indiana wrote:

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I really do think it is more a young / inexperience thing rather than a Brit thing that there are still quite a lot of ups and downs with Laura and Heather.

But as I indicated, my impression is that Heather is generally quite a fighter.  That "Just give up, Heather, really..." is surely just a sign of frustration with herself and her play that she's let it slip away like that, err not an indication of actual intention.

Occasionally Heather gets slightly mullered when you don't expect it as Laura has at times, so maybe when they feel it's not their day the wheels come off a bit, they get frustrated and it just gets worse.  This can happen in single sets after otherwise reasonable close matches like maybe for Laura in the final set yesterday.

But, as I indicated earlier, once Heather gets in a real fight she generally really sees it out, more often than not victoriously.  Of the seven 3 setters she has played this year, she has won five and only in the end lost the other two 7-5 in the decider.

Edit :  Just read the interview on the blog which confirms the stuff in the article that Tutu quoted that Heather was getting frustrated when it was just more good play from her opponent than anything else.  She clearly recognised that herself,  probably knew even at the time she shouldn't have been gettting frustrated but still was.  That resonates as true, just an inexperienced player not reacting well to things going against her and she just needs more and more experience.  She probably started getting frustrated about getting frustrated  

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 8th of April 2010 10:50:07 AM

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Yup, it's definitely not something that is uncommon among up-and-coming junior players.

From Heather's Facebook page

"Won again today against a tough grinder 6-1, 7-6. Let up a bit in the second set but was able to close it out in a tie-breaker. Have doubles with Laura Robson later today and then will play my Quarterfinal match in singles tomorrow."

comon girl.

Yes. The rule is that she can play 16 tournaments between the age of 17 and 18. It's weird though because it states that only the tournaments in which she earns ranking points counts. She has played 14 tournaments since may last year but has earnt ranking points in 12 so I guess that means she can play 4 tournaments between now and May the 19th. After that, she is free to play however many she likes.

-- Edited by Tutu on Thursday 8th of April 2010 10:05:37 PM

Good stuff from Heather.   Hopefully no cause for big frustrations today 

As folk say, good to see her having this success on clay which if she really can adapt well to the surface will be great for the future.

Anyway, 15 ranking points so far which should put her somewhere in the 370's in the rankings.

Tutu wrote:

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As for Laura, she can play 12 tournaments between ages 16 and 17. She has played two (Australian Open Doubles & Jackson this week).

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As the Aussie open started before her 16th birthday I think it counts as part of last years allocation. She has entered another clay court tournament w/c 26/4 so is using up alot of currents years allocation already.