Week 41 - WTA ($220K) - Osaka, Japan - Hard

Julia Carrot · All-time great

RE: Week 41 - WTA ($220K) - Osaka, Japan - Hard

Julia Carrot · All-time great

philwrig wrote:
'Her post match press conference is up on the site, and gives me far more confidence for tomorrow.'

Me too. No strapping on the shoulder and just very honest about what went wrong.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ7gJwIce_U

Very brief relevant footage from Osaka players party 0:01-0:20 shows Heather & Genie, with Laura (seated), thick as thieves again.

I think it's Chanelle Scheepers with them at the start, who Heather would probably know from KSwiss promotional events.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Excited to see both our girls doing well here. Fingers crossed for an all GB final :D

How long ago since that happened?

philwrig · Hall of fame

Julia Carrot wrote:
philwrig wrote:
'Her post match press conference is up on the site, and gives me far more confidence for tomorrow.'

Me too. No strapping on the shoulder and just very honest about what went wrong.

Saying that there's a picture of her playing showing the left shoulder still with a dressing so who knows how much its troubling her.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Quote from Hev per WTA site:

"I knew it was going to be a tough match today," Watson said. "Anabel is a great player, has a lot of experience and she makes a lot of balls. I knew I was going to have to win the points and she wasn't going to give me anything.

"The first set was very close. It was a high-quality, good set. She played well to win it. I was obviously disappointed, but she earned it. So I just thought, 'I'm playing well. I'll come back in the second set. And stay positive.' And it ended up working today."

This will be the first time since February 2010 in Memphis that a WTA final eight will contain two Brits.

"I think it's good when we see each other doing well because it pushes the other girl to do just as well," Watson said of Robson. "We're good friends off the court. We have a healthy rivalry. We're pushing each other along. I think British tennis is looking good."

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Heather breaks for *2-0

but continues to struggle to get her first serve in play. At 40-30 it looks like she'll get away with it but a df takes the score to 40-40 and PP punishes another 2nd serve to reach bp then breaks 2-1*

PP holds to 30 for 2-2.

Over at the VP debate Biden is going ultra-aggressive then smiling while Ryan answers.

Back to the tennis. Heather still can't find her first serve (currently 35%) but her 2nd is winning 64% despite 2 dfs. Her first ace as she holds to love 3-2*

PP has 40-30 but Watson brings it back to 40-40. An ace from PP saves bp. Heather eventually breaks for *4-2

Another df takes the score to 15-30. Despite more first serves than she'd managed in previous service games, Heather is broken to 30 for 4-3*

PP holds to 30 for *4-4 despite plenty of 2nd serves

Heather in trouble at 0-30 2nd serve. Not the best time to df. Saves 1 bp before being broken for 4-5* Currently Watson doing much better when she gets her 2nd serve in play. Her first serve winning 44%

So far we've had 5 breaks in 9 games. At this point a comfortable hold seems unlikely. Watson wins the first two points for 0-30 then PP responds for 30-30. Heather reaches 30-40 only to see an ace fly past her. Another bp. This time she breaks for *5-5

Heather 15-30 down gets to 40-30 then df number 5 but takes the next two points for 6-5*

PP with 30-0 then df. Watson gets to 30-40 but PP saves set point. Another bp. Saved. Third chance. Heather breaks for 7-5

Both players had their chances in that set.

----

-- Edited by kundalini on Friday 12th of October 2012 03:22:27 AM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Watson broken to 15 for 0-1*

15-40 PP saves 1 bp before Heather breaks for *1-1

Heather a rare comfortable hold to 15 for 2-1* Both players currently winning a higher percentage behind 2nd despite several dfs.

PP continues to struggle on serve 15-40 An ace saves 1 bp. Heather fails to punish a 2nd serve 40-40. Another chance. Saved. Eventually Heather breaks for *3-1

Misaki Doi awaits the winner after recovering from a set and a break down, winning 6 games in a row to take the 2nd set then 4 in a row from a break down in the 3rd.

Watson in trouble at 0-40 Saves 2 bps before losing her serve for 3-2*

PP's service games are getting ridiculous. Last time she managed to hold was for 4-4 in the opening set. 2 dfs from 15-15 gift Heather 2 bps. 4-2*

Heather first ace of this set as she holds to 15 for 5-2*

PP saves 2 mps. Holds for *5-3

Heather 40-15 holds for 6-3.

7-5 6-3

-- Edited by kundalini on Friday 12th of October 2012 04:13:37 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Glad it's Doi rather than Scheepers, if Heather gets through, that seems the better match up for her to me.

So, here's an unfamiliar but very welcome problem to have for British Tennis fans on the Friday of a WTA event, as Laura's match is soon to begin, whilst Heather tries to finish off her match on the other court. Which to watch and cover?
I'll try to cover Laura and intersperse it against Kundalini's updates on Heather's match

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Friday 12th of October 2012 03:53:14 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Let's hope that today's match provides Laura with the dominant form of the first 5 games yesterday, and not the inconsistency of the rest of her R2 match.

Set 1
Laura to serve first

Game 1: Laura holds to 30 making 3/5 1st serves
1-0*

Game 2: From 0-30* Laura wins 3 straight points to earn a quick BP chance, but despite a 2nd serve can't convert, and Chang holds despite two more 2nd serves.

*1-1

Game 3: Strong hold from Laura, clinched with a first Ace, to 15.

2-1*

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Friday 12th of October 2012 04:09:24 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Laura
Game 5: Laura taken to deuce, not helped by her own first DF - but generally serving solidly & effectively (69% won off 68% 1st serves). She holds from deuce 2, avoiding any BP's on her serve.
3-2*

Game 6: Chang is also serving well (75% off 67% 1st serves), but Laura still manages to get a small opening at 30-15*. That's all there is though, as Chang takes the next 3 points to hold.

*3-3

Game 7: Chang mounts her own pressure at *15-30 and sets up 2 BP's, taking the second.

3-4*

Game 8: Laura breaks back, to 30. I had to step out, so that's all I know

*4-4

Game 9: But is broken back again immediately, though still serving well.

4-5*

Game 10: Kai-CHen serves for the set, but Laura pours on pressure getting straight to 3 BP's at 40-0*. However, she can't take any of those chances. A run of 5 straight points gives Chang a scrappy, tight, first set.

That wasn't in the script. Laura serving well enough, but seemingly not playing well. Not badly, but not well either. BP conv perhaps telling as the only difference between the two. KCC: 4/5, LR: 3/5

6-4

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Friday 12th of October 2012 04:41:27 AM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Terrible end to that set, missing out on 3 bps including two second serves. Loses 5 points in a row. Had bps in 3 games yet could only break once.

-- Edited by kundalini on Friday 12th of October 2012 04:41:49 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Laura
Set 2
Game 1: More purpose from Laura, and a hold to love.
1-0*

Game 2: KCC responds in kind with her own love hold.

*1-1

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Friday 12th of October 2012 04:43:54 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Starbucks is open past midnight in N PA? Well, at least you've got the ready supply of coffee!

Laura
Game 3: A hold to 30 for Laura still ostensibly serving well, in this second set.

2-1*

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Friday 12th of October 2012 04:49:09 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Now that's dedication! ^

Laura
Game 4: First service pressure of Set 2, as Laura gets 30-15, and a Chang DF presents 2 BP's. KCC saves the first with her first Ace - on 2nd serve, and the second also passes Laura by. She makes another chance from the deuce point though, but again KCC denies the break, and goes on to hold from deuce 2.
Laura needs to remain patient, against an opponent playing well.

*2-2

Game 5: Laura holds to 30. Re-focus, for another assault on the KCC service...

3-2*

Game 6: 30-30* sniff of a chance, and a BP comes, and a 2nd serve on it... But again, to her credit, KCC finds an answer and saves it (Laura 1/9 now on BP in the match). The Formosan then takes the next two points to hold again.

Laura just needs to take her chances, she's now exerting the more pressure.

*3-3

Game 7: A Robson hold, to 15, the only point against being Laura's 2nd DF of the match.

4-3*

Game 8: Laura again makes inroads into Kai-Chen's service, at 15-0* and 30-15*, and earns 2 more BP's at 40-15*. Surely this time?... 2nd serve for the 1st chance - doesn't help! But, it does on the 2nd, as Laura finally takes a BP to break. It was certainly coming.

*5-3

Game 9: Serving to level the match then, Laura set's up 2 SP's, and holds, without facing a BP on her serve in that set. Clearly the better player there, and just waited without allowing her level to dip, until all her pressure finally told. More of that in the decider should see her home.

6-3

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Friday 12th of October 2012 05:12:19 AM