Week 11 - ITF ($15,000)- Bath, UK - Hard

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 11 - ITF ($15,000)- Bath, UK - Hard

steven · Tennis legend

Q2: BROWN, Lucy (GBR) 16 684 beat KAWA, Katarzyna (POL) 5 414 by 3 & 3 biggrin

indiana · Tennis legend

korriban, you are no doubt aware that I share much of your thoughts on the state of GB women's tennis. It's what leads to the very weak line up we had yesterday. And I personally have no doubt re your support for British tennis and British tennis players. You no doubt want so much mire and get frustrated at times, particularly when evidence goes against the whitterings of the LTA, I know I do. Anyway, you had nothing to prove on that score for me.

Specifically re these 6 GB losses yesterday, yes much of sport is about shocks and overturning the odds. But how many of these 6 expected results did I expect we would have at the end of the day ? Well 6, actually. There maybe I'm the negative one, but I think just being realistic. I reckon if you put realistic odds as to each of these specific unranked GB players losing to their specific opponents on the day ( without a bookie's margin ! ) and did an accumulator on all 6 losing, it would have been odds on all 6 losing, such was to me the expected disparity.

Yes, I would have really liked one to have overturned such big odds. But that is essentially where I disagree with you about yesterday, so thought it an unnecessary thing to go on about. And I can see how you could be misinterpreted.

There are I feel deep problems in GB women's tennis, and yesterday's match ups in some ways reflect that. But not the overall results.

steven · Tennis legend

On top of what has already been said, the Brits who lost yesterday generally won more games than I expected them to. The disparities were too big to hold out much hope that one of them would cause an upset.

SMC1809 · All-time great

indiana wrote:
As I said earlier, most of us are aware that GB women's tennis has a real lack of depth, but I don't see a huge point in weekly "wow is me" at such hardly unexpected results.

Our top two girls may be entitled to say "wow is me" but maybe not the rest of them! Amazing the difference one key can make. wink

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Well 'wow is Jade' at the moment, a break up against Ana Konjuh.

Or doesn't Ana usually lose the first set of matches she goes on to win ? (Or am I thinking of someone else)

indiana · Tennis legend

Really good by Lucy, getting the win this time after her 7- 5 loss in the 3rd set last week against an even higher ranked opponent.

Looked a tough one for her, but a realistic chance of an upset, and she delivered in what looks like fine style.

Miriambee · Futures level

Unfortunately Konjuh just won the tie breakof the 1st set 7-5

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Em loses first set 6-2, 2-1 up a break in 2nd. Jade loses first set 7-6 (5) and Mel on serve 2-3

paulisi · Tennis legend

Jade has just lost the tie break to Konjuh, but to be fair she has had her chances - up a break in the set and had a 5-2 lead in the tie break

EWS has lost her first set, but does have a break in the second

Mel has just started

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Konjuh breaks Jade to love at start of second set

Spectator · All-time great

Agree with blob's post ... and hope, blob, that you are feeling better.

Not suggesting, by the way, that I think anyone is being willfully mean-spirited. But I do think that we are sometimes quick to criticise people who we, for the most part, may never even have never seen play in person and about whom we, for the most part, know very little. And all of whom, at a guess, play tennis better than all of us (barring people like Mr Fitzpatrick!)

I had a friend who used to play on the Tour. He didn't do it because he thought he was going to be the next great player. He just played because he loved playing and was good enough to give it a go. Most of the players of whom we are being so critical receive little or no funding for what they do. So why not just let them go for it ... celebrate their successes when they come ... and take them for what they are, and not for what we would like them to be!

-- Edited by Spectator on Tuesday 12th of March 2013 08:09:14 PM

paulisi · Tennis legend

Mel wins the first set 6-4

Just on the lack of depth, it will take time for these players to develop. I'm not expecting much except to be more competitive over the year. I noticed that Yasmin Clarke won and Amanda Elliot played on the British tour last week.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Em back on serve 3-3 set down likewise Jade 3-2

korriban · Challenger level

Julia Carrot wrote:
Well 'wow is Jade' at the moment, a break up against Ana Konjuh.

Or doesn't Ana usually lose the first set of matches she goes on to win ? (Or am I thinking of someone else)

Since Konjuh came onto our radar big time in late 2012 she's won Eddie Herr juniors, Orange Bowl juniors, AO Juniors, 3 live Fed Cup matches, then yesterdays ITF. 22 matches won in a row, from all situations! including lost first sets.....hope Jade gives her some stick, but I wouldnt bet on it.