I had one eye on Cheltenham and the other on this match, and its easy to say which experience was the most relaxing. Not always the case, but today was as straightforward as you can get. Having no coach seems to have had no effect and now maybe we know why she parted company with Wilkinson, it was of course so that she could take a step forward.
Marino will probably be top 40 by the year end so is the clear favourite, but Heather we know will fight to the bitter end so an upset is not out of the question.

Yes Marino will be tougher, but if you look at her results this year she hasn't beaten that many players in the top 100 and I think that Heather is playing at a level around 70-80 in the world.

LordBrownof wrote:

---

Yes Marino will be tougher, but if you look at her results this year she hasn't beaten that many players in the top 100 and I think that Heather is playing at a level around 70-80 in the world.

---

Yes,  I don't really see Marino's record this year as being better than Heather's.

She has further moved up the rankings this years, largely through 100 points from an Australian 1st round win against a Japanese player WR 113  ( Though she did give Shoavone a very tight 3 set match in R2 ) and in February 200 points from reaching the WTA tour final in Memphis in a field that seems no stonger than this week's and her highest ranked opponent beaten that week was WR 89.

She's also had a lot of topsy turvy looking 3 set matches to lower ranked opponents this year ( she seemed to have more dominating wins last year ) and I have read concern from supporters that her focus can seem to go a bit at times.

Certainly to me a match that could go either way and one not at all to be feared by Heather.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 16th of March 2011 09:10:53 PM

rebel_rebel wrote:

---

Any news on Anne? Am just home from work, but thought she was scheduled to play before Heather.

---

Annes match was up first, but wasnt on the main sourt, no no livescore available.   Cant find information anywhere atm, but will keep looking!

I find it incredibly frustrating that ITF WTA or whatever don't make a point , at the very least, of posting results as soon as they're known.

If you want people to follow tennis year round at all the levels of the game give them something they can think about , chat, tweet etc., Whether you follow a particular player or a specfic country, if you don't get the info you soon loose interest.

Sigh from the grumpy old woman........

I've even gone to the German Player forum on TF translated their last post on re kerber on Babelfish, and they don't know either, but 'have noticed Anne's site is not updated so maybe not bad news '(for them).

Training in patience !!