Girls: Wimbledon Juniors 2010

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Girls: Wimbledon Juniors 2010

philwrig · Hall of fame

indiana wrote:

Yes, I read some of that too.

I think Tara has the ability to be much higher ranked in the seniors than she is and I feel should have been shown more ongoing support from the LTA. But I'm afraid I raised my eyes about her feeling she should be talked about in the same sense as Laura and Heather. Hmm, yes Tara, once you get results anywhere near theirs.

But hopefully she does go out to try and really prove herself and plays to a high level and it might be interesting.

According to a recent article I read the LTA are fully backing her again.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

The difference today for Eleanor was that Pliskova normally plays on the ITF women's tour, so Eleanor's level of power is something she is used to in an opponent, whereas the previous opponents mainly play juniors so would were easily overpowered. Laura appeared to be struggling with heatstroke but came through.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Well done tara today.
Will look forward to her playing laura tommorow.

DavidC · Tennis legend

Josh wrote:
I think Tara will be very motivated and will play some of her best tennis. There were a few quotes from her saying she feels she should be talked about in the same sense as Heather and Laura and she'll want to prove that. She appears to be in good form anyway and it would be pretty big news here if Robson lost to another Brit.

I also read those quotes and although it is good that she believes in her ability I thought it was unwise to have compared herself with Heather and Laura until she achieves as much.

Laura played a sparkling tiebreak, which was just as well as a third set may well have been a struggle both with the heat and a talented opponent.

The occasional heavy defeat is going to be inevitable for Eleanor playing so early at such a high level for her age - partly for the reason RBBOT mentions - as Laura, Michelle de Brito and other precocious teenagers have found out on the Women's Circuit. An excellent week and good learning experience as she herself said: ""I've learnt a lot from being here, I didn't execute my game today as well as I could have and she played well. I had my chances, but I've had a really great week overall and I've learnt so much, so next time I can come out and hopefully do better.

I loved the crowd, supporting me all the way, so that's been great, and just playing here has been unbelievable. I'll go home, get back right back to it, and hopefully do well at some ITF tournaments, and then come back next year.

QF

(8/WC) Laura Robson v Tara Moore 2nd match court 12

indiana · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:

indiana wrote:

Yes, I read some of that too.

I think Tara has the ability to be much higher ranked in the seniors than she is and I feel should have been shown more ongoing support from the LTA. But I'm afraid I raised my eyes about her feeling she should be talked about in the same sense as Laura and Heather. Hmm, yes Tara, once you get results anywhere near theirs.

But hopefully she does go out to try and really prove herself and plays to a high level and it might be interesting.

According to a recent article I read the LTA are fully backing her again.

That's very good to hear.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Eleanor has the power but is so erratic and doesn't have a plan B but what a platform from which to develop her game from. Her opponent is in the form of her life at the moment and is my favourite to take the title.

Laura was struggling with dizziness caused by not eating enough before going on court.
Her opponent though was exceptional today possibly inspired by Clijsters watching from the sidelines. Laura's body language was poor today and that is something she needs to work on, but overall and especially taking into account an exceptional tie break Laura's performance was reasonable. Brilliant again at saving break points.

Strongly fancy Laura to win tomorrow as I would expect Tara to be overawed by who is on the other side of the net. One caveat though Laura has lost to the last two Brits she has played.

Tara apparently benefitted from a poor performance from her opponent but without doubt Tara has really found something in the last few weeks and I fully expect her to march up those senior rankings very quickly.

Josh · Challenger level

Sam Smith is saying that Tara was kicked out of the NTC for 12 months by Nigel Sears due to lifestlye issues and he will re-consider whether to allow her back in or not. That would suggest that she is not yet receveing full LTA backing but has to continue her 'good behaviour'

Josh · Challenger level

Laura wins the 1st set 7-5, Tara was up 5-3 but was on the wrong end of a terrible call at break point when she was serving for the set. She seemed to take it quite well but played a poor service game at 6-5 to get broken again for the set.

indiana · Tennis legend

Hmm, first set to Laura 7 - 5.

I have to say that I don't think that was a great quality first set.

Laura in particular early on was really off he game and her movement, never the best, has looked worse than I have seen it in a long time, position for the ball was just bad at times. Not being playing like a top 300 player.

Tara took good advantage and has played quite well in patches, but fell away at the end of the set, partly while Laura improved. Tara did seem very unlucky with a call to go 6 - 5 down.

Anyway the commentators seem to think it's a rather better match than I do, maybe they are the nicies to the nasties that were in attendance for the Oliver Golding match

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Tara got a horrendous call (or lack of a call) when break point down, serving for the first set. Seemed to accept the decision without throwing a tantrum but promptly fell to pieces. Her 2nd serve is just an invitation for Laura to hit a return winner.

indiana · Tennis legend

A bit concerning how much Laura is feeling her left wrist and generally right up and down her arm at changeovers.

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

Long time lurker here, without wishing to be too unpleasant to Tara, her mobility is hindered by her physique at the moment.

I understand over players are built like Tara, but for a girl of her height she needs to be far more mobile.

Perhaps I am just being mean, but she needs to get into the gym a bit more.

indiana · Tennis legend

Hmm, Laura finding her radar better and seeming to move a bit better and Tara just not staying with her at all though partly through some bad misses.

7 - 5 * 4 - 0 ( make that 5 )

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 1st of July 2010 02:13:38 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Laura wins 7 - 5 6 - 1

First set competitive, but largely due to a malfunctioning Laura.

Second set Laura did move and find her range better, Tara fell away quite a bit particularly after that bad line call that put her 6 - 5 down in the first set. If that had a really bad effect on her ( which as folk said she didn't show ) or just falling behind, then that's worrying.

Not really a particularly satisfactory match all round.

Re chavkev's comments re Tara, I am afraid they do seem not unfair to me. I used to go on about fitness quite a lot re British girls, and I do think there has been some general improvement. Perhaps it was Tara not taking advice from Nigel Sears and others in that regard that helped the parting of the ways from the NTC.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 1st of July 2010 02:27:51 PM