Some, scant, consolation for Tara and Anne.
WD R1: KEOTHAVONG, Anne/MOORE, Tara (GBR/GBR) 513 defeated BARBAT, Karen/ELLIOTT, Amanda (DEN/GBR) 991 6-3 6-2
WD QF: BIRNEROVA, Hana/WEBLEY-SMITH, Emily (CZE/GBR) 645 lost to KLEMENSCHITS, Sandra/OPRANDI, Romina (AUT/SUI) [2] 389 3-6 1-6

WD QF: KEOTHAVONG, Anne/MOORE, Tara (GBR/GBR) 513 vs. BRENGLE, Madison/KOSTOVA, Elitsa (USA/BUL) [4] 458

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Thursday 1st of November 2012 06:05:03 PM

Took the 1st 6 - 3 (I think) but down a break in the second
1 - 3*

Anne with her 7th and 8th aces as she holds for 4-3* in the final set. No breaks so far.

Anne wrong footed by a FH puts her shot in to the net. 0-15*
A rally, Sibille FH to Anne's BH, back and forth. A bit extra on one French FH and Anne pops up a ball, and it drifts out. 0-30*
Sibille slices a BH deep down the line into Anne's BH corner, and she imstimes the ball long. 0-40*
Anne brough into the net, dinks a ball back, SIbille tries a BH top spin lob, just long. 15-40*
Short rally, the French FH in effect again, and Anne eventually slaps a FH into the net.
*5-5

Tie Break!

*0-0
1-0* Nice angle cross court followed up with a winner down the line.
2-0* Good down the line winner from Constance that time.
*2-1 Sibille snatches at an Anne 2nd serve, into the net.
*3-1 Sibille on the offensive good repeated pressure eventually Anne goes long.
3-2* Anne attempts to paint the line with a FH winner, but nets, poor footwork. Even as they change ends.
3-3* Sibille again in charge, Anne makes her play one extra shot, but the volley at the net is solid.
*3-4 Twice Anne is unable to see home the advantage of good FH's, but eventually finds a winner, just as she looked out of the point.
*4-4 Simple point, serve unreturnable.
5-4* Anne stays in the point, but never looks on top, and defenses break down eventually.
5-5* Tense now, obviously. Anne always well behind in a rally yet again, and Sibille finds that same FH down the line winner. MP against...
*5-6 2nd serve, a rally but Anne is on the defensive again, her groundstrokes lack pop, and they sit up a bit, and she nets a FH.
5-7

GSM Sibille - a very poor loss indeed - not just the loss, but that she looked outplayed for most of it against such an opponent.

Because Anne won the first set and served first in the second, I'm pretty sure Anne was ahead all the way until match point.

I wish Anne a good and happy off season if that is indeed her last match of the year. She's had too good a career and been too good for GB tennis to have it finish in the sort of ignominious fizzle that the last 6 months have been. I hope we see her again, and playing more like what I remember as her 'true' form.

Tara up next.