Week 22 - ITF ($50K) - Nottingham, Grass

DavidC · Tennis legend

RE: Week 22 - ITF ($50K) - Nottingham, Grass

DavidC · Tennis legend

Bally wins 7-6(5) 6-3 to reach tomorrow's final

steven · Tennis legend

FINAL: (1) Elena Baltacha WR 64 v Carly Gullickson WR 242 (CH 123 July 2009)

The head to head is 2-1 to Elena, all three matches going to 3 sets. Gullickson won @ Lexington 2008, Bally won @ USO Q 2008 and then won again 5-7 6-0 6-0 @ AO Q 2009, so she goes into the match on a 12-game winning streak against her. Gullickson is going for a triple Brit-bash this week, having already beaten Lisa Whybourn 1 & 1 and Katie 6 & 2.

Josh · Challenger level

Sorry for not making the server clear. The first set was a bit inconsistent from both, lots of breaks and basically typical WTA match. Got a bit more interesting at 4-4. As someone alluded to earlier in the week (wolf?) it is amazing how pumped up Bally can get for these matches given all her great wins so far this year. So Bally broke again to lead 5-4 and all throughout the game she was basically trying to urge herself on, shouting come on and davai. On the break point Han slipped over and called for the trainer which seemed a ploy to try and disrupt Bally's momentum. So first point of Bally serving for the set both players are at the net and Bally nets a volley. Han shouts come on really loud right at Bally, either trying to imitate her or just put her off even more. Nino and Sears both burst out laughing and it seemed pretty ridiculous although it must have flustered Elena because she dropped her level. Fortunately she managed to recover in the TB and edged a tight 1st set.

The 2nd set was up and down again, Bally raced into a 4-0 lead and never really looked in danger of losing although was lucky not to be back on serve. She played pretty intense throughout, even when her form went missing for a few games. I'd fancy her to win against Gullickson tomorrow if she is as focused as she is today.

steven · Tennis legend

Don't worry about the server thing, it's not as if serving seemed to give the slightest advantage to either player in this match anyway. I think it's great that Bally can keep the intensity going - indeed, it's probably why she is where she is, and why she inspires more confidence than any other GB woman for more than a decade, i.e. even more than Anne K.

DavidC · Tennis legend

Bally leads by a set and 4-1 according to http://twitter.com/jillmctag

DavidC · Tennis legend

5*-2

DavidC · Tennis legend

Bally won - don't know the final score. Congratulations!

steven · Tennis legend

Tennisforum say 2 & 2, very convincing, looks like she was the strongest player in Nottingham this week by a country mile!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

DavidC wrote:

Bally won - don't know the final score. Congratulations!

2 & 3, according to the LTA.

Well done, Bally!

-- Edited by Stircrazy on Saturday 5th of June 2010 03:09:06 PM

steven · Tennis legend

The LTA have since corrected it to what I said.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

bread-butter.

Happycynic · Pro player

Bally is keeping up her very good habit of not losing to people ranked below her. She's had very few slip ups off the red stuff.

wolf · Tennis legend

Another sensationally good week for Bally.

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

Went to see the final. Well done Bally. She was a complete step up from Carly. So she was expected to win this anyway. It was the first time i have seen her play in person and was impressed by her play and attitude. She looks a completely different player from a couple of years ago. You could also see there is a good bond between her and her coach.

Well done Bally. Another good week and another title. Go GB Girls.