Week 38 - ITF ($75K) - Shrewsbury, Hard

Drew · Sep 26, 2009

RE: Week 38 - ITF ($75K) - Shrewsbury, Hard

jb288 · Satellite level

I disagree with that. Katie's groundstrokes match Bally's for power most of the time, and are more consistent (except perhaps on backhand). Katie hits a flatter ball as well. I think it's only really the serve and the mentality that separate them (Bally I think isn't afraid to play a lot of mindgames to effectively scare her opponent - certainly I think that's what she was trying against Lisa Whybourn). But Katie is fitter and a better mover. With some added confidence, I think Katie has just as much potential (and 3 extra years to improve!). Also, she seems a nicer person...

Just sayin'.

Drew · Sep 27, 2009

katie has improved but my pt is that she can get blasred off crt against big hitrers like bally.
i have also interviewed both players and both are 'nice' people but obrien is quieter whereas bally is very sure of herself.
obrien has really improved over the last 3 years...top 100 status is never false.

indiana · Tennis legend

Looking at reports, it appears to have been a good competitive final with no real evidence that Katie was blasted off court on this occasion.

I do see Katie establishing a foothold in the top 100, especially if just getting there helps her believe more in herself.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 27th of September 2009 08:32:00 AM

jb288 · Satellite level

Sure, I'm just saying I think Bally's supposed power is over-egged - it's not remarkable.

wolf · Tennis legend

jb288 wrote:

I disagree with that. Katie's groundstrokes match Bally's for power most of the time, and are more consistent (except perhaps on backhand). Katie hits a flatter ball as well.

I can hardly agree about the consistency part - maybe a year or so ago it was true but Bally is now much more consistent (although she does have the occasional re-lapse, see Flipkens at Wimbly). Katie is more prone to hit hitting a number of unforced errors.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Bally did seem a lot more consistant in Shrewsbury that i have seen her when watching her on TV, except for the 1st set vs Hofmanova which was quite dire.

Katie the same, maybe when they play tour events they just don't feel confident in their games. Its weird cos the both beat settled top 100 players this week. so there is no reason they can't do the same on the main tour.

Drew · Sep 27, 2009

why did the beeb use a photo of bally which looks like she is in pain....or needing a dump!
Surely they have more flattering images on file.

indiana · Tennis legend

Although we knew they were in the top 100, it's great to see this morning's WTA rankings with Elena in 93rd and Katie in 98th

90	89	King, Vania	03/02/89	USA	722	22
91	88	Kerber, Angelique	18/01/88	GER	717	25
92	92	Gallovits, Edina	10/12/84	ROU	716	28
93	101	Baltacha, Elena	14/08/83	GBR	711	25
94	96	Voskoboeva, Galina	18/12/84	KAZ	710	27
95	93	Yakimova, Anastasiya	01/11/86	BLR	710	23
96	86	Sugiyama, Ai	05/07/75	JPN	671	20
97	91	Lepchenko, Varvara	21/05/86	USA	666	29
98	103	O'brien, Katie	02/05/86	GBR	665	29
99	97	Sprem, Karolina	25/10/84	CRO	664	17
100	155	Date Krumm, Kimiko	28/09/70	JPN	652	19

101st place has 642 points, so Elena had to reach the semis last week and Katie the final to have got there.

As Steven indicated so many folk around 100th place seemed on form last week. Parra Santonja and Amanmuradova actually went from over 100th into the 80's, bypassing the 90s ! Last week's no 100 remained on 622 points, but dropped to 106th.

PS : Thankyou to Sugiyama and particularly Date Krumm for making me feel not quite so old. Elena and Katie could have many years yet in the top 100 smile

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 28th of September 2009 09:29:34 AM

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 28th of September 2009 11:54:54 AM

jb288 · Satellite level

And Sugiyama's retired from singles now, so Katie's effectively 97...

indiana · Tennis legend

jb288 wrote:

And Sugiyama's retired from singles now, so Katie's effectively 97...

Is that as of now ?

She's been playing in the Toray Pan Pacific Open where she lost to Petrova 6-0 2-1 retired

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

seeing as it was in Japan, maybe it was her farewell match on home soil?

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I was thinking maybe that was the case. Pity if it was and she hasn't been able to complete her match.

wolf · Tennis legend

Yes, it was her last match.

She is still in the doubles though so hopefully she can recover and win that.

alex03maccy · Grand Slam Champion

yes, she had a really nice ceremony before the tournament where everyone basically said goodbye and each player gave her a flower so she had a bunch.