Week 10 - ITF ($25K) - Clearwater, USA Hard

Maza1987 · Challenger level

RE: Week 10 - ITF ($25K) - Clearwater, USA Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Really surprised that Georgie won so easily, actually slightly surprised that she won at all, because I had Heather as favourite. But very well done to her.

While playing a mate may in some ways explain the size of the defeat from Heather's point of view, if true she maybe needs to learn somehow to put that out of her mind and just treat such folk as another opponent. She seems a very pleasant girl so that may not come so easily at this stage. It's fortunate that she's got this second chance, though pretty tough match to come.

Really tough luck Naomi with that draw, well it's a challenge to try and rise to.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 8th of March 2010 10:51:15 PM

SMC1809 · All-time great

Yes, definitely a tough one. Playing the winner of last week's tournament, comfortably beating Naomi's conqueror in the final.

PockyTastic · Futures level

Reportedly Heather defeated Tatishvilli in 3 sets...

steven · Tennis legend

Someone on tennisforum reports that Heather recovered from her FQR loss to shock Tatishvili in 3 biggrin

Tutu · Club Coach

Yep. I know him, he is Georgian and knows their family well so it's a reliable source. Congrats Heather!

Was just looking at Heather's activity on the WTA website and although she has had a couple of bad losses due to inexperience, against the top 150 and 200 players she is 4-3 (and 3-1 in the last two tournies).

I've read that she is mentally strong and this certainly points in that direction. I was worried that since she made the decision about becoming a pro pro "so late" it would hamper her but clearly not. Really impressed with her so far this year.

-- Edited by Tutu on Tuesday 9th of March 2010 07:17:29 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

What a comeback from a shocker yesterday or lets just hope Georgie was just brilliant.
I really feared for this match today so to win is great news.
Another tough match next whoever she plays.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

steven wrote:

Someone on tennisforum reports that Heather recovered from her FQR loss to shock Tatishvili in 3

OOOOOHHHH, MAMA MIA.

Big time mentality there. To comeback from a thrashing and having played alot of matches recently, it would have been easy to give up the ghost in the 3rd.

-- Edited by Maza1987 on Tuesday 9th of March 2010 08:55:15 PM

Tutu · Club Coach

(LL)Heather Watson (GBR) d. Anna Tatishvili (GEO) 67(5) 61 62
(Q)Georgie Stoop (GBR) d. (wc)Julie Ditty (USA) 62 36 64

GREAT news. Nice last sets from Heather. I guess that loss turned out to be the best thing that could've happened. Heather got a kick up the ass and a chance to make sure that didn't ever happen again, and Georgie hopefully got some confidence from the win and can start to play well again. Georgie plays Lertcheewakarn. Please dispose of her.

Naomi is on the main court tomorrow and second match on so there should be live scores on bet365. http://www.usta.com/USTA/Global/Pro_Tennis/USTA_Pro_Circuit/Information/~/media/USTA/Document%20Assets/Pro_Circuit/2010/03/WeekofMarch8/Clearwater/schedule.ashx

-- Edited by Tutu on Tuesday 9th of March 2010 09:35:17 PM

Tutu · Club Coach

By the way, the seed in Heather's section was replaced by Couts (who lost to Naomi in the FQR and last week also)

However, not exactly anything to cheer for, I was expecting Yi-Miao Zhou to beat the seed anyway since she seems to be in great, great form this year.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Strange scoreline for Heather's match hopefully a sign she found an extra gear after the first set.
Georgie's match also difficult to assess given Ditty's lack of matches but much higher best ranking.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Quote from Heather's facebook.

Wow I am tired! I won my match this morning against Anna Tatishvili who is ranked #172, 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2. It took exactly 3 hours and it was such a battle. We ran eachother all over but I hung in there even after being up 5-3 in the first set. A day off tomorrow and then second round on Thursday.

indiana · Tennis legend

Sounds from Heather's report and the length of the match that even the last 2 sets were probably much more of a battle than the scoreline suggests.

Still, another great win, especially after the big loss to Georgie, and good to have Georgie coming throgh too.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

Not playing doubles this week plus a day off should give her a chance to recover. Also, this is practically a home tournament for her.

Tutu · Club Coach

Deary me, considering how long some of Heather's matches have been, thank god she lost the Georgie match so easily!