Week 23 - ITF $75k - Nottingham, UK - Grass

blob · All-time great

RE: Week 23 - ITF $75k - Nottingham, UK - Grass

PaulM · Tennis legend

Jo really playing some nice stuff at the moment, serving for the set at *5-2.

PaulM · Tennis legend

And nicely holds to 15. Good tennis.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Bob the Ball Boy wrote:
blob- i don't think anyone is saying this was an EASY match or one that going into we expected her to win... rather that given Tamira's form and the situation Anne got herself into, it's disappointing that she didn't take the first set or even the match, and that this is down to Anne's decombustion rather than Tamira being in a different class, which clearly isn't the case given the above arguments on ranking/points/results etc!

Sorry I didn't see this post, could have saved my rambling on. This is my exact point. It is the manner of the defeat is disappointing given the bigger picture, not the fact she was defeated of itself.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Both girls saving break points early in the set. A-SM was a bit of a prospect a while ago wasn't she? Nice player.

2-2*

steven · Tennis legend

L32: (WC) Johanna Konta WR 166 beat (Q) An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) WR 192 (= CH) by 2 & 4

L16: (WC) Johanna Konta WR 166 v (5) Misaki Doi (JPN) WR 82

H2H 1-0, 3-6 7-5 6-1, Lexington 50K SF last year

steven · Tennis legend

That's all the GB matches in R1 finished, of course, so:

L32: (WC) Anne Keothavong WR 186 lost to (1) Tamira Paszek (AUT) WR 33 (CH 26 in Feb) by 7-6(6) 6-3
L32: (WC) Johanna Konta WR 166 beat (Q) An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) WR 192 (= CH, former junior no. 1) by 2 & 4
L32: (WC) Elena Baltacha WR 200 lost to (6) Vesna Dolonc (SLO) WR 93 (CH 86 in 2011) by 2 & 4
L32: (Q) Melanie South WR 474 lost to Irina Falconi (USA) WR 137 (CH 73 in 2011) by 3 & 2
L32: (WC) Tara Moore WR 194 beat Tadeja Majeric (SLO) WR 143 by 5-7 6-4 6-2 biggrin

L16: (WC) Johanna Konta WR 166 v (5) Misaki Doi (JPN) WR 82 (= CH) - H2H 1-0 (see above)
L16: (WC) Tara Moore WR 194 v Melinda Czink (HUN) WR 110 (CH 37 in 2009)

Btw, today's win should take JoKo back into the top 150, though it may depend on results elsewhere.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Good performance from Jo. Got tricky towards the end but she did what she needed to do.

Interesting match next. I quite like Doi, I think she's underrated and her game should work on grass. Winnable though.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Good result that from JoKo, given that Mestach is an up and coming talent and if i remember correctly she said after Wimbledon last year than she hadn't played on grass for 4-5 yrs.

I suspect Tara has a better chance than Joko of progressing through the next round, but both will be underdogs.

scottie1 · Futures level

PaulM wrote:
Bob the Ball Boy wrote:
blob- i don't think anyone is saying this was an EASY match or one that going into we expected her to win... rather that given Tamira's form and the situation Anne got herself into, it's disappointing that she didn't take the first set or even the match, and that this is down to Anne's decombustion rather than Tamira being in a different class, which clearly isn't the case given the above arguments on ranking/points/results etc!
Sorry I didn't see this post, could have saved my rambling on. This is my exact point. It is the manner of the defeat is disappointing given the bigger picture, not the fact she was defeated of itself.

Never followed the match was out in the sunshine! Anne K never fails to disappoint me I ve given up following her, Good player on her day but that is not so often now!

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

Scottie,

Both her and Baltacha have had very respectable careers, but I suspect they are coming to the end now. Tennis is one of the hardest sports to keep going after you turn 30 (or approach 30) because it is so individual and unlike team sports, there is no way to use experience and know-how get you by, while letting the youngsters do all the running. Maybe they might prolong their careers by turning to doubles, but as neither as really shown too much interest in this in the past I suspect that would be unlikely.

scottie1 · Futures level

thegingerlightbulb wrote:
Scottie,

Both her and Baltacha have had very respectable careers, but I suspect they are coming to the end now. Tennis is one of the hardest sports to keep going after you turn 30 (or approach 30) because it is so individual and unlike team sports, there is no way to use experience and know-how get you by, while letting the youngsters do all the running. Maybe they might prolong their careers by turning to doubles, but as neither as really shown too much interest in this in the past I suspect that would be unlikely.

Yes I agree to be honest I have always rated Bally over Anne --respect what both have done. I think Elena could have been higher ranked if she had not been so ill during her career. I think both will struggle at Wimbledon the pressure of winning etc. Bally has given up doubles anyway so no chance of that. Interesting to see how long they have left?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

thegingerlightbulb wrote:
Scottie,

Both her and Baltacha have had very respectable careers, but I suspect they are coming to the end now. Tennis is one of the hardest sports to keep going after you turn 30 (or approach 30) because it is so individual and unlike team sports, there is no way to use experience and know-how get you by, while letting the youngsters do all the running. Maybe they might prolong their careers by turning to doubles, but as neither as really shown too much interest in this in the past I suspect that would be unlikely.

Actually, see RJA's post yesterday:

the average age of the last 8 men in RG is 29 1/2.

The woman's is a little less but there's still plenty of 28, 29 and 30 year-olds playing top class tennis. The whole sport has changed dramatically - it's less about 'doing the running now' and more about power where, physiologically, people reach their prime later.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Impressed by JoKo today, really striking the ball well and doing well not to be derailed by a shocking line call, halfway through 2nd set, ball was actually inside the line, but called out. Mestach had already got 2 new balls to serve with when the call came from the umpires chair. Thought it was going to get tricky at the end but thankfully didn't.

blob · All-time great

Naomi & Anna wrap up a near flawless first set: 6-0