Did Sam not have a similarly abysmal run of results around this time last year?

PaulM wrote:

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Did Sam not have a similarly abysmal run of results around this time last year?

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She hasn't lost yet 

 

Third set, here we come . . .

Coup Droit wrote:

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PaulM wrote:

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Did Sam not have a similarly abysmal run of results around this time last year?

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She hasn't lost yet 

 

Third set, here we come . . .

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Haha I know that, but even if she wins she is struggling very much against players several levels below her (although this year she has had the injury niggles, last year the poor run of form over the spring was quite surprising). If she can grind a couple of these matches out hopefully things will start to click into place

-- Edited by PaulM on Wednesday 26th of March 2014 12:03:58 PM

Sam is very much a confidence player and when she gets into a good run, she is very difficult to stop.

If you look at her points record, they all come in bundles and then nothing for a while.

Sam 5-1* up now.

I expect she will get a wildcard if she doen't make it in direct at Edgbaston next week and hopefully pick up some more points to get her ranking back to where it should be.

paulisi wrote:

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Sam is very much a confidence player and when she gets into a good run, she is very difficult to stop.

If you look at her points record, they all come in bundles and then nothing for a while.

Sam 5-1* up now.

I expect she will get a wildcard if she doen't make it in direct at Edgbaston next week and hopefully pick up some more points to get her ranking back to where it should be.

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 Where should her ranking be though. I think she is probably ranked about right at 200-250.

-- Edited by Jaggy1876 on Wednesday 26th of March 2014 12:26:24 PM

Yes, I'd certainly say that Sam is ranked about right based on her overall performances. I see no particular mitigating circumstances.

I think paulisi was more pointing to when she is on one of her good runs ( spread over a little time, not one offs ), she at these times is easily playing top 200 tennis.

Now, I quite appreciate that very many players at their best play above their ranking, but the point about Sam is that she does it for extended periods ( suggesting thst she really could / should be ranked quite a bit higher ). She also undoubtably plays below her ranking for extended periods.

The good thing about rankings is that, leaving aside a few rare cases, they are a 100% accurate reflection of your level, as taken over 12 months.

Of course, if you scored mega points 11 months ago and then didn't touch a racket, you might be over-ranked. OR won ten big matches by w/o. Or were out injured for a LONG period of time and just back. Equally, if you won everything under the sun in 2012 and then didn't play a competitive match, you'll be underrnaked.

But for the normal player top 500 , out on tour, a few lucky wins,, a few unlucky losses, a month off injured here and there (but so will most of the other players have been) - none of that matters, it's the same for everyone, taken over time.

I think the rankings for the lower players can be far more unreliable - a few points might bump you up 300 places and be 'meaningless' points - but for the higher players, I think it is what it is.