Week 17 - WTA ($220K) - Barcelona, Spain, Red Clay

Danjn · Lower Club Player

Week 17 - WTA ($220K) - Barcelona, Spain, Red Clay

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Im not convinced there is any such thing as a kind draw for a Brit on clay but I can think of far worse openers really. Lepchenko has been sketchy as of late. Lets hope Bally gets her clay court campaign off to a good start - if she can bring out the level she played against Aga at RG she should be fine.

steven · Tennis legend

She has beaten Lepchenko once before too, even if it was 6 years ago (Augusta 25K 2005, from a set down)

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bally has been training well by all accounts, so hopeful of success here.

DavidC · Tennis legend

Bally is second on court 3 tomorrow (following Hercog v Hampton) - first match at noon BST

SMC1809 · All-time great

Bally took the first set 7-6(3) but trails in the second *1-3.

SMC1809 · All-time great

Bally lost the 2nd set 6-1 and now 0-1 15-40.

steven · Tennis legend

Bally was fed a breadstick in the 2nd

- in the 1st set, she won 2/3 of her service points and about 50% on return, in the 2nd those stats belonged to Lepchenko instead.

... and now she's gone a break down in the 3rd, so it's 7-6(3) 1-6 0-2*

Lepchenko must have won at least 6 games in a row. I wonder if Elena has picked up a slight injury of something like that.

steven · Tennis legend

She's got the break back in the 3rd

- *1-2

steven · Tennis legend

... but quickly goes 0-40 down again

steven · Tennis legend

1-5*, Lepchenko serving for the match ... but at last some signs of life from Elena, she gets 30-40 and Varvara dfs.

7-6(3) 1-6 *2-5

steven · Tennis legend

15-40

1 MP saved with an ace

... but not the 2nd - Lepchenko breaks Bally for the 9th (!) time to win the match 6-7(3) 6-1 6-2