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

indiana · Tennis legend

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

philwrig · Hall of fame

I think her new coach has really helped with her mentality and with tactics, you could see that clearly at the US open, that added to better serving, better footwork, better speed around the court is having a big impact.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I guess the big question now is, can laura maintain playing at this level both physically and mentally?

Jan · Hall of fame

very well done Laura - I had to go out just as the first set ended, so really pleased to get back and see that she won!

DavidC · Tennis legend

That's an excellent win for Laura, as Zheng Jie has a very different game from her recent scalps (Safarova/Clijsters/Li Na), so a good sign that she is ready to cope with the variety of styles she will encounter within the top 50

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

A laudable win. Jie Zheng is a very tough match player whose performance rarely dips, and who seldom loses to players ranked as far below her as Laura is.

It is conceivable Laura could break through the 1000 point barrier at this event. One more win would also cover all the points she has to defend until the end of the year.

Here is a strange tale...
The spirit of the, very much alive, 'Battling' Barry Cowan, appeared to me in a (brie fuelled) dream and told me Laura was going to win. I asked him if he meant against Zheng, and he said, no.... She will win... the Guangzhou tournament!
I almost never dream.

So, you heard it here first folks.
If it proves true, my 'smug mode' will be on planet sized overdrive

I will also curse myself that I don't bet!

philwrig · Hall of fame

Interested to see how alot of the British Bookmakers who don't usually price up tournaments as small as this are getting involved in the Robbo breakthrough story. All of them make her marginal favourite to win the whole thing which I find a little surprising, given that she tends to tire as an event reaches its conclusion. I think she has the beating of all the players left in the draw but I can't see her being able to produce three consistently high level performances to win the whole thing. I think in 12 months time it'll be a different matter when she becomes that bit fitter and more consistent.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

tony_orient wrote:
And the BBC have even used a nice picture of Laura instead of an ugly mid-shot pose, so everything is going her way: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/19652405

I think her game has reached the point now where I find that more surprising than the match result.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Bet 365 scoreboard stuck now ! But Protennis live score working. Phew!

Both working now and Bet365 just ahead

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Thursday 20th of September 2012 11:18:28 AM

Julia Carrot · All-time great

No DF's as yet and 1st ace in this game . Holds to 15 5 - 1*

ROCK ON !!!

(Sorry Murrayman. Not trying to muscle in with the scoring. Just got a bit carried away there . I'll keep quiet now)

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Thursday 20th of September 2012 11:27:39 AM

Julia Carrot · All-time great

eblunt wrote:
Please keep the scores coming, I cant get onto protennis

OK.

Laura serving for the Set. BIG test. 30 - 30 (still no df's Somebody must have 'had a word'.

Deuce

Faces a BP

BROKEN

Oops

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Thursday 20th of September 2012 11:44:02 AM

Julia Carrot · All-time great

30 - 15

Set point

Deuce. Oh NO !!!

BP

Saves it

Another

Darn darn darn !!!!!

5 - 5

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Thursday 20th of September 2012 11:51:45 AM

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Thursday 20th of September 2012 11:55:05 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Err, I don't believe she's dead !!

Some tight games she won, then some tight games Peng won. Disappointing for her ( especiallly set ponts getting away ) but it happens, especially in women's tennis. Often so many twist and turns.

I'm sure Laura is quite capable of regrouping.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 20th of September 2012 12:01:42 PM