Week 12 - WTA Premier Mandatory - Miami, FL, USA - Hard

blob · All-time great

RE: Week 12 - WTA Premier Mandatory - Miami, FL, USA - Hard

paulisi · Tennis legend

Is it me or has the scoreboard stopped when it went to 3-4?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Is it me or has the scoreboard stopped when it went to 3-4?

Could be an MTO or maybe they have both called for Oxygen after the last two games.

blob · All-time great

No, I have same

paulisi · Tennis legend

Not again - another disappointing end to a winnable game

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Hev saves the first match point but not the second. cry Hev battled well in the deciding set, but she was always up against it having lost a commanding lead.

It's been a difficult spell following Hev and Laura recently - hopefully Laura can cheer us up tomorrow.

blob · All-time great

Aaaaaarrrrrrrggggggh!

L96: Heather Watson WR 39 lost to Ayumi Morita JPN WR 50 6-1 5-7 4-6

Not so much the result - I had the match as very even beforehand - but again 3 hours and the turnaround. Maybe players on the tour are more familiar with Heathers game now.
Hoping the changes she's trying to effect come good for her soon. We may have to wait anoher year or so though, as with so many players who reach a height, slide back and then come again.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh one that really got away, though not unexpectedly Heather certainly doesn't seem to have gone down without a fight.

I worry about Heather, more than Laura, in that she doesn't appear to have added to her game this year and has generally been playing at a fairly consistent level, which is below what I expected and seems to be a fair bit down on her generally best of last year.

I really do hope she can find something in the coming weeks to give her a boost.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Last season she was winning these tight games, this year more often than not, they are going the wrong way. Hev did say she was struggling with the expectation of being the favourite or higher ranked player a few weeks ago.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Double drat, but in fairness Morita has been playing to a higher level than Hev when injury free this year, so not unexpected. I just thought coming back to Miami where she played so well last year would have given her the boost she needed in order to win this.

David Law said that Morita really upped her level at the end of the second and started to command the rallies, and then Hev responded with some bigger shots once down in the third. And agonisingly on match point Hev completely bossed the point before netting a straightforwardish overhead. Tough loss but hopefully as per last year she will start to discover her best form during the clay court season.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

paulisi wrote:
Last season she was winning these tight games, this year more often than not, they are going the wrong way. Hev did say she was struggling with the expectation of being the favourite or higher ranked player a few weeks ago.

Hev is still 4-3 in three setters in 2013, although that includes a few close matches against players she would have beaten more easily with last year's form.

It's a rare occurrence for Hev to lose from such a strong position and I still think mentally she is one of the strongest players around, just her level of performance hasn't quite matched the second half of last year.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Results like these are very painful for ranking growth.

Disappointing

indiana · Tennis legend

That seems a very fair analysis, kundalini.

If this period can be frustrating for us, how many fold more frustrating it must be for Heather.

I think I had heard, but forgotten, that she was trying to add more aggression to her game. As I said, I haven't really been aware of changes, such as more aggression, but as you suggest she possibly doesn't really trust herself in matches just now.

All the best to her.

korriban · Challenger level

So close! Interesting parallels with the recent Laura match against Arvidsson from a scoreline and momentum shift perspective. Although it seems that Laura completely imploded, whereas in this match Morita raised her game, and Heather certainly dug in as she always does.

I agree that Heather has a number of things swirling around making life tough. The second/third season syndrome where all her opponents will know her game and weaknesses and make adjustments from point 1. The pressures of her ranking, expecting to win with lots to lose, and therefore trying too hard. And the essential transition to a more aggressive powerful game to take the next step up, trying to balance this with consistency and playing to her strengths. Lots to think about, so I think its absokutely right that she may need to flatline or go backwards in her ranking with some tough losses for a number of months until she cracks her new gameplan. It may not be a joyous period, but this pain isworth it- otherwise aranking of 40 could be around her max level.

I cant stand Sharapovas game - all out blitz grounstrokes from point 1 with no letup and no variety, but at least she doesnt have to THINK about her tactics, which does make life more simple. Hevs not so lucky.

Dont worry Hev. Its to be expected.

steven · Tennis legend

From David Law on Twitter: "Heather Watson understandably upset after losing from 6-1, 4-1 up. Told @bbc5live she feels a bit burnt out and needs a break. More soon."

Whether it would be enough, I don't know, but with nothing more to defend unil Estoril in May (and even then only 16 points net), a break until Fed Cup at least might do her a lot of good.