WeeK 39 - WTA Premier 5 ($2.05M) - Tokyo, Japan - Hard

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

RE: WeeK 39 - WTA Premier 5 ($2.05M) - Tokyo, Japan - Hard

steven · Tennis legend

Pity.

I half-expected that to happen when she served at *4-5 but she held very impressively then. Should be happy she's pushing Ana so close, but it feels like the set that got away.

steven · Tennis legend

Finally got a stream - Laura hits that ball way harder than Ana! It seems to work too, she breaks at the start of the 2nd & holds for 5-7 2-0*

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

5-7 *3-0

Great start for Laura as the coaches advice to stand a bit further back on the returns pays instant dividends. A lucky net cord in the last game also helped.

steven · Tennis legend

Quickly goes 0-40 down, saves 1 bp but DFs onthe 2nd

and Ana has one of the breaks back.

steven · Tennis legend

Laura continues to outhit Ana by some margin and creates another bp but it is saved. An important service game coming up ...

steven · Tennis legend

Scream of frustration from Laura as the second break slips away too

- 5-7 3-3*

steven · Tennis legend

Ana's 10th ace helps her hold - 5-7 *3-4

As OEM says, "Were it not for a touch of impetuosity she [Laura] would lead 4-1 in 2nd set."

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Confidence boosting love hold for 4-4

steven · Tennis legend

Laura answers 4 games in a row for Ana with 7 points in a row - 0-40, 15-40, tees up for a winner but nets 30-40, nets a return - deuce

steven · Tennis legend

... and Ana makes it 5 points in a row to hold

Oh, the chances

steven · Tennis legend

When serving to stay in the match, dfing to go 0-30 down is not the best way to start

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Ana wins 7-5 6-4

Frustrating match to watch in that Laura played pretty well for the most part but lost some crucial games at the end of each set - especially from 40-0 up on Ana's serve at 4-4.

steven · Tennis legend

Ivanovic wins 5 & 4 ...

So Laura took 9 games off a former world no. 1 yet it feels disappointing - should that in a strange way be encouraging?

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Thanks so much for commentary Steven but

( just managed to log on again)