Week 20 - WTA Premier ($2.369M) Rome, Italy - Clay

steven · Tennis legend

Week 20 - WTA Premier ($2.369M) Rome, Italy - Clay

Sim · County player

Oldest vs youngest in top 50.

A win over Venus could just, just be enough to get Laura a seeding for RG - would get her to 33 on today's table ( obviously depends on how those around her in the rankings do at Rome - Lisciki and Peng have easier draws in round 1). Normally atleast 1 injury so 33 or even 34 can get seeded.

-- Edited by Sim on Saturday 11th of May 2013 01:46:20 PM

DF · Tennis legend

What did we say that she was better on the big stage against the better players? wink smile

We'll find out. hmm

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

Remember this?

blob · All-time great

I hope Venus is well enough to play, though obviously if she has to withdraw again it would possibly be to Laura's benefit.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Laura was due a bad draw and that one is a bit of a shocker - but on the plus side I'm sure Laura will relish the opportunity to play Venus and hopefully Serena.

alex03maccy · Grand Slam Champion

Ahhh talk about split loyalties, awful draw cry

thegingerlightbulb · Lower Club Player

I disagree, I think both the first round and potential second round matches are great for Laura. She hasn't played the Williams' before so this will be a good test for her. Personally I think she'll beat Venus (who seems to be past her best) and will go out to Serena in two tight sets, possibly three. I'd take that as a good week for Laura.

Spectator · All-time great

Good in the long term - not great for prospects of seeding at French Open ...

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Difficult one to judge.

Of course, Laura has reasons to be optimisitic due to her recent form, whilst Venus' form is very difficult to assess at the moment. She hasnt played on Red Clay since last years French Open, and the clay has historically been Venus' weakest surface - something that has been even more apparent in the last few years.

That said, Venus has only lost once before the QF here in 7 visits (and that was to the teenage Jelena Dokic, months before her run to the Wimbledon SF).

I definitely dont think Venus starts as overwhelming favourite though. Laura definitely has a chance and at least playing a big name means she will up her game.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

thegingerlightbulb wrote:
I disagree, I think both the first round and potential second round matches are great for Laura. She hasn't played the Williams' before so this will be a good test for her. Personally I think she'll beat Venus (who seems to be past her best) and will go out to Serena in two tight sets, possibly three. I'd take that as a good week for Laura.

I think Laura can beat Venus, it just depends on which Laura and Venus come out of the locker room. I would love her to play Serena, and I think it would be a real indicator of where she's (Laura) really at, and she can play 'free'.

Really looking forward to this!

blob · All-time great

R1: Laura ROBSON/Lisa RAYMOND (GBR/USA) 102 vs. (WC) Svetlana KUZNETSOVA/Flavia PENNETTA (RUS/ITA) 171

That could be a fascinating match.

Winners to play either, Zhang/Zheng (CHN/CHN) [8] or Cibulkova/Niculescu

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, nice draw in normal circumstances, which is one likely to light Laura's eyes up.

Re RG seeding, I can see her beating Venus ( good ) but not Serena ( bad ) so as has been said, that could then leave it close, depending on what other players lose and add.

I know some folk have indicated that it is debatable how much a seeding really matters given Laura's often raised performances against better ranked players, but I would certainly still prefer to see her seeded.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

'Sweet tweets' coming from Rome of Kim Clijsters walking around, looking bonny, with a nice baby bump. There to support her friend Flipkens, supposedly.

And Caroline Wozniacki wishing mothers all over the world, and hers in particular, a happy mothers' day (would be nice, really, if somehow the date could be agreed on - it's today in the US, in March in the UK, on the 26th May this year in France, and lord knows when elsewhere).

philwrig · Hall of fame

Eventhough Venus isn't really a clay courter, she actually has the second highest tally of clay court titles won who is currently playing, which is 9.
It's winnable for Laura but for me she is the underdog.