Week 2 - WTA (600K) - Sydney, Australia Hard

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 2 - WTA (600K) - Sydney, Australia Hard

steven · Tennis legend

That's an early draw. I wonder if appearing here means that Mel thinks she's certain to scrape into the AO main draw now.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Aus open quallies starts on wednesday so peanty of time to play sydney and then Aus open quallies if thats what happens. Unless she goes on a rampage here.

steven · Tennis legend

I guess that's why they start qualifying early here. However, the other Brits likely to play AO Q haven't entered here, so I still hope it means she knows she's a DA for the AO!

Edit: scrap that, the other Brits did enter but didn't make the cut. It must be pretty strong if Elena didn't even make the qualifying cut!

-- Edited by steven at 15:52, 2009-01-08

Silver · County player

I think Mel may well just eke into the AO MD in all honestly. ONLY JUST but still... HMMMM...

Good luck Mel. Amanmuradova is beatable and the next match could be alright but the potential matchup with Safarova is a different prospect. Let's hope Mel's game is on.

wolf · Tennis legend

[2] Safarova vs. Ditty
Meusburger vs. Bai
Barrois vs. Rodionova
South vs. [8] Amanmuradova

Mel is up on LS, and is due to serve first.

wolf · Tennis legend

Mel *2-3

wolf · Tennis legend

Mel 5-3*

wolf · Tennis legend

Mel takes the set 6-4. Top effort this so far against someone ranked 80 in the world.

wolf · Tennis legend

Mel 6-4, 2-0*!!

steven · Tennis legend

Looks like Mel is really determined to push on towards the top 100 sooner rather than later, great stuff

wolf · Tennis legend

Mel 6-4, *3-0

-- Edited by wolf at 01:15, 2009-01-09

steven · Tennis legend

Interesting that they've both had 4 bps and Mel has taken 4/4 and saved 3/4 - that seems to be the main difference.

Wow! About to serve for a bagel and straight sets win against a top 100 player

-- Edited by steven at 01:21, 2009-01-09

wolf · Tennis legend

Mel wins 6-4, 6-2. Wow. What a confidence booster ahead of the Australian Open.

steven · Tennis legend

QR1: Melanie South WR 110 beat (q8) Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) WR 80 by 4 & 2 biggrin

QR2: Melanie South WR 110 v Kristina Barrois (GER) WR 89

Barrois is enjoying the best form of her life, breaking into the top 100 at the age of 27. She beat Katie O'Brien twice last year. Mel has only faced her across the net once, in doubles in Monterrey last August when Mel & partner won.