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

Jan · Hall of fame

PockyTastic · Futures level

Didnt catch the match but it doesn't sound like it was good. I was encouraged after watching Bally against Voegele last week (despite Stefanie not being at her best). I'm not going to jump down her throat, lets re assess 6 months into her comeback and see where she's at.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Peter too wrote:
If all of our players who have been "advised" to change career after losing a match did so, we would have few if any tennis players left.

This. i hate when people suggest players should give up.

korriban · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
Hmm, not at all good.

korriban, you might give folk a chance to maybe come up with one or two of the possible comments you brought up so that you can actually be sarcy about actual rather than mythical comments !

Spoilsport! wink

Sometimes I do feel like Anne and Bally have been awarded almost complete immunity on this forum from anyone calling it straight about their abilities - simply as a result of being the best 2 players that GB could muster over a 5-10 year period, despite the fact they never really had much competition for that honour, and in world terms never came close to winning anything. Their influence on women's tennis in GB should be praised to the hilt. They have served our Fed Cup team willingly and with pride for about a decade (what division are we in?) They try their hardest at Wimbledon. But I do think they still receive praise well above what they probably merited (in terms of pure results) from the LTA firmament, the British press and GB tennis fans.....and often the language used when they go down fighting (again) is couched in rather, err, "heroic" terms.

I'd still give them both WCs at Wimbledon like a shot. Simply because there are almost no up and coming girls outside the top 8-10 who merit one.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

I really haven't got a clue what to expect from Heather's match which will start soon. Will Hev look rusty or like she has never been away? And Voegele can be brilliant or awful - based on Bally's experience last week if Hev can keep the sets competitive Voegele isn't the best closer.

I expect as it's her first match back Hev will need to rely on quite a bit of help from her opponent to win this match, but we shall see.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Choice of channels ITV4 or Eurosport.

Hev made a decent start to hold serve

PockyTastic · Futures level

Voegele is playing the inconsistent tennis of last week. Heather holds to love and it's 2-1

DF · Tennis legend

First break to the Swiss

DF · Tennis legend

Heather 2 - 4 dowN

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

I agree with Korribans earlier point about wild cards. The only reason I'd give them would be likewise because there are simply no
Players past the 250 mark anywhere near the level required to compete.

Both have served British tennis well mainly as ambassadors rather than results
I think they managed to get the most from their ability down to hard work. Tara Lisa and Sam
should hopefully take over the 2nd tier after Hev and Laura and by year end is expect them to
Be above Anne and Bally.

DF · Tennis legend

First set to the Swiss

6 - 4

DF · Tennis legend

Heather holds the first game in the second set

DF · Tennis legend

4 - 2 to Heather in the second set

DF · Tennis legend

Heather levels the match at one set all

4 - 6 6 - 2

Hope she keeps the confidence that had built up during the previous set for this next set

Good luck Hev !

Bob the Ball Boy · Junior player

i backed heather at a set down at 5/1... just think its a classic first match back & can see her grinding our a win here despite not playing her best tennis. looks a little slow compared to what she is capable of at full fitness and too many loose shots- but she is a great competitor and don't think its too much of a stretch for her to come back and get through this match.

5-2 now come on hev!!!

been away in paris for the weekend & saw heather practicing... she is looking good & regardless of this match or this tournament, I'm looking for a good grass court season from her!

watching lauras match it was amazing to see how badly she moves in comparison with wozniacki... i know woz is one of the better athletes but it was a really bad match up for laura not helped by her double faults and loose performance in general. really emphasised how much work she needs to put in to produce more consistent results at this level. when she does connect she hits it better than a lot of the girls out there but that's clearly not enough.

hev set all! come one now!!