Very good perfpmance in my view by Laura, although yes Jankovic playing to her best could of seen it off easier.

I was very pleased with Laura' good match temperament, coming up with great serves often on break points and saving 12 out of 16 BPs.  Indeed I think it was 4 MPs she saved with good play. She got through quite a few tough sevice games ( 92 points on her service to 62 points on Jankovic's service ) and when under presuure like that, to get so close to making it one set all was a good effort.

The first serve is definitely stronger. and is already a real free point weapon. I agree her second serve certainly needs to improve as I expect it will, indeed she seems to be showing more thought and variety than I have seen in the past.  But at the moment it remains quite attackable.

Her shot selection was sometimes debatable going for too much too quickly, mostly in missing lines, but that is a difficult one especially against someone like Jankovic who will keep getting balls back, so if you see a glimmer the temptation is too go for it and sometimes go for too much   On the other hand, as was said in commentary a bit more power on some shots,  which again I expect she will develop  could easier see off some rallies especially against such fighters as Jankovic.

My lomgterm biggest worry is Laura's movement, which FD mentions and has been mentioned in the past.  Again I think it is getting better, and will no doubt improve still in years to come, but I fear it will never be up with the very best.  There seems a particular issue on her forehand side.  I can't really work out how much that is movement or anticipation but quite often Jankovic seemed to beat her easily on that side with not huge shots and often not too close to the line either.  I somehow felt that many players would be getting to some shots there that Laura wasn't close to.

BUT, all in all, this is picking because Laura is such a good prospect and she performed extremely creditably today.  All the signs are that she is going to be a top top player.  My guess ( and it is still often difficult to say at her age ) is a top 20 player anyway, and how far within that top 20 depends so much on how she develops in the next few years.

Yes, a very good performance by Laura 

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 21st of June 2010 06:33:21 PM

Katie went a break down at the start of the second but has broken back, serving at 3-4

6 - 6   TB time.

* 1 - 0  ( MB )
"  1 - 1  ( MB back )
    2 - 1 *
    2 - 2 *
 * 3 - 2  ( MB )
*  3 - 3  ( MB back )    

   *  7  - 7
   *  8  - 7

  *  9 - 8  ( MB up )
   * 9 - 9  ( MB back )

BLAHDY 'ELL.

Tell you what, my predictions have been totally off.