All I will say is thank goodness she is already in the MD for the USO.

I agree TT, but it will be hard watching her lose to players she would probably beat handily with her natural game style.

I hope this works. Many many players try and tinker with their games and move away from what comes naturally and do not have any success. It is high risk/high reward, and I really hope it pays off. Either way I admire her for giving it a go, as she clearly knows her natural game will always limit her to achieving anything truly great (like huge titles, top 10, going deep in Slams), and isn't prepared to settle for a steady top 40 career and the odd International title.

Much for Jeremy Bates to mull over.

It's more a change of mindset though I think. You could see against Mueller she was actively having to think about being aggressive instead if just hitting a safer shot. Often she was caught between the two but for the moments the balance was right she was unplayable. She can't come to the net if she doesn't hit an aggressive approach which isn't her natural rallying style, so I do think it quite a big change when put into practice. She can't come into the net if shes hitting a series of three quarter length mid pace forehand down the middle for example.

I agree its complimenting what is there already, but aspects of what she wants to achieve will require her to go against the natural instincts which have served her so well for years in order to actually do them. its getting bigger and stronger without losing athleticism and speed. but It's having the patience and confidence to stick with it when it is failing which is the big test.

So Laura plays Wickmayer - similar to Morita an inconsistent opponent around the same place in the race rankings as Laura. Certainly could have been a lot worse given the quality of the field and I think Laura starts as marginal favourite.

Tough one for Hev, didn't see that coming.
Usually when you have a change of coach, the result is an improvement in form. Basically going from a negative situation to something a bit more positive. Laura always does well after breaking up with a coach.
JB will be a short term solution and she needs a long term fit sooner rather than later.
Chrissie McHale a similar type of player had GF during last year, and has really struggled to get back close to her previous form, now ranked in the 90s as opposed to the 20s.
Hev played so well against Lepchenko at Eastbourne and quite aggressively at times that this result just doesn't make any sense.
Hopefully Hev can rediscover hes best form soon but I am a little bit worried.

It's not a bad draw for Laura, but with byes for the top seeds there were also potentially alot better ones out there.
Wickmayer is probably more inconsistent than Laura, reaching the Eastbourne SF was an impressive effort, but she's shown very little since. Its probably a toss up/ marginal favouritism to Laura.

Peter too wrote:

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R1: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) 32 v WICKMAYER, Yanina (BEL) 57 (CH=12 in 2010)

Yanina won in their previous meeting in Birmingham in 2010.

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 I watched that.  Played in appalling wet conditions and there was lots of discussion and distractions.  Yanina seemed much bigger and stronger than Laura.  Not so now I should think !!

Funny I noticed that too LOL!!

-- Edited by WD40 on Sunday 4th of August 2013 08:31:25 PM