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

korriban · Challenger level

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

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Bizarrely I feel she's got a better chance of winning her next match than she had her last one. I'd even be happier if she was playing a top 20 player.

indiana · Tennis legend

I think Phil sighing at 3-3 did it !

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Could have been a nightmare wait for Laura had she not got over the line in that last game - makes it doubly important that she closed it out.

indiana · Tennis legend

Hopefully that win will do a lot for Laura's confidence. She seems to have been playing well in patches recently, but the win was elusive and that Indian Wells loss was a particular disappointment.

But she got over the line today and now has a very winnable, but not real pressure to win match in R2. Will be very interesting.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Well there you go Never in Doubt.
Fortunate for Laura that she was playing an opponent who wasn't match tight and was committing as many errors as her, but she won and that is all that matters for now.
No expectations for the next match as Cornet is playing very solid tennis at the moment and should win comfortably, but what I know from following Laura is when she is the underdog her level rises , so who knows.

philwrig · Hall of fame

My new phrase for Laura is 'predictably unpredictable'.

Spectator · All-time great

Well done, Ms Robson. As for Ms Watson, hope she enjoys Guernsey, where presumably she can be herself without fuss. And if people on other boards have nothing better to do with their time than criticise a 20-year-old for making a discouraged comment immediately after a tough loss, then I am doubly glad that this is the only board I look at. Hurrah to all of you who have intervened in other contexts!

Julia Carrot · All-time great

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3116731/title/stephens-no-longer-no1-teenager

This article scrolls down to an interview with Laura which is definitely worth a read.

indiana · Tennis legend

I see bet365 have Laura as favourite.

Cornet 5/4 Robson 4/7

I do think Laura will get a real boost from winning in R1 and that this one could very much go either way.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

I checked the odds this morning and I was a bit surprised (Cornet was 11/8 this morning). The bookies have consistently kept their faith in Laura during her recent struggles.

By rights, Cornet should be entering the match as favourite being higher ranked and in better form, but Laura could well feel that a weight has been lifted off her shoulders by getting the R1 win and be a lot less nervous as a result.

blob · All-time great

L&L Break for 3-1 in the second.

Or, even, LR²!

-- Edited by blob on Thursday 21st of March 2013 10:46:36 PM

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Nice win for Laura & Lisa.

140 points will be a welcome boost to Laura's doubles ranking, so at some point she might at least have the option of playing doubles in tour events.

Strong possibility of playing Hev & Marina in R2

-- Edited by tony_orient on Thursday 21st of March 2013 11:35:33 PM

korriban · Challenger level

It's not just Heather and Laura who are in a rut which they need to work themselves out of somehow.

Remember Sloane Stevens, just 2 months ago in Australia, the next big thing. Her form has slumped alarmingly, with 2 first round losses in her last 2 tournaments (sound familiar?)

Currently 0-5 down to Govortsova in her opening match in Miami. Funny old game.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

korriban wrote:
It's not just Heather and Laura who are in a rut which they need to work themselves out of somehow.
Remember Sloane Stevens, just 2 months ago in Australia, the next big thing. Her form has slumped alarmingly, with 2 first round losses in her last 2 tournaments (sound familiar?)
Currently 0-5 down to Govortsova in her opening match in Miami. Funny old game.

Sloane recovered from the first set where she won only 4 points on serve to prevail 0-6 6-4 6-4. She hasn't been at all convincing since the Australian Open though, perhaps guilty of a bit of over confidence.