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

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

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

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

blob wrote:
http://www.bestsportgo.tv/20130610/vv-593111-tennis-51b57368e15d38.40070063.html

Quality reduced

Thanks.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Impressive from Tara saving 2 bps after two dfs earlier in the game

Priesty · Challenger level

Meanwhile it was good to see Hev get back to winning ways. A BP at 1-1 was saved with a vicious swinging leftie serve, but at 3-3 she had another chance and took it, handling an awkward net cord particularly well. Some impressive depth on her shots gave her the 1st set to 15.

Some lovely passes threatened the Czink serve early on in the second but she held on. Finally however Hev broke through at 3-3, breaking to 15 when Czink sent a FH into the tramlines. An ace, one of 4 from Hev, all in set 2, clinched the next game to love for a 5-3 lead.

There had been on and off light rain throughout, though not sufficient to stop play, and having held to love for 4-5 Czink asked the umpire to check the court to ascertain whether it was too slippy to continue, which drew some catcalls from the crowd.

Serving out at 5-4 would clearly be a mental battle for Hev after a lay-off and lean period prior to that, and sure enough she then faced 0-40. She pulled back to deuce but then faced another BP and conceded the break back when a deep return forced an error. At this point the rain had started again and the court was rechecked.When it was deemed fit to continue Hev stood waiting while Czink delayed proceedings by tying her shoelaces, prompting a slow handclap from the crowd. Hev missed a BH long having forced a BP at 5-5 but then at 5-6 held on to 30 to force the TB. She then raced through this, helped by an apparently bad call against Czink at 2-0.An exquisite FH winner on the run made it 4-0, a deep FH produced a Czink error for 5-0 and Hev polished it off to love.

-- Edited by Priesty on Tuesday 11th of June 2013 06:53:26 PM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

tony_orient wrote:
From what I saw of this match (about half of the first set) Laura wasn't playing at all well.

I just hope this isn't going to be the cry of the next three weeks. I wish her well, but haven't got high hopes as she's in front of her home crowds as the pressure is on - and as we all know she's not good (yet?) under pressure.

I think if Hev does well today, she'll stand a better chance.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Tara blows a 5-3 lead in the tiebreak, missing both first serves and dumping a poor forehand in the net. So close.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well,, Tara lost the second set tie-break 7-5

But that's two excellent sets of tennis by Tara, in my opinion. Strategy, shot-selection, great ball sense . . . Of course, there were a couple of howlers but more from Kiki and she's in the top 40 or so.

Do hope she doesn't give up. It's anyone's match.

LordBrownof · Futures level

Tara has played so well up until now, she just needs to keep her focus.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Tara looking a bit dejected and rushing things a bit. 3-0 down. Only natural, in a way, but a shame nonetheless.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

It's all just about over she seems to have ran out if ideas. 2 points from victory too the women's James Ward?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I wouldn't put Tara's play at 5-3 up in the second set tie-break in the same camp as James Ward yesterday.

James was by miles the better player for 99% of yesterday's match. He was cruising. And he absolutely bottled it (especially when serving for the match in the second set). Choked. Looked like a rabbit in the headlights. There was no redeeming feature whatsoever. I truly feel sorry for him.

Tara got a bit tight but the match was terribly close. The second set was 50-50. She hit one poor forehand but Kiki had hit a really poor one earlier in the tiebreak. Tara had to be 100% to win those last few points and she wasn't quite. But she didn't 'grab defeat out of the jaws of victory' in the same dramatic style as James.

Priesty · Challenger level

Pretty good serving from Hev too. Only 2 DFs all match compared to 5 from Czink. Her first serve % was slightly lower, something like 59% to Czink's 63%, but her percentage of points won on 1st serve was superior.

FH winners were roughly even but Czink's BH started to let her down in the second with a higher number of errors.

Well done Hev!

-- Edited by Priesty on Tuesday 11th of June 2013 10:24:01 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

4-0 down and then Tara plays 2 good games and Mladenovic plays one horrible one.

4-3

SMC1809 · All-time great

Jaggy1876 wrote:
It's all just about over she seems to have ran out if ideas. 2 points from victory too the women's James Ward?

Sorry, should that be "2 points from victory too. The women's James Ward?" or "2 points from victory to the women's James Ward?" Either way, I can't see it. He's much taller, but they do have similar colour hair.

korriban · Challenger level

She had 1 "JW" moment, that's all! Albeit an important one. In general her play has been excellent, especially under pressure.

I'm seriously impressed - Tara's standard compared to Anne and Mel is from a different planet.