Week 41 - WTA ($235K) - Osaka, Japan - Hard

korriban · Challenger level

Week 41 - WTA ($235K) - Osaka, Japan - Hard

LordBrownof · Futures level

Agree with indy, with Heather it's a slightly different scenario. I imagine having taken the beginning of the year off she's probably less keen to take the rest of it off. I also imagine (I'm definitely no tennis coach!) that the new aggressive style is going to develop better and quicker on the match court, rather than the practice court so it makes sense for her to play a few more matches before taking two months off over Christmas.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

korriban wrote:
I still think she is a potential superstar as you do. But not until her big weakness is sorted for good. Only hard work 24/7, sacrifice, and a coach who won't take no for an answer will encourage the elephant to vacate the room.

I totally agree with that. It's all in between the ears with her at the mo.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

philwrig wrote:
Laura is clearly not 100% fit at the moment, wrist and health issues, not been able to practice as much as usual.
Should she have have made this trip ?

Anyway hopefully she can get herself fit for the start of 2014 and with Miles have a stellar year. 2013 has been difficult, Parents moving a way, having to deal with a chronic health issue, and further injuries, so taking all that into account her ranking isn't too bad.

Phil, I get your points that she's maybe not 100% fit at the mo and has had a hard year mentally, but the three points I made about her general game in reply to korriban, still stand. She wasn't 100% at the USO, but did lots better there.

I don't think any of us think her ranking is bad overall, more that she's not reaching anywhere near her potential, and that's mostly mental IMHO.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

korriban wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Laura is clearly not 100% fit at the moment, wrist and health issues, not been able to practice as much as usual.
Should she have have made this trip ?

Anyway hopefully she can get herself fit for the start of 2014 and with Miles have a stellar year. 2013 has been difficult, Parents moving a way, having to deal with a chronic health issue, and further injuries, so taking all that into account her ranking isn't too bad.
Phil, I get your points that she's maybe not 100% fit at the mo and has had a hard year mentally, but the three points I made about her general game in reply to korriban, still stand. She wasn't 100% at the USO, but did lots better there.
I don't think any of us think her ranking is bad overall, more that she's not reaching anywhere near her potential, and that's mostly mental IMHO.

I don't think it's mental at all, except to the extent that things outside tennis or in her mental make-up may have somehow prevented Laura giving less than 100% in her training, or focussing more in training on things she enjoys rather than things that are critical to the development of her game. If you are out of position (too slow or too late) or in the wrong position (not adjusting feet/body correctly or in extreme cases not bothering to set up at all - just hitting it) when striking the ball, this is not a mental problem it's a physical and/or technical problem. If she doing all the right things in training to sort this out, but still not improving her movement in match situations then I'd agree it's primarily a mental problem

I agree with what you are saying about footwork korriban, and that she's had some genuine physical issues.

The reason I say it's mental with her is because of her patterns of winning. Are you saying that the three scenarios when she seems to do best always correlate with her physical ailments? Training is part mental too, some days you just don't want to (even if you are physically able), and on those days I suspect she doesn't push herself as hard as e.g. Andy, so doesn't achieve the physical results ie footwork.

TomTraubert · Futures level

genies footwork is worse
watch her - any mid length point and shell play at least one shot lungeing like shes just played a slapshot out on the ice (fittingly enough for a canuck i spose)
and theres no doubt about genies fitness
ivanovic safarova, wickeyer, makarova & others do the same thing but to a less extent

john · Top national player

korriban wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Laura is clearly not 100% fit at the moment, wrist and health issues, not been able to practice as much as usual.
Should she have have made this trip ?

Anyway hopefully she can get herself fit for the start of 2014 and with Miles have a stellar year. 2013 has been difficult, Parents moving a way, having to deal with a chronic health issue, and further injuries, so taking all that into account her ranking isn't too bad.
Phil, I get your points that she's maybe not 100% fit at the mo and has had a hard year mentally, but the three points I made about her general game in reply to korriban, still stand. She wasn't 100% at the USO, but did lots better there.
I don't think any of us think her ranking is bad overall, more that she's not reaching anywhere near her potential, and that's mostly mental IMHO.

I don't think it's mental at all, except to the extent that things outside tennis or in her mental make-up may have somehow prevented Laura giving less than 100% in her training, or focussing more in training on things she enjoys rather than things that are critical to the development of her game. If you are out of position (too slow or too late) or in the wrong position (not adjusting feet/body correctly or in extreme cases not bothering to set up at all - just hitting it) when striking the ball, this is not a mental problem it's a physical and/or technical problem. If she doing all the right things in training to sort this out, but still not improving her movement in match situations then I'd agree it's primarily a mental problem

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 9th of October 2013 10:19:02 AM

So just to clarify korriban. You think Laura has a problem with her footwork? Funny that you've never mentioned this before.

korriban · Challenger level

john wrote:
korriban wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Laura is clearly not 100% fit at the moment, wrist and health issues, not been able to practice as much as usual.
Should she have have made this trip ?

Anyway hopefully she can get herself fit for the start of 2014 and with Miles have a stellar year. 2013 has been difficult, Parents moving a way, having to deal with a chronic health issue, and further injuries, so taking all that into account her ranking isn't too bad.
Phil, I get your points that she's maybe not 100% fit at the mo and has had a hard year mentally, but the three points I made about her general game in reply to korriban, still stand. She wasn't 100% at the USO, but did lots better there.
I don't think any of us think her ranking is bad overall, more that she's not reaching anywhere near her potential, and that's mostly mental IMHO.

I don't think it's mental at all, except to the extent that things outside tennis or in her mental make-up may have somehow prevented Laura giving less than 100% in her training, or focussing more in training on things she enjoys rather than things that are critical to the development of her game. If you are out of position (too slow or too late) or in the wrong position (not adjusting feet/body correctly or in extreme cases not bothering to set up at all - just hitting it) when striking the ball, this is not a mental problem it's a physical and/or technical problem. If she doing all the right things in training to sort this out, but still not improving her movement in match situations then I'd agree it's primarily a mental problem

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 9th of October 2013 10:19:02 AM
So just to clarify korriban. You think Laura has a problem with her footwork? Funny that you've never mentioned this before.

Yes that's correct. And movement. And speed. And endurance. Hope that's clear.

john · Top national player

Could you bring it up again in the next tournament thread Laura is in please

korriban · Challenger level

john wrote:
Could you bring it up again in the next tournament thread Laura is in please

I think I've made this point a few times before, but if you insist.....

john · Top national player

evileye lol

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Laura robson heavily critised on talk sport (radio MW1107) after defeated by a 43 year old vet

TomTraubert · Futures level

korriban were you on talk sport?

indiana · Tennis legend

Of course, we would all like to see Laura doing better and I believe she could. I am though still of the belief that she will rise considerably higher than she has ever been before, remaining potentially a top 10er. Much though will ultimately be up to her to maximise on her considerable talents.

Her year has been much discussed on the forum and there are clearly extenuating circumstances, particularly her ongoing health issues. Anyway KDK is rather exceptional and credit to her achievements rather than be dismissed as a "43 year old vet".

The least worrying thing is that this comes from Talksport, a station employing Adrian Durham, who recently turned one of his ultra ignorant rants ( much possibly just for effect ) in Laura's direction. At times they are fine, but at others the general ignorance shown by their so called "experts" and commentators on many sports, particularly away from football, is very poor.

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 41 - WTA ($235K) - Osaka, Japan - Hard