Week 43 - ITF ($25K) - Lagos, Nigeria - Hard

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 43 - ITF ($25K) - Lagos, Nigeria - Hard

korriban · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
Good stuff !

Naomi making a good job of defending her 30 points from Barnstaple last year before she even gets there. That's 24 points for reaching the SF and will be 34 if she reaches the final and 50 if she wins the title. Will be great if now any points she gets at Barnstaple next week ( hopefully quite a lot ) are all profit as it were.

Like to see her in the relatively near future back at least to the right end of the 200s in the rankings.

Really good to see. I don't think Naomi is ever going to be a great player. I don't think she'll make top 100 at any point in her career. But she's certainly got a terrific weapon or two, and she seems like a massive trier and a fighter. Having suffered a fairly awful 2012, it's a pleasure to see her start to inch her way back up the rankings.

I could see her having a really good run at Barnstaple on her day: QF or even SF with a decent draw.

wolf · Tennis legend

SF: Fatma AL NABHANI (OMA) / Gioia BARBIERI (ITA) [4] beat Naomi BROADY (GBR) / Emily WEBLEY-SMITH (GBR) [1] 6-1 6-1

Spectator · All-time great

Surprising scoreline. Hope both Ms Broady and Ms Webley-Smith are well. Their vanquishers include the first ranked woman I've seen from the Gulf. Does anyone else know of any others?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

0-40 down (not on her serve) and then Naomi wins the next 5 points and breaks Nina B in the first game.

Like Spectator, surprised by the doubles score. Tired ? Just not firing ? Hope the singles is OK.

And, yes, whatever happens toady, Naomi has had a real cracking Nigerian tour - brilliant.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Noami broken straight back - expect this may be one match too far.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

But breaks back again . . .

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Four games, four breaks of serve : 2-2

If Naomi has a niggle on her shoulder/serve, then there's no real hope

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Courtesy of steven:

Governor's Cup Lagos ‏@GovernorsCupLag 8m

Both ladies have now settled down on serve, as Bratchikova bangs down an overhead volley to take the 4-3 lead. Quality match here.

nice to know that Naomi's match is being appreciated !

now 5-5

steven · Tennis legend

More from the tournament's Twitter account:

Broady holds as Bratchikova dumps a return into the net. 4-4. We are into to the business end of the first set...

Game Bratchikova. Forehand winner followed by a little fist pump. The Russian leads 5-4. Broady must hold to stay in the set...

Bratchikova would be very disappointed with that... She lets Broady off the hook with a couple of missed returns. Naomi holds from 0-40. 5-5

Bratchikova responds with an emphatic hold to love, punctuated with an ace. The second seed leads 6-5...

Hint of an opening for Nina at 15-30, but Naomi digs deep again, and hangs on to her serve via a cracking forehand down the line. 6-6.

steven · Tennis legend

Not so cracking this time from Broady... She dumps a forehand into the net to fall 2-4 down at the change of ends...

Another Broady forehand finds the net, and this one costs her the set. Strong tie break from Bratchikova. The Russian takes it 7-4.

steven · Tennis legend

Bratchikova is very pumped for this one, and she swings her way to a break of serve to open the second set. 1-0 to the Russian.

6-7(4) 0-1*

steven · Tennis legend

Broady has got to find some inspiration from somewhere to curb the menacing Nina. That's a gorgeous backhand down-the-line from Nina. 2-0.

6-7(4) *0-2

steven · Tennis legend

Hold for Broady... And she gives it a little 'Come on'. Now can she carve out a break? Nina serves at 2-1, second set...

steven · Tennis legend

No she can't. Broady gives a look of disgust as Bratchikova flashes an ace out wide. Nina leads 7-6 3-1...