Week 33 WTA Cincinnati (hard)

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Week 33 WTA Cincinnati (hard)

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

She is on the OOP for today playing Vera DUSHEVINA (RUS) WR107, 4th on Court 9 starting from 11am local time. 2nd round opponents are either Lucic (100) or U. Radwandska (46)

Anne plays Yung-Jan CHAN (TPE) WR101 7th (!) on Court 4, which is odd scheduling given Court 6 only has 3 matches. 2nd round opponents are either Dominguez Lino (75) or Mattek-Sands (WC 234)

-- Edited by RBBOT on Saturday 11th of August 2012 06:28:16 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Robbo's into MD!

Britains Laura Robson, an Olympics silver medalist in mixed doubles with Andy Murray, and the tournaments oldest entrant Kimiko Date Krumm, 41, of Japan are among other qualifying entrants.

http://www.cincytennis.com/news/oudin_gibbs_davis_sock_headline_american_qualifiers/

Can't find the qualies deaw though - please can any one help?

philwrig · Hall of fame

Fascinating to see how Laura gets on here, and in particular with a surprise choice of her new coach in her corner.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Who is her new coach?

philwrig · Hall of fame

Here's a link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2186190/Laura-Robson-appoints-Zeljko-Krajan-new-coach.html
This guy has a reputation for being very tough on his pupil's and for being quite intense on the sidelines. I remember when he was coaching Safina he was a bit of a perfectionist. Not really praising victories, but being quite critical.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Sports Illustrated sum up my reservations about that appointment: "Given his recent history of less-than-amicable splits with Dinara Safina and Dominika Cibulkova, thats a surprising hire. Heres hoping he doesnt train all the joy out of her."

LordBrownof · Futures level

I imagine there was a lot of consultation, especially with Leon and Judy. Dinara always spoke extremely highly of him when they were actually training.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Early break for Laura with the BP set up by a Dushevina DF

*2-1

Hands it back immediately with a DF on break point (Her second in the game) Serve is a problem already - low percentage, and her 2nd serve is no challenge for Dushevina so far.

2-2*

Three straight breaks. Looks like another one of those matches where who breaks will be irrelevant. Who holds will be the key!

*3-2

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Saturday 11th of August 2012 08:18:10 PM

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Will certainly be interesting to see how Laura develops with her new coach. Krajan has the advantage of starting work with Laura when she is on a good run of form.
Laura has to be favourite to win today given the recent results of both players.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

In that case: HOLD!! biggrin biggrin biggrin

Which is followed by one of those run-of-the-mill breaks 5*-2

-- Edited by RBBOT on Saturday 11th of August 2012 08:26:51 PM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

They start set 2 with 4 straight holds - pass the smelling salts!

2-2*

Dushevina breaks on the first BP of the set.

3-5*

And one BP is all it takes for the set to slip away, as Dushevina levels it up.

3-6

Laura often has trouble coming back in matches where she is levelled up like this. Lets hoppe she can renew her efforts to take the third.

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Saturday 11th of August 2012 09:05:15 PM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

I think if Anne brings the form she showed against Wozniacki in to this, she actually has the better chance of reaching the MD. Likely to be Dominguez Lino for her next, which should be about an even chance (as it's not on clay).

However, if Anne brings her pre-Olympic form, then Yung-Jan Chan will probably beat her easily. Chan had a great run in Carlsbad on Hard, beating Wickmayer, Heather and Jankovic in successive matches en route to a very close loss in the final to Bartoli. She also then made the final in Beijing, but lost to a player ranked 100 places below her.

Whereas though Laura's first match is possibly easier (Dushevina's recent form being pretty ordinary), she is then likely to face Urszula Radwanska who recently beat Hantuchova in Carlsbad, and Barthel at the Olympics.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

4 straight holds to open set three too. It seems pretty close and competitive now.

*2-2

Laura faced *0-30 and a break point, but holds, just.

***correction*** the scoreboard was wrong (both I'm checking), there was no BP, the advantage went to Laura from deuce, and she won directly. from there

3-2*

Still on serve in set 3. Laura taken to deuce two services in a row - this time through a DF, but holds firm.

Laura hasn't had a break point opportunity since Set 1. Now would be a great time.

4-3*

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Saturday 11th of August 2012 09:32:53 PM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Oh boy, do I feel smug!

Laura does indeed get that break point, and takes it, breaking to love. Now serving for the match. Come on!

*5-3

But... she cracks! A DF to start the gane, and Vera breaks back, to 30. disbelief Oh well, break again!

5-4*

And she does! Breaks to love. Phew!

6-2 3-6 6-4

She played quite well, not well, but quite well, overall, and the serve was an improvement. Still needs consuistency all around though. If it's Radwanska next, she'll need to play well. 20 points is a good start for the week.

Well played Laura, onwards and upwards.

Now for Annie...

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Saturday 11th of August 2012 09:47:07 PM