. I give you Andy Murray, as a prime example and he was four years older!

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

A new quote from Laura has appeared on the LTA site and rather gives away what happened "Angelique defended well and maybe I didn't give myself the best chance by going a bit crazy in the second set, but all credit to her."

Happycynic · Pro player

From my experience of playing sport, losing it mentally is often correlated with stamina going.

You get tired, you make some mistakes, you get frustrated. Sometimes it is not, granted-you lose it because you lose it. But stamina and tiredness are actually the root cause: tired in the muscles means mentally sharpness goes as well, and the devils start to talk to you......

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: SMITH, Anna (GBR) 371 beat UNGUR, Liana-Gabriela (ROU) 233 7-5 6-1

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: BALTACHA, Elena (GBR) 5 124 beat KLAFFNER, Melanie (AUT) 258 7-6(1) 6-7(4) 6-2

R2: OBRIEN, Katie (GBR) 6 138 v HLAVACKOVA, Andrea (CZE) 272
R2: BALTACHA, Elena (GBR) 5 124 v SMITH, Anna (GBR) 371

gazzpash · Club Coach

Does this give Laura a ranking point meaning she's on the board now?