Week 1 - WTA International - Auckland, New Zealand

James · Satellite level

RE: Week 1 - WTA International - Auckland, New Zealand

James · Satellite level

Anne loses her first service game..

0-1*

Two BPs for Anne though to break back. Both saved by Vesnina, the 2nd through an ace out wide; she then takes the game.

*0-2

-- Edited by James at 00:46, 2009-01-09

wolf · Tennis legend

Good returning from Vesnina leads to her breaking and then she holds after saving two break points.

Prediction...either Vesnina to win in 2 or Keothavong in 3.

James · Satellite level

Yeah, sounds about right from what I've seen so far.

Keothavong is playing a little wildly, needs to reign her strokes in.

James · Satellite level

Two BPS for Vesnina. [15-40]

Vesnina goes long on BH side with her first. [30-40]
And again, this time on FH. [deuce]
Loose FH again from Vesnina. [Adv K]
Poor return goes long. [Game Keothavong]

1-2*

-- Edited by James at 00:51, 2009-01-09

wolf · Tennis legend

Great hold. Should settle her down.

Anne 1-2*

James · Satellite level

Fine taste in music these NZ folk, 'Don't stop believing' by Journey blasting out

Vesnina serving..

15-0: Long fh return from Anne
30-0: After mi****ting two groundies Keothavong is out-manoeuvred.
30-15: Double-fault
40-15: Short return, Vesnina puts bh away.
40-30: Keothavong powers return into body of Vesnina, who nets
40-40: Double-fault
Adv V: Some big FHs result in a short X-court winner
40-40: Good defence from Keothavong leads to fh error
Adv K: Another long FH from Vesnina
Game K: Long FH again, forced by Keothavongs power.

*2-2

Keothavong to serve..

0-15: Keothavong nets BH
15-15: Vesnina crushes FH return but net gets in the way
15-30: Loose fh error from Keothavong, goes long
30-30: Keothavong BH into Vesnina body draws error
30-40: Double-fault [looked suspiciously in, imo]
Game V: Keothavong nets BH

2-3*

wolf · Tennis legend

Anne breaks back but then is broke again her self. Bit frustrating to watch at the moment.

Anne 2-3*

James · Satellite level

Vesnina sets to serve..

15-0: Vesnina peppering lines with fh, power volley to finish
30-0: Serve out wide, non-returnable
40-0: FH mis-hit from Keothavong
Game V: Keothavong nets fh return

*2-4

Keothavong limbers up to serve..

15-0: Deep bh from Keothavong draws netted bh
30-0: Powerful x-court FH does the job
40-0: Bird shooting from Vesnina, very long bh
40-15: Strange netted fh from Keothavong
40-30: Moonball rally leads to Keothavong sliced fh error
Deuce: Clinically clean bh dtl return winner. [Commentator Goodall doubts decision.. yet remains democratic]
Adv V: Netted BH
Deuce: Booming x-court fh winner by Keothavong
Adv V: Windscreen wiper treatment for Vesnina, Keothavong puts away mid-court fh
Game K: Lacklustre BH return goes long

3-4*

Keothavong requests coach..

Wise words: "You're getting down on yourself, there's very little in this match... Look to boss the points a little more.. Use your legs a little more"

wolf · Tennis legend

Anne 3-4* Nigel Sears is on to give some very good advice..agree with it all.

James · Satellite level

Vesnina back on the block..

15-0: Return is framed by Keothavong. 'And it's out of here!'
30-0: Serve down the T proves too difficult to reach.
30-15: Loopy x-court fh is followed up with fh winner
30-30: Boom boom. Several big fhs shared, Keothavong wins battle
40-30: Another bh return framed
Game V: BH to BH rally leads to Keothavong pushing one wide.

*3-5

Keothavong between the posts..

15-0: Scream accompanies Vesnina fh error
15-15: Well placed x-court bh return too accurate to return
30-15: Vesnina nets bh
30-30: Double-fault. Loops long.
40-30: Tentative play from Vesnina, nets fh
40-40: Solid hitting from Keothavong, Vesnina produces another netted fh

4-5*

James · Satellite level

Vesnina to serve for the set..

0-15: Powerful yet controlled ground-play from Keothavong creates a Vesnina netted fh
15-15: A mis-hit defensive slice leaves easy fh put away for Vesnina
15-30: Keothavong cranks up the topspin, plugs away until Vesnina bh error
15-40: Keothavong gives Vesnina a fh after long x-court bh rally, she promptly mis-hits
Game K: Deep return gives Vesnina little opportunity other than to net fh

*5-5

Keothavong serving to lead for the first time..

15-0: Vesnina can't control return
30-0: Vesnina nets simply bh volley, good running from Keothavong
30-15: Weak 2nd serve is punished, return is un-controllable.
30-30: Vesnina tracks down Keothavong dtl fh and hits big bh x-court, Keothavong slices out of play.
30-40: Double-fault. Goodall: "Lack of concentration - pressure creeping in"
Game V: Double-fault.

5-6*

-- Edited by James at 01:30, 2009-01-09

-- Edited by James at 01:31, 2009-01-09

steven · Tennis legend

What's so frustrating here is that she's clearly good enough to win this match and reach her first tour Final.

Maybe knowing that is what's making her nervous, of course.

steven · Tennis legend

Of course, Vesnina is trying to reach her first tour Final too ... so luckily for Anne she's finding it equally hard.

Do you get the impression it's tougher serving from that end?

wolf · Tennis legend

If Anne could just get ahead I swear she will take control of this match.