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

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

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

TomTraubert · Futures level

Coup Droit wrote:
TomTraubert wrote:
9-10
9-11

@#%$&

i hate tennis

gonna sulk all day now :(
I feel your pain Group hug . . .

:D

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

TomTraubert wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
TomTraubert wrote:
9-10
9-11

@#%$&

i hate tennis

gonna sulk all day now :(
I feel your pain Group hug . . .
:D

Certainly the end of the season hasn't been anything to write (or email/tweet) home about. Been an inconsistent/frustrating year for Laura and a real struggle for Heather to recover from illness so I'm not exactly feeling too bad about the season coming to an end.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Tony, it looks as if we are maybe not that far apart, although I do think Laura still needs to work on general fitness.

I agee there is maybe a bit of a cross-over and I thought that after my last post.

Getting to the ball at all is really about fitness and agility. But the final steps, often little precise movements, are partly that but could also come under "shot technique" and practice here would clearly involve some actual ball hitting.

I think what korriban and I really meant was that her actual ball striking abiliity is among just about the best on tour. Generally when the ball misses lines or goes feet over the baseline, it seems to me very much to do with her feet not being in optimum position or sometimes not in position at all and just flailing at the ball.

If Laura ever got to having her feet precisely in position very much more of the time, I do think that she could be quite awesome.

indiana · Tennis legend

Quite often we have a thread in the latter part of the year discussing who has had the better year generally, the GB men or women ? I don't think it's a debate this year.

Hoping next year will be much more fun as we continue to chart "the rise and ( comparative) fall and rise again of the top GB tennis girls".

korriban · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
Yes, Tony, it looks as if we are maybe not that far apart, although I do think Laura still needs to work on general fitness.

I agee there is maybe a bit of a cross-over and I thought that after my last post.

Getting to the ball at all is really about fitness and agility. But the final steps, often little precise movements, are partly that but could also come under "shot technique" and practice here would clearly involve some actual ball hitting.

I think what korriban and I really meant was that her actual ball striking abiliity is among just about the best on tour. Generally when the ball misses lines or goes feet over the baseline, it seems to me very much to do with her feet not being in optimum position or sometimes not in position at all and just flailing at the ball.

If Laura ever got to having her feet precisely in position very much more of the time, I do think that she could be quite awesome.

Indy. I think you've completely missed the point. Laura wouldn't be "quite awesome", she would be "hugely magnificently top 5 awesome". No, I completely agree with you. wink

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

philwrig wrote:
I come at this from a completely different angle.
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 ?
Last year Sloane Stephens had an abdominal problem at the US open and didn't play again in 2012. Took enough time off to get 100% fit, and then came back all guns blazing at the start of this year, and what a year its been for her.
Laura yes has gained 150 points, but little else.
In the past Laura has played when not fit, and there is an argument that maybe she shouldn't, not being able to do yourself justice I think is a problem.

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.

I do wonder if Laura would have taken the time off to heal the injury had it been any other time of year. As it was, she probably saw no point in resting for a few weeks after the US Open as there would be no events left to play once she got fully fit.

You can certainly argue though that both Laura and Heather have been guilty of playing events when not 100% instead of making sure they are totally ready for the events they do play.

-- Edited by tony_orient on Tuesday 8th of October 2013 07:34:24 PM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

korriban wrote:
But let's be honest the facts are that Laura's record since working with Miles has been very poor

I'm going to bite on this one, and as you know although I'm a great Laura fan, I get as frustrated as korriban.

However, I don't think Laura's pattern has changed since Miles. As I've said in past posts.:-

1) She did well initally (with encouragingly less DFs) as she always seems to when leaving or gettting a coach.

2)She's done well in GSs.

3)She's done better if there is another British woman (ie JoKo of Hev) doing well in a similar competition that week).

Which to me does beg the question if Miles is a good permanent choice as nothing's changed!

korriban · Challenger level

Helen. By saying that results post Miles haven't been great, I wasn't suggesting they were any better beforehand. I agree with you that, whilst her serve looks a little more robust, her overall performances and results have been patchy pre and post Miles. All year really. 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.

philwrig · Hall of fame

I come at this from a completely different angle.
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 ?
Last year Sloane Stephens had an abdominal problem at the US open and didn't play again in 2012. Took enough time off to get 100% fit, and then came back all guns blazing at the start of this year, and what a year its been for her.
Laura yes has gained 150 points, but little else.
In the past Laura has played when not fit, and there is an argument that maybe she shouldn't, not being able to do yourself justice I think is a problem.

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.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

It's so hard to judge though Laura looks very sickly at the moment on court and doesnt have that usual fire in her eyes that she has when playing big matches.

I totally agree with phil, she should get healthy and get fit. In her current condition the best she can hope for is to have enough energy for 1 or 2 wins, she certainly isnt in title winning shape and so why bother scrapping for peanuts at her own long term expense.

briteny · Intermediate Club Player

thinking..... Heather is changing her game as more aggressive. and it take time to develope

philwrig · Hall of fame

briteny wrote:
thinking..... Heather is changing her game as more aggressive. and it take time to develope

For me same deal with Hev, I'd like to see her 100% free of the GF, before chasing the ranking points. She is in a very similar situation to McHale, counter puncher who got GF, struggled on comeback, huge ranking fall, now only just starting to recapture her previous form , but still a bit off.

indiana · Tennis legend

I'm with Phil on this about Laura.

Considering her various issues and actually having to take some time off with the wrist, I think it is fairly remarkable that Laura has so far competed in 24 tournaments this year ( including the 2 Fed Cup weeks ). In the GB top 25 that is 3rd equal behind Samantha on 26 and Naomi on 25.

With her health issues and the fact that many of us do think there are training issues to address, I do think that she has got the balance a little wrong. I hope that this is her last tournament of the season.

Heather is a bit less clear ( well certainly to me, no medical expert ). It may be that she is effectively clear of GF and just needs to really build up again. She appears to be down to play the next 2 weeks at least back in Europe. I'd be quite happy for her to call it quits for the year then, but just as long as whatever she does is for the best.

indiana · Tennis legend

Actually all ( of many ! ) things considered the fact that Laura is still predicted to be top 50 after this week, with no further points to defend this year ( so has a fair chance of ending the year top 50 even if she doesn't play again ), says a heck of a lot about the fact that she could potentially be so much higher.