Week 8 - WTA Premier - Dubai, UAE - Hard

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 8 - WTA Premier - Dubai, UAE - Hard

steven · Tennis legend

QR1: Anne Keothavong WR 89 v (q4) Mona Barthel (GER) WR 39 (= CH)

H2H 2-2. That includes this year's AO R1 retirement when Anne was ill. The other three were all in 2011 and Anne won the last two of those, in Linz and Barnstaple. However, Mona has gone on a bit of a tear up the rankings in recent months.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Barthel is maybe not playing quite as well as she was, but it will still be a very tough ask for Anne.

Just watched the whole of Anne's match with Aga from this week, and now have a slightly different opinion on how Anne played.
Anne wasn't competitive with respect to points won in that match, but actually was much more competitive during the rallies, her ball striking was on a par with Aga and she wasn't that far off making the scoreline much closer. I don't think the shoulder issue really hindered her during the match so should be OK for this match.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

will be tough.
one loss to azarenka doesnt mean much. barthel is still under ranked imo.

steven · Tennis legend

Anne broke to 30 in the 1st game and saved 2 bps in the 2nd to lead 2-0*

steven · Tennis legend

Another bp saved, but this time she does get broken - 2-2*

steven · Tennis legend

All going a bit wrong now - 0-40 down this time, Anne saves 2 of the bps but not the third - 4 games in a row for Barthel.

2-4*

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Mona takes the 1st set 3 - 6

Anne double faults to give Mona the 1st game of the second set. Sad, as she'd clawed back to deuce from 0 - 40.

C'mon Anne. You can still do it. Especially if you don't get rattled !!!

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Breaks back

* 1- 1 Good stuff

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Oh no score board changed it's mind. I don't believe it
Deuce on Mona's serve

Ad Anne

Phew. Stet.

steven · Tennis legend

Barthel breaks again

- Anne has faced a ridiculous 15 bps now, saving 11.

Still, with Barthel having been broken twice in this match too (Anne has had 7 bps in total), who knows what might happen ...

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Yuk

1 - 4*

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Anne holds, saving 2 match points on the way !

2 - 5*

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Mona df's on a match point on her serve

But takes the next one....... ooops ......
all over

Anne 3 - 6 2 - 6

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Maza1987 wrote:
will be tough.
one loss to azarenka doesnt mean much. barthel is still under ranked imo.

You were right, of course.

But I was still remembering Linz & Barnstaple, which really weren't that long ago.