Weeks 3-4: Australian Open Women's Doubles

Peter too · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 3-4: Australian Open Women's Doubles

philwrig · Hall of fame

Is Laura our number 1 doubles player now?
The only problem with this result is that she will have too many matches to play assuming she keeps winning.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Around world 110 and British number 2.

indiana · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:

Is Laura our number 1 doubles player now?
The only problem with this result is that she will have too many matches to play assuming she keeps winning.

What a nice and unexpected problem smile

Seriously, I guess it is mounting a bit. If you take the 7 days till next Sunday and she was to win all matches to finals, that's 14 matches in 7 days. She plays 2 junior matches tomorrow though I doubt she'd be lucky enough or even allowed by the schedule to stick at 2 each day till Sunday.

Clearly the junior doubles is the one that would go if it came to it. But I would think she'd want to at least start in that, probably more especially now after Heather's singles loss. Then ideally be able to play her seniors doubles QF without scheduling issues and then see where she stands

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

What great news to wake up to. So Radwanska/Kirilenko or Vives/Sanchez? Either way, it will probably rate a show court.

If it's the former Kirilenko (23 tomorrow) will be the oldest player on court - not often you see that in a grand slam doubles QF. More likely, it will just be the small matter of Vives/Sanchez then Black/Heuber and Williams to deal with!

P.s. My mental arithmetic went awry earlier - a QF win will leave Laura a few points short of Sarah.

Bolt · Lower Club Player

Another solid match from Laura & Sally today they always looked the better pairing and there opponents serve was under constant threat Laura returned really well today and hit some great passing shots along with a sublime lob, despite Sally losing her 2 opening service games they saw out the first set 6-3, breaking early in the 2nd and Sally now serving a lot better they led 4-1 with Laura serving and on game point Sally snatched at a volly and eventually the game was lost at 4-3 Laura & Sally only conceded one more point to see out the 2nd set 6-3
With there opponents playing tomorrow the Q/F should take place on Tuesday

wolf · Tennis legend

A very unexpected run by Laura here.

And to think she only got in because Isabella Holland was injured.

Who knows how far they can go.

DavidC · Tennis legend

As far as I can work out (from checking the records of likely suspects) Laura's unexpected run is our best in women's doubles at a Grand Slam since Jo Durie reached the quarters of the US Open in 1991 (w. Yayuk Basuki) and Australian Open in 1989 (w. Mary Jo Fernandez). Jo reached the semis here in 1985 with Anne Hobbs.

wolf · Tennis legend

There's a video for the second set of Laura's match here - http://www.megavideo.com/?d=M6TBBUH5

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks wolf that was an enjoyable watch. They played some really good points there and even if the opposition were not looking great ( presumably can play better ) Laura and Sally still themselves produced some great play.

Only mildly disconcerted by the Aussie looking team colours allied to the "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi" chants. This is not some horrible future

As an aside, I'm not really a doubles aficiando, but whenever I do watch doubles part of me sometimes wonders whether winnning or losing there is some risk of a code violation or penalty point award if players do not slap hands or high five after every single point

pieboyjr · Social player

Thanks for the link, it looks as though Laura and Sally are having a good working relationship, as if they are best friends, always essential for doubles.

Long may this great form continue!

Bolt · Lower Club Player

Kirilenko & Radwanska (15) won 1 & 2

philwrig · Hall of fame

For my sins I managed to stay up for this doubles match and saw the majority of it from start to finish. It was clear from the outset who the crowd were supporting and it wasn't the two Aussie girls.
Screams of come on Laura were regularly heard from the crowd. I suppose in years to come assuming Laura plays in the main draw she will be known as ' Aussie Laura ' a bit like ' Aussie Kim'.
Something that could be a bit annoying for us British supporters but great for Laura.
As for the tennis the first set saw Laura dominate the match from the back of the court hitting the ball cleanly with no unforced errors. This started to get to their opposition particularly Rodionova who started to push the self destruct button. Rodionova proudly wearing a visor with an Aussie flag on her cap was getting no support from the crowd whilst Laura a ' Brit ' was getting all the support. She was clearly miffed.
In the second set Sally made some big contributions to help see out the win. It seems to me that Laura revels in playing on the deuce side which allows her to hit her double handed backhand crosscourt which is one of her big weapons.
As for the live stream the picture is constantly locking up which leaves you quite frustrated.
I assume they play their QF on Wednesday morning.

indiana · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:

I assume they play their QF on Wednesday morning.

I would certainly think so. The women's doubles final is scheduled for Friday.

Kirilenko has got her singles quarter final on Tuesday and if she wins, as she must have a good chance of doing against Jie Zheng, her singles semi would be due on Thursday. the same day presumably as a potential doubles semi final.

Maybe she'd consider pulling out of the doubles if she wins her singles QF

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 25th of January 2010 03:22:32 PM

Bolt · Lower Club Player

There's a little article about Laura in todays Herald Sun

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tennis/laura-robson-is-bemused-by-the-attention-shes-getting-as-new-tennis-court-darling/story-fn4oewqb-1225823594144