Week 1 - WTA International ($220K) - Auckland, NZ Hard

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Week 1 - ITF ($220K) - Auckland, NZ Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

I don't know Fichman at all apart from that very decent ranking so on the face of it that's a good win for Elena to kickstart her season, especially the way she won the 3rd set.

Serve percentage a bit low first set and overall didn't appear to have played as well but seemed a bit early ( not just in hindsight smile

) to claim such as having a "shocker" after the first set, especially as I said playing against a decently ranked player.

Of course always difficult to fully tell how folk are playing from a scoreboard other than such as direct first serves in percentage.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 2nd of January 2010 01:08:08 AM

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Katie has a BP at 2-1 in the 2nd

philwrig · Hall of fame

Indy I would say it is possible to start poorly but turn it around. Let's face it it was her first match of the year and she bound to be rusty.
Her first serve was very poor in the first set but once she had sorted that out she started to become a dominant force.
My reference to shocker was more to do with the frustration felt due to the slow updates on the live scoreboard than Bally's play although she did start poorly.

indiana · Tennis legend

Missed it, one of many chances that have gone by.

Yes, serving certainly seems to be Katie's problem here, otherwise competing well, and seems to have been many really long games on Tretrealt's serve.

At 1 - 6, 2 -2 Kaie had won 36% service points and 47% return points with 7 DFs. She had taken 2/8 break points as against 4/5 so just held one service game. Her service games had 28 points from 5 games as against 64 points in 6 Tretrealut service games.

Hopefully Katie will sort out issues on service before too late.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 2nd of January 2010 01:33:29 AM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Not looking good will need to break back to avoid defeat.

indiana · Tennis legend

Ah, held a couple of service games but broken again and now 1 - 6, 4 - 5*

Just hopefully she can again really pressurise on return.

philwrig · Hall of fame

And she has. Come on Katie.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

breaks back
5-5
wohoo

indiana · Tennis legend

No 5 - 6* OK, break again !

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

She needs to work on her serve and probably speak to a sport psychologist. To start a match with 2 DFs isnt gonna get you anywhere on the tour, fact. The BPs wasted was dissapointing too, I hope she bounces back from this.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

doh

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q1: OBRIEN, Katie (GBR) 5 88 lost to TRETREAULT, Valerie (CAN) 135 1-6 5-7

jb288 · Satellite level

It must be horrible to lose a match like that. I'm sure Katie knows where she needs to improve and is devoting herself fully to doing that - I'm sure we'll see something special soon! Hard luck Katie :(

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

She had a tough match last year and went on to qualify at the Aussie so im not too upset. She still has another event to get some practise in and then its fingers crossed for a good draw