Disappointing that Laura wasn't more competitive in the third set albeit in difficult circumstances with the constant interruptions. Surprisingly for a British player, Laura has hardly played any matches in her professional career that have been delayed mid match so it probably does take a bit of getting used to.

Laura has been a game away from victory in each of her last three defeats so she is not far away but I get the feeling she is playing well in parts of matches but not quite maintaining it.

Mr Orient. I completely agree with you. But we know all players go through bad patches in most matches, most of the time, however good they are. The best players know how to maintain focus, use an alternative game plan, or simply play the percentages during those periods to stay competitive in the match. Which buys them time to rediscover their form or for their opponents standrads to drop again or both. In other words, when they are good they are good, and when they are bad, they hang in there and do what they have to do. And for the very best, those bad patches only last a few games anyway, not whole sets.

With Laura she seems unwilling or unable to do this. It was exactly the same when she was 14. But that is to be expected with a young girl playing a very aggressive gamestyle. It used to be the case with Ana Ivanovic when she was 14 or 15, but she fixed it and became world #1. The solution in that case was partly technical, but mostly fitness and movement - she cut out excessive UEs becuase she was late on the ball less often, so could wait until the right moment came to go for a winner rather than attempting do or die off balance screamers so often. I thought Laura had finally reached this point at the USO. But Im Not so sure, she isnt back to where she started.

This girl is so talented. Surely theres someone out there who can help her sort out her gremlins!!! I think she is so close to being the real deal.

Pity. I said that I thought that the match could really go either way and going by the score and Laura's DFitist, it is one that got away.

She really somehow needs to get that serve more consistent. I agree with korriban that it actually could be a real weapon and I am pretty hopeful in time it will be. And then think what difference that in itself could make say to a match like this and indeed harder matches.

I sense Laura is generally getting better again and am hopeful for the coming months and I really hope she continues to play positively. Yes, don't go for outrageous low % shots, but otherwise it is really a question of improving execution of a positive game.

How she actually played yesterday, we didn't see other than the stats and some game to game updates, so not a match that one can really analyse other than look at say the DFs. For instance, korriban points to quite a number of faults without I presume knowing at all if they were on display yesterday.

We all want jam today, With Laura, it looks like it will take a little while yet, but with the fundamental game that she has, I remain very confident that this girl is going to much higher places.

Stircrazy wrote:

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blob wrote:

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R1: ERAKOVIC, Marina (NZL)/WATSON, Heather (GBR) vs. BEGU, Irina-Camelia (ROU)/ROSOLSKA, Alicja (POL)


Good draw for Hev & Marina.

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Withdrawal confirmed:  they've been replaced by the alternates, Tatjana Malek & Tamarine Tanasugarn.  Hope there's nowt sinister about that...

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Hev has a left adductor strain - her planned mini break should hopefully mean it isn't an issue by the time she comes to play again.

Tough one for Laura, very impressive for a set and a half, apart from the doubles, but stoppages and I suspect Cornet's solid play broke her down.
For me Cornet was the clear favourite for this match, forget what the bookies said.
It seemed to me that after the 1st set, Laura struggled to get into Cornet's service games, for some reason, thus putting extra pressure on her serve which eventually cracked.
Laura's game is all about rythym, which would have been compromised, by all the stoppages, Cornet is a grinder who doesn't give you anything, but you have to beat her. Laura's winners /ue's ratio was just good enough in the 1st set but I suspect worsened as the match wore on.
Hopefully Laura won't feel too despondent as her 'A' game seems to be on the way back but just not for long enough periods.
The pressure she is under is now bigger than ever due to her US open performance, and its seems to be affecting her. If she can come through this spell she will benefit greatly from the experience and be a much stronger player for it.

Heathers withdrawn from Charleston so im guessing she is taking the break and will most likely be back for Fed Cup!!