Weeks 28 Womens ITF ($10K) - Frinton, UK Grass

jb288 · Satellite level

RE: Weeks 28 Womens ITF ($10K) - Frinton, UK Grass

Tutu · Club Coach

I agree about the first and second batch but I just really don't see the last three doing much. Jade is just too small IMO and has barely any weapons, Naomi B seems too much of a clumbsy mover to ever last off grass at that level, and Joss, I dunno, I saw her at wimbly and I was only really impressed with her serve, everything else seemed too "Textbook british" if you get what I mean. The games of the first 8 you mentioned are all unique and have their own spin and creative freedom IMO. But I could be wrong!

I'm interested in seeing Tara playing, how does she play? What are her strengths and weaknesses?

And hopefully Anna can begin to come back strong.

jb288 · Satellite level

You may well be right, I was just seeing how far tempered optimism could take us - and 5 in the top 100 seems pretty good going to me!

I'm not sure I'd call Mel's game particularly unique...in fact I think if I had to pick out the two with the biggest 'weapons' I'd go for Naomi C and Georgie (both for their forehands, though Anne probably competes with them on that score too) - which ony goes to show that weapons aren't everything, it's consistency, fitness, point planning and so on. Actually, I love the way Katie strikes the ball too, but it's no use having one good stroke if your game's incomplete, is it? Jade seems an intelligent and committed player, and has recently stopped being coached by her dad, so that could yield dividends. And she's taller than Cibulkova! I haven't seen Tara play I'm afraid (although maybe doubles, I can't remember...).

Tutu · Club Coach

Oh, fair enough, yeah. I agree with that, but I dunno, it just seems like she can be overpowered easily. And the few matches i've seen of her, looking at her objectively, i've always thought "How could she ever have been a future star of GB tennis? But it seems she could have a pretty good doubles career, that's for sure.

And out of all of them, I think Naomi C could be the best. I just think that when on, her game is so GORGEOUS. Her backhand has always been my favourite shot of hers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOOkf9R8Wc0#t=01m41s !!!. I just think she showed in the hingis and in the Venus match that she can play two very different gamestyles, one where she moves the ball around so well, with silky precision and accuracy, using the angles as if she is Schnyder and then another where she can just completely destroy opponents with her power, I mean I had the chance to witness her game in the doubles match at wimbledon and really the only fault in her game is the movement. Her forehand can get erratic but she just needs to learn to take a step back from it and again go for that precision rather than power. She's constantly been blowing out opponents in first sets and then just losing her rhythm and not being able to find it again so I just hope she can weather that, because if she can, then god knows what she could do and how high she could go.

jb288 · Satellite level

Agreed - have to say I'd rather watch Naomi than Laura any day of the week - it's that lefty topspin forehand she seems to dig out from almost behind her that I love.