Week 38 - WTA ($220K) - Guangzhou, China - Hard

Julia Carrot · All-time great

RE: Week 38 - WTA ($220K) - Guangzhou, China - Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Julia Carrot wrote:
Saw this on Tennis Forum !
There was no caption, but presume it is the post match interview.

Aww, she does look slightly frazzled smile

Julia Carrot · All-time great

indiana wrote:
Julia Carrot wrote:
Saw this on Tennis Forum !
There was no caption, but presume it is the post match interview.

Aww, she does look slightly frazzled

Frazzled is OK. Possibly injured is what worries me.

NotAClue · Lower Club Player

Probably just a sensible precaution - MAjor League baseball pitchers do it after every single time they pitch, no matter for how long, or the intensity of the outing.

indiana · Tennis legend

Julia Carrot wrote:
indiana wrote:
Julia Carrot wrote:
Saw this on Tennis Forum !
There was no caption, but presume it is the post match interview.

Aww, she does look slightly frazzled
Frazzled is OK. Possibly injured is what worries me.

DUH ! Good observation skills on my part ashamed That is rather worrying ( though I take on board what I see NotAClue saying )

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Cirstea has a big game. Average first speed 108 mph, 2nd 79 mph. Really aggressive on the return so expect quite a few return winners and plenty that fail to land inside the court. Capable of brutal hitting on both wings if given the chance. Movement not that special and defensive skills are a slight weakness. In many respects a similar approach to the game as Robson. I would imagine that both players will be looking to attack as they won't like their chances if forced on the defensive. I watched most of her match against Cibulkova in Stanford and don't like Laura's chances if Cirstea puts in a similar display. She's had plenty of big wins since she broke into the top 100 just before turning 18 and it's perhaps a bit surprising that her career high is only 23.

Laura will need to perform at a high level and make the most of any chances she gets.

-- Edited by kundalini on Friday 21st of September 2012 12:37:54 AM

philwrig · Hall of fame

I'm not an expert but it was probably hurting her a little during the latter part of the match, she even maybe had treatment on it at the end of the 2nd set.
Two things to say 1. she's probably been working hard on her serve prior to this tournament and 2. In the past her body wears down if she has to play back to back high intensity matches. I suspect it might be a slight hindrance to her tomorrow but in the long term not a big issue as she gets stronger and fitter. Missing Tokyo looking even more of a blessing in disguise now.
Not sure if the semi will be streamed, Bet 365 have a slot for this tournament on Saturday and Sunday but if the final is on Saturday that doesn't make much sense.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bet 365 have it up for streaming for tomorrow now, hopefully it's a good picture !

DavidC · Tennis legend

Special Exempts only appear in the ITF rulebook - they can be used for entry into an ITF event of equal or lower value ($75K and $100K being regarded as equal for this purpose) to the WTA or ITF tournament the player is currently involved in within the same continent. Hence Laura could theoretically apply for an SE into any ITF event in Asia, if she had been in the qualifying acceptances there (obviously not relevant to someone of her ranking), but there is no provision in the 2012 WTA rulebook for Special Exempts into other WTA tournaments.

WTA events normally grant players involved in other tournaments 24 hours leeway for qualifying, so in theory Laura would probably be allowed to play her 2 qualifying matches (if successful in the first) on Saturday but I expect her to withdraw, regardless of what happens tomorrow

SMC1809 · All-time great

She may have decided to withdraw already, but I believe she's not allowed to announce it publicly until the Guangzhou tournament referee has informed the Tokyo equivalent of her continued presence in China.

NotAClue · Lower Club Player

WTA events are mandated to provide television coverage at $220K level as follows:

"Each International Tournament shall provide minimum Host Broadcaster coverage of one (1) singles semifinal match and the final match."
- WTA STANDARDS J.1.d

Though in reality most cover both semi's and the final.

Guangzhou has coverage of all three, provided to WTA official live streaming. Therefore likely to be a good stable stream.

Hoping for the first WTA tour level GB womens finallist since Jo Durie at Newport in 1990!

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Exciting times as the tennis Brits seek to extend the 'Great British Summer of Sport' on and on.

Best of luck to Laura tomorrow, and the nerves of those lucky enough to be able to watch it. NotAClue's last line above stole my fact (from the BBC red button P485 news).

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Super game from Laura to break after the early ace then df. Crashes a forehand winner to take the set. Robson's coach is on court. Probably telling her to calm down with the first shot after her serve, far too many have been landing miles out.

-- Edited by kundalini on Friday 21st of September 2012 11:54:34 AM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Super display from Laura. Her return game was better than her serve, really dominating Cirstea's 2nd serve with aggressive returns. The game at 4-1 in the 2nd set was incredible, absolutely brutal play from both players, Laura eventually breaking after 3 brilliant points in a row from her. Cirstea has such huge shots that there were times when Laura lost a run of points without doing anything wrong.

Interesting that Robson's improved defence didn't help her in this match. She ran down a few shots but Cirstea simply blasted a winner, typically a backhand drive volley, into the open space. The weakest part of her game was her first groundstroke after the serve, it simply wasn't finding the target often enough.

-- Edited by kundalini on Friday 21st of September 2012 12:55:00 PM

NotAClue · Lower Club Player

Helen40 wrote:
isn't that all the points she's defending until next year?

Her QF win at 130 pts had already covered those (70 + 30 + 30).

200 for final here (-8 16th best) = at least 192 to add.

Whatever events she plays until year end, all those points are just plusses to her. No downside.

What a great way to spend a Friday lunchtime - hope we can do it again soon Laura biggrin

-- Edited by NotAClue on Friday 21st of September 2012 12:51:05 PM