Week 10 - WTA Premier Mandatory - Indian Wells CA, USA - Hard

korriban · Challenger level

Week 10 - WTA Premier Mandatory - Indian Wells CA, USA - Hard

philwrig · Hall of fame

This is depressing, appears that lack of wins for Laura probably caused the reverse, won't be an easy 2 weeks before Miami.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

GSM Arvidsson by 2-6 7-6(2) 6-1! disbelief

PaulM · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
This is depressing, appears that lack of wins for Laura probably caused the reverse, won't be an easy 2 weeks before Miami.

Hopefully Zeljko and Mauricio ensure its not easy for both!

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

This time last year Laura lost a few matches in a row when she wasn't fully fit/healthy and struggled to regain momentum once she had recovered and it looks like a repeat of that this year.

Frustrating as this match was going so well for a set and a half and also the second match in a row she has been within a tie-break of winning the match so she's not getting much luck in the close matches right now.

Basically she needs to find a win from somewhere because today suggested she wasn't lacking much apart from confidence when the match got tight.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Just had a quick look at her timeline on twitter, and there are quite a few negative comments, hopefully she can turn this around sharply because at times today she was back to her best.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Julia Carrot wrote:
Laura broken in 1st game of second set but breaks right back

Wish there was a commentary. Seems to have moved to cricket ( or something )

The commentary was continued via the tournament website.

korriban · Challenger level

Was this match televised? I thought it wasn't, but there are lots of comments about how well Laura was playing, and her being back to her best in patches. I can't really comment, as I didn't see the match, but twitter commentary from those watching suggested Laura was striking the ball beautifully for a set and a half, then completely lost the plot. That's what she always used to do - from brilliant to awful to brilliant in phases during a match, but with little thought as to a less risky Plan B, even if that is often enough to get yourself across the line against inferior opposition.

I think Laura will probably frustrate us throughout her career with one-off sensational wins against superstars, then bizarre losses. But you need 7 wins in a row against allcomers to win a Slam, 6 for big tournaments, and 5 for other WTA events. Her hyper-risk approach probably wont get the job done 7 times in a row......surely its time to change the strategy.

Good luck to her and Heather for Miami. 2 weeks of training could be just what they need.

daisy · County player

Oh dear.

philwrig · Hall of fame

I just don't think Laura enjoys pressure, in a way I just wish her and Hev would get together (who I also think is feeling the pressure) and just say what the heck lets just play our game and forget about outside pressures.

Saying that both will be suited much better by the conditions in Miami so I remain positive for that tournament.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Quotes from Hev afterwards suggesting as I thought that these courts play very slow and are very high bouncing, somewhat similar to a clay court, so these conditions just not ideal for either of them.

steven · Tennis legend

The last time I remember hearing about the speed of the courts at Indian Wells, they were faster than the average hard court. (maybe that was back in Henman days though!)

philwrig · Hall of fame

Laura understandably annoyed by defeat said she felt the nerves kick in as she was close to ending her losing streak.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, hopefully Miami will go better.

With decent close seasons and so relatively few first half of the year points to defend, I would have put a lot of money on at least one of them being seeded for Roland Garros and / or Wimbledon. Now much more in doubt, but still chances...

As it is, they have inevitably risen in the rankings, but not as much as I hoped. And they haven't had much to complain about with their draws, but more worryingly their form.

Ultmately though it is just a start to the year that hasn't gone as well as hoped, and it could begin to turn again at any time. Laura in patches ( and again today ) is actually giving me more confidence ( especially if her health is now sorted ) that she could step it up quitw soon then the general level Heather has been at, even though she has scored more points.

indiana · Tennis legend

I absolutely agree with you, kundalini, that Laura's strategy is basically right for her and her big game and what will never be the best movement.

It was what had her not far off the US Open quater finals already last year.

With work on improving the consistency of that play.( but not backing off from the play itself ! ) she will I am sure rise quite far in the rankings, if not linearly.

I hpnestly do not see this future that korriban describes of frustratingly intermittent big wins but hardy ever really stringing them together.

With hard work and match play I think she can achieve some quite big things, how much remains to be seen ( we suddenly seem to have many more very good young players ).

But to me, she will get there essentially playing as she has been trying to do for some time, but with improved execution, only backing off at the margins in very particular circumstances.

Laura Robson is one player that to me most certainly does not need a stategy rethink ! She's actually basiically got that right rsther sooner than a certain Andy Murray got his right.