Week 26 - WTA ($11M) - Wimbledon, UK Grass (Main Draw)

jake270392 · Intermediate Club Player

RE: Week 26 - WTA ($11M) - Wimbledon, UK Grass (Main Draw)

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Helen40 wrote:
Alexei wrote:

Mental fortitude seems to be the thing a lot of the British players are missing. They are good enough but lack that killer instinct.

I agree, but whenever I say it on the board I get shot!

*Gets gun out*

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Bally loses the first set 6-4. Been a bit scrappy so far between two players with very similar games.

Very long game at 4-3 was crucial

Alexei · Lower Club Player

Baltacha drops first set 6-3, losing three games in a row.

Alexei · Lower Club Player

Bally's opponent slips and goes down.

Trainer called. Not looking too promising at present for her.

Bally got the break with that shot so is *2-1 if they resume.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Bad call loses Bally a game.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Elena 4-6 6-4 with the trainer on for Elena.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Bally's won, abit of a srange set with two trainer calls, but the W

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Well played from Bally to win 6-0 in the third.

Looks like the injury started to affect her opponent, but Bally was pumped up and actually playing quite well in the deciding set

jake270392 · Intermediate Club Player

Well done Bally, think Judy told her she got the Olympic wildcard, thats why she was crying but great win!!

Jan · Hall of fame

well done Bally!!

Rich · Lower Club Player

Tough match for Bally in Rd2. Hopefully get on a big showcourt.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

I think on balance the right decision has been made re olympic WC. Anne and Bally are more experienced, have been higher ranked and deserve to play the Olympics for what theyve done in British tennis.

of course Laura and Hev will be Rio players in 2016.

steven · Tennis legend

4 R1 wins in 5 years for Bally and 7 singles wins at Wimbledon in her career (*)

She remains the last British woman to reach R3, but that was 10 years ago.

(*) the only 6 GB women to have won more than 1 main draw match at Wimbledon in the last 20 years (ie. 1993-2012) are:

7 Bally
5 Karen Cross
3 Anne (hopefully +1 today!), Sam Smith & Louise Latimer
2 Jane O'Donoghue

Ratty · County player

Maza1987 wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
Alexei wrote:

Mental fortitude seems to be the thing a lot of the British players are missing. They are good enough but lack that killer instinct.

I agree, but whenever I say it on the board I get shot!
*Gets gun out*

It's just completely fascinating, this astonishing prevalence of the Availability Heuristic!

Let us test this hypothesis: "British tennis players are "good". but lack mental fortitude" [compared to foreigners, of course].

Firstly, is this likely? Well, I certainly can't think of any conceivable reason why it should be. (And let's not forget that the accusation was levelled at Johanna Konta, who is ethnically Hungarian, and until a month ago was Australian!)

So, notwithstanding the lack of credibility of the proposition, is there any scientific evidence? Well, I would argue that the answer is a resounding "No". All we have is that every time a Brit loses after looking as though they might win, someone pipes up with the tired old mantra that Brits can't hack it mentally.

Here's a much more likely proposition: "The better player almost always wins a tennis match." Can't really argue with that one, can you?

And the thing is, that one of the things that makes one player "better" than another is the ability to perform under pressure - for example, when closing out a match.

And in the grass court season, where most Brits only get into the tournaments via wild cards, they are generally worse players than their foreign opponents. Therefore they tend to lose - even when they get into winning positions.

Just like players of ANY OTHER NATIONALITY!

smile