Week 24 - WTA Premier 600k - Eastbourne (grass)

DavidC · Tennis legend

RE: Week 24 - WTA Premier 600k - Eastbourne (grass)

indiana · Tennis legend

I'd actually be pretty ecstatic and, even with all their progress, amazed if several British women made the second week, i.e. 4th round on. Or are you predicting serious rain problems, Drew ?

If two made the 3rd round ond one the 4th I would suggest that would be really good.

Bally clearly at moment best candidate.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 16th of June 2010 06:19:46 PM

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

Good stuff again Bally. Hope she plays a good match against Stosur.

steven · Tennis legend

ACE reporting that Bally is out first QF-ist at Eastbourne since Jo Durie in 1983!

Tutu · Club Coach

So happy for Bally!

Forgot to say that I spoke to her at Eastbourne on monday. She was so nice and took a picture with me. Stosur is winnable.

Tim · Intermediate Club Player

Awesome result ... keep it going!

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Stosur was really unconvincing vs a poor Hantuchova. I think she hates the wind so Bally needs to keep her under pressure. With that in mind, I feel Stosur, on paper, is a less formidable grass court opponent than Zheng was, so Bally should fancy at least a fighting chance.

Serve will be crucial though, if Bally takes too long/struggles to read it then there will be a lot of pressure on Ballys service game. With Stosurs irritable attitude at the moment, which hopefully will carry on until 2moz, Ballys intense game style and low ranking may get under Stosyrs skin and knock her off her game.

To early to tell, but I feel that this is a good shot at a great scalp and a SF. The lower half is pretty weak if you ask me, could be great for Bally. First things first though, and losing tomorrow would be no embarrassing thing.

DavidC · Tennis legend

Extracts from the LTA report

"After the match Baltacha commented on the difficulties she faced during the match: "The first set I started really well and took firm control. The second set, I could have been 2-1 up, and that gave her momentum and I kind of dropped.

"I took the toilet break, came back, and that first game was so important, she had two or three advantages and I knew if she got that it would be it, but I managed to hold on and then break, and that completely changed the match. I just had to hold my serve and I managed to do that and it was an amazing win.

"I am very proud of myself, I knew I'd have to play my best tennis. I really respect her, so it's an unbelievable win." .....................

.....The victory for Baltacha sees her close in on a top 50 ranking and she now faces a quarter-finals clash with French Open finalist Sam Stosur in what will be their third grass court meeting.

Baltacha added: "I play Stosur next and she's going to be difficult, she's got a really good serve. But I've got nothing to lose. I learnt so much from playing Safina in Australia. The court was so big, the pace, I'd never felt that before and it threw me.

"But when I played Sharapova a month later I dealt with it much better. My confidence grew and grew and I know that I can play at that level and take them on."

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bally also admitted to a bit of gamesmanship.

steven · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
Bally also admitted to a bit of gamesmanship.

What you're referring to is: (from the Mail)

"Asked about the windy conditions and her frequent practising of her ball toss, the British No 1 said: 'I did that tactically to waste a bit of time, if I'm being really honest. The more time I could take, the better without getting into trouble. But then it became a superstition as well because I kept winning the point, so I kept doing it.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-1287198/Brilliant-Elena-Baltacha-quarter-finals-Eastbourne-beating-Zheng-Jie.html#ixzz0r62q7Jts

Not exactly Nadal standard as time-wasting goes. wink Anyway, sweet off the court, a demon on it - what more could we ask for?

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

It aint cheating if its in the rules. Anyone who thinks all the players dont do things like this are crazy, good on the girl for havin the balls to admit it tho im nt sure i wud!

I was suprised when John Lloyd and I think Greg were saying that when a server serves with new balls they should use all the balls to scuff them up to make sure their opponent cant use brand new ones- I had never considered that before so I guess there are lots of little things the top players do to try and give them an advantage and tactical stalling is up there!

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

Is Bally's match on the BBC Red button? Do the BBC have the rights to the men's matches?

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

It is incredibly windy, especially on the outside courts, and pretty much every player has complained a little bit about it at some point during the week, and there have been occasions players have waited for about a minute between serves just for the wind to die down.

steven · Tennis legend

thegingerlightbulb wrote:

Is Bally's match on the BBC Red button? Do the BBC have the rights to the men's matches?

Eurosport are showing Eastbourne this week, CC & C1. I think it should be available to watch live on their site too when it starts, but it costs a few £.

Armchair · County player

Didn't the Beeb used to cover Eastbourne ? Do they think that covering Queens, Eastbourne and Wimbledon is a tourney too far ?
In some ways I'd prefer to see Eastbourne rather than Queens, particularly now it's a mixed event.