Week 17 - Womens ITF (100K+H) - Johannesburg, South Africa

djlovesyou · Strong Club Player

RE: Week 17 - Womens ITF (100K+H) - Johannesburg, South Africa

DavidC · Tennis legend

Still a good week for Katie, reaching her first semi at this level and bumping her ranking into contention for Wimbledon direct entry. And we so have a title:

Doubles final

Cavaday/Tsurenko (GBR/UKR) d. Kucova/Sevastova (SVK/LAT) 62 26 [11-9] smile

PaulM · Tennis legend

oh Katie!!!!

She would of gone top 100 with that win. Absolutely gutting.

4 times she's been one win from the top 100 and 4 times she's blown it. Be interested to read her blog on this one.

Why can't she beat Hrdinova? She should of had this one in the bag.

She can still make Wimbledon, but its going to depend on other results and her pulling something out the bag in Zagreb, which is unlikely.

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

Typical katie. Should have won that one.

MAC · Junior player

Is it disappointing that Katie couldn't take her current great form into the final and win this one and push straight into the top 100? Yes. But seriously guys what is this silly Katie, typical Katie stuff.

She's in the form of her life, going deep into almost every tournament she enters. She's won more matches in the last four months - and at a higher level of ITFs - than she won all last year.

This sounds like the Anne K is crap stuff all over again. Give her a break and enjoy her good run this year!

djlovesyou · Strong Club Player

I would imagine she's calling herself a lot worse than silly.

It's not like people are really slagging Katie off MAC. I think people (including me) are just more disappointed for her more than anything.

I agree that she's in the form of her life and she deserves a lot of credit (which she has been getting on here and elsewhere) but she's a good enough player to have won the game today, I would imagine she would agree.

MAC · Junior player

Yes, I'm sure you are all supportive - that what the forum's for - and I'm sure Katie is disappointed, but a feast or famine attitude every week is just way too much. There are no shoulds in tennis. It's a marathon not a sprint.

Katie can be competitive on clay who's to say she won't make the breakthrough next week anyway with the form she's in? After all what is the typical Katie of 2009 - I'd say she's a winner not a choker. I just get frustrated when disappointment gets turned into negative remarks - it's so British and not in a good way!!

DavidC · Tennis legend

From the SA Independent Online:

"The Briton went into her semifinal not having dropped a set all week and Hrdinova's form seemed to startle her. The errors just escalated in what was one of the least exciting matches of the week.

This was the fifth match-up for the pair with each having won two matches coming into this one, although Hrdinova had come out on top in the last two. And the Czech made it a hat trick, taking a tame match in just one hour and 20 minutes.

Hrdinova got off to a great start, winning the first two games and that threw O'Brien completely off. But both were struggling a bit with inconsistent serves and a bunch of unforced errors. O'Brien, though, managed a bit of a fightback to get to 4-4 in the first set, but Hrdinova blitzed back to take it 6-4.

While the first set looked like drab stuff, the second was about as exciting as a dishcloth.

O'Brien got aggro, Hrdinova easily made the shots and then it was all over. The Briton stormed off in a huff and left for the airport almost immediately, refusing to do a press conference after."

Katie's next blog should make interesting reading

MAC · Junior player

Ouch, if she gets that reputation with the press, it'll be hard to shake off.

And you see, she didn't choke at all, she threw a complete wobbly instead. wink

Happycynic · Pro player

Anyhow, I don't normally 'do' doubles. But well done to Naomi - a 100K+H title is not to be sniffed at, should pay the airfare, and I hope it gives her loads of confidence.

steven · Tennis legend

Katie's blog re Jo'burg http://www.lta.org.uk/Articles/Katie-OBrien-blogs/04052009---Airport-Birthdays/

Portsey · Intermediate Club Player

Interesting read - I've read a few of her blogs now and she writes very elegantly which is horribly surprising these days!