Week 22 - WTA Grand Slam ($13M) Paris, France Clay - *singles main draw*

scottie1 · Futures level

RE: Week 22 - WTA Grand Slam ($13M) Paris, France Clay - *singles main draw*

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

jake270392 wrote:
Anyone think it might be a good idea in that if she loses early in the doubles.... maybe she should consider a wildcard into Nottingham and increase her chances of being seeded at Wimbledon??

I was thinking the same - I would like Laura to either reach Quarters or better or go out 1st round. I don't think playing Nottingham would give her enough points to make any significant difference to her ranking, but would mean heading to Birmingham with some grass court matches (or even if she doesn't play Nottingham a good week of grass practice compared to another week in Paris playing doubles).

I think Laura could potentially have a really good grass court season, but she won't be able to get away with gifting service games through lack of first serves and double faults as one break can often be critical on grass.

korriban · Challenger level

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/10082595/Laura-Robson-beaten-in-French-Open-first-round-by-Caroline-Wozniacki.html

Good article, which IMHO is probably close to the mark re Laura. Like many on this forum, I have always regarded her ballstriking and natural ability amongst the best I have ever seen in the women's game.

Her fitness has often been poor and movement and anticipation very poor, but there has been progress there, although it seems to have plateaued.

My biggest issue has always been her maturity both on and off the court. Please don't get me wrong - she's a lovely girl that we can all be very proud of, a marketing person's dream.

But I have often found her approach on the court and often in press conferences naive and immature. The perennial 16 year old, even from 14, but certainly still at 19. The US Open was different: calm, measured, controlled and with a clear gameplan.

I really hope she finds a great coach FAST who can get across to her all the maturity and professionalism stuff Krajan cited, but in a way that sinks in rather than alienates her.

Sam Smith was also very accurate in her post match appraisal, essentially echoing the above article - and suggesting she needs to respect the surface more and also the tactical principles of matchplay.

On specifics, she made the point ONCE AGAIN that Laura is always going to be very offensive, but needs to wait for the right ball to hammer (which she doesn't), and should NOT be attempting winners without getting her footwork right beforehand - almost every UE could be attributed to this alone.

Sometimes Laura's approach works. But as Sam rightly pointed out - she needs a plan B - like almost every other Champion on the tour possesses (perhaps Maria apart), rather than more hit and hope stuff.

-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 06:50:30 AM

Edited to force word wrap (see "Activeboard glitch?" thread)

-- Edited by steven on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 01:53:01 PM

-- Edited by steven on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 01:53:53 PM

korriban · Challenger level

http://infinityshowband.com/2013/from-pet-shops-to-pop-concerts-how-laura-robson-keeps-herself-in-the-groove

This is priceless. A "translation" of an article I think I read somewhere else a while back, but so badly translated that it's hysterical - 10 times better than the original article. Can't decide if it's a bad google translate job, or someone actually being clever and witty, because some of the mistakes are priceless. In fact, it's so good I suspect Laura would love it!!

"We went to a puppy store nearby the Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton. There were these dual twin fighter puppies and someone bought a child and not a girl"...............classic!

-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 09:07:33 AM

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

korriban wrote:
steven wrote:
That 'translation' made me laugh but I must be missing something because I'm sure the original interview was in English too. Is it meant to be a spoof or have they perhaps google-translated it back from another language into which it had been google-translated in the first place?

Also, I don't get why it is on the site, which seems to be the site of a band looking for bookings.

Maybe I'm just very slow this morning ...
I agree, the original article was in english! I think it can't be a spoof - suspect its a double google translation! Even the article's strapline is a corker!

I remembered the original article it came from - less amusing but better English: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/9962631/From-pet-shops-to-pop-concerts-how-Laura-Robson-keeps-herself-in-the-groove-for-success.html

Play has now at least started for the day, though doubtful if the rain will hold off long enough to get through the two men's matches on court 3 before Bally can get on court.

-- Edited by tony_orient on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 11:56:55 AM

steven · Tennis legend

That 'translation' made me laugh

but I must be missing something because I'm sure the original interview was in English too. Is it meant to be a spoof or have they perhaps google-translated it back from another language into which it had been google-translated in the first place?

Also, I don't get why it is on the site, which seems to be the site of a band looking for bookings.

Maybe I'm just very slow this morning ...

korriban · Challenger level

steven wrote:
That 'translation' made me laugh but I must be missing something because I'm sure the original interview was in English too. Is it meant to be a spoof or have they perhaps google-translated it back from another language into which it had been google-translated in the first place?

Also, I don't get why it is on the site, which seems to be the site of a band looking for bookings.

Maybe I'm just very slow this morning ...

I agree, the original article was in english! I think it can't be a spoof - suspect its a double google translation! Even the article's strapline is a corker!

DF · Tennis legend

No play before 12:00 because of the weather

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Heather won't have minded getting an extra practice day in either - given she could have played Sunday that's an extra 3 days she has had to get towards full fitness.

Interesting to see how Bally's match goes - given the long wait, court change etc. either player could be forgiven for a slow start. Bally also knows it can only go for 2 hours tonight so stamina won't be an issue.

-- Edited by tony_orient on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 06:13:36 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

korriban wrote:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/10082595/Laura-Robson-beaten-in-French-Open-first-round-by-Caroline-Wozniacki.html

Good article, which IMHO is probably close to the mark re Laura. Like many on this forum, I have always regarded her ballstriking and natural ability amongst the best I have ever seen in the women's game.
Her fitness has often been poor and movement and anticipation very poor, but there has been progress there, although it seems to have plateaued.
My biggest issue has always been her maturity both on and off the court. Please don't get me wrong - she's a lovely girl that we can all be very proud of, a marketing person's dream.
But I have often found her approach on the court and often in press conferences naive and immature. The perennial 16 year old, even from 14, but certainly still at 19. The US Open was different: calm, measured, controlled and with a clear gameplan.
I really hope she finds a great coach FAST who can get across to her all the maturity and professionalism stuff Krajan cited, but in a way that sinks in rather than alienates her.
Sam Smith was also very accurate in her post match appraisal, essentially echoing the above article - and suggesting she needs to respect the surface more and also the tactical principles of matchplay.
On specifics, she made the point ONCE AGAIN that Laura is always going to be very offensive, but needs to wait for the right ball to hammer (which she doesn't), and should NOT be attempting winners without getting her footwork right beforehand - almost every UE could be attributed to this alone.
Sometimes Laura's approach works. But as Sam rightly pointed out - she needs a plan B - like almost every other Champion on the tour possesses (perhaps Maria apart), rather than more hit and hope stuff.

-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 06:50:30 AM

I thought the article was a bit harsh, for instance calling Laura's display feeble was over the mark. And rushing into getting the next coach would be the worst mistake she could make. Take time and make the right decision when the right person is found. This is not a sprint.

Does Fed have a plan B not really when an aggressive player of Laura's ilk knows that her best tennis will win a match, but she just isn't it feeling on the day, plan B isn't an option, well I couldn't have come up with a plan B for her yesterday.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

philwrig wrote:
korriban wrote:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/10082595/Laura-Robson-beaten-in-French-Open-first-round-by-Caroline-Wozniacki.html

I thought the article was a bit harsh, for instance calling Laura's display feeble was over the mark. And rushing into getting the next coach would be the worst mistake she could make. Take time and make the right decision when the right person is found. This is not a sprint.
Does Fed have a plan B not really when an aggressive player of Laura's ilk knows that her best tennis will win a match, but she just isn't it feeling on the day, plan B isn't an option, well I couldn't have come up with a plan B for her yesterday.

I thought the article was pretty spot on. Laura's display was feeble compared to what she's capable of. She didn't display any giant killing properties in her mental game yesterday.

I think the problem was that she didn't have a plan A, let alone a plan B- unless you call hitting as hard as you can and hoping it goes in and is a winner counts.

If she has an Andy Murray moment and gets really serious, then we will have a great player on our hands, easily top 5 if not WR1. But if she doesn't it will always just be potential.

blob · All-time great

Whilst we're all trying to fill time waiting for the rain delay to be caught back up, and as I didn't know where else to put it, just thought to mention that Annie K is answering questions tomorrow. You can pose yours by tweeting using #askAnne for those that understand these things.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Tweet from Heather:

My match has been cancelled for today (rain) waiting for the new schedule

Hope she still gets a televised court tomorrow

paulisi · Tennis legend

Not sure Elena will get on court tonight. 2nd match is due on shortly and unless it finishes inside 2h 30m then i suspect that will get re-arranged.

jake270392 · Intermediate Club Player

Court 6 is now available and also a streamed court... I wonder if they will move her to that court (Although there are still quite a few matches to be played so she has competition lol)