Week 24 - WTA International $235K - Birmingham, UK - Grass

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 24 - WTA International $235K - Birmingham, UK - Grass

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Wouldn't be difficult to play to a higher level than Anne and Mek yesterday. Disappointing as it was there for the taking. Ranking will drop now once points from last year come off. Still hopeful for Eastbourne though she's been the most competitive of the women in grass so far.

wales1994 · County player

Johanna's so far the better player in this match. Hitting many forehand winners, and pushing her opponent back on the defence. Really like her game! Hope to see her move on through the course of this grasscourt season!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Jo serves out the match to win 6-2 6-4

And at almost the same time, Heather serves out the first set 6-4

SMC1809 · All-time great

Heather takes the first set 6-4

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Having only dropped 5 points on serve to lead 6-4 *5-4 Heather loses 5 more to get broken back to 5-5 :(

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Into a tiebreak. Fingers crossed.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well done, Hev! Takes the tiebreak 7-0!

Peter too · Tennis legend

Summary:-

R1: SOUTH, Melanie (GBR) WC 523 lost to RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena (SVK) 16 47 4-6 2-6
R1: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 14 54 beat CZINK, Melinda (HUN) 126 6-4 7-6(0)
R1: KEOTHAVONG, Anne (GBR) WC 211 lost to RISKE, Alison (USA) Q 167 5-7 2-6
R1: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) 7 37 v Bye
R1: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) WC 140 beat NARA, Kurumi (JPN) Q 134 6-2 6-4
R1: MOORE, Tara (GBR) WC 194 lost to MLADENOVIC, Kristina (FRA) 12 39 7-5 6-7(5) 4-6

R2: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 14 54 v KUDRYAVTSEVA, Alla (RUS) Q 172
R2: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) 7 37 v HANTUCHOVA, Daniela (SVK) 60
R2: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) WC 140 v MLADENOVIC, Kristina (FRA) 12 39

blob · All-time great

Good that Heather got the potential shadow of a first win back out of the way at just the second attempt. She looks good.

Johanna and Tara have such good potential, with a bit of polish.
I sort of hope someone like Judy Murray was on the phone to Tara pretty quickly, or even called in on her (Judy was in Brum yesterday), to say "See? See what you can do, what you can achieve, the level at which you can compete?" and make her really believe and hungry, so that she can take another 100 or so ranking places.
I can't see any reason why, with her game, it shouldn't be so if she really applies herself.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Having come through after that small scare, Hev might be quite glad she was at least put under some pressure on serve in the match. First win after her time off is a good hurdle to get past as well.

An added bonus for Hev is that she has by far the best of the 2nd round draw from a British perspective. There must be a decent chance of the out of form Paszek losing today and completely opening up Heather's draw to the quarters, and I am feeling confident that she will take full advantage of it if that happens.

I'm feeling less positive about Laura's chances tomorrow as she didn't look great in the doubles and Hantuchova won easily. To be fair though, I don't think Laura had the chance to play more than about 5 groundstrokes in the bit that I watched, so no chance to find any sort of rhythm. Hopefully she has a good practice today and comes out firing tomorrow.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Pleased Heather is back to winning ways.
Good to see joko taking out Nara as well.

DavidC · Tennis legend

Centre tomorrow has Heather first followed by Laura (Anne and Jo' doubles is fifth). Jo is second on court 2 with Heather's doubles fourth

Priesty · Challenger level

Had a nice day today hooking up with Julia and Phil again and meeting Paulisi for the first time.

Valiant effort by Tara, a shame she couldn't quite pull it off.She found some great depth on her groundstrokes, hit some nice forehand winners and did a good job of mixing things up with a bit of slice on the backhand. Milady was looking clearly dispirited after the first set. However she isn't no.39 for nothing and came back in the second, finding her depth and fending off BPs with some aces and body serves. As has been said Tara had the 5-3 TB lead but a good FH return, a netted FH from Tara and an ace from Milady levelled the match and the momentum had clearly swung.Tara battled back courageously from 0-4 to 3-4 in the 3rd and had 2 BPs for 4-4 but couldn't convert and Milady clinched it on her 2nd MP. Good performance nonetheless.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

A few pics from today -

Incase you are wondering, this is Poots texting her Dad perhaps (having just lost to Wickmayer)

Philwrig, Priesty and Paulisi