Week 14 - WTA International ($500,000) - Monterrey, Mexico - Hard

steven · Tennis legend

Week 14 - WTA International ($500,000) - Monterrey, Mexico - Hard

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

It's a good draw, and actually not a bad section of the draw overall.

The seed in Jade's immediate section is #4, Adriana Perez, a clay specialist, and the other in the section at large is Amandine Hesse, the lowest ranked of the top 8 seeds. Also, you've avoided Kumkhum, Wozniak, Boserup, Sanchez & Kontaveit entirely.

I really like this scheduling - a great chance and experience for Jade.

A, relatively, far flung hard court event, just as the WTA transitions to the predominantly clay, mostly European, part of the year, and, just after the two Premier M behemoths of Indian Wells & Miami, means many players will have either chosen Charleston this week, or opted for rest before travel to clay events next week.

These factors have actually applied more to qualifying in this case than to the, still surprisingly strong (at time of writing), main draw field.

Additionally, this being a $500K International (like Shenzhen), means that, even should Jade not progress any further, the trip will very nearly finance itself; Q1 losers receive $800.

10 points for the first win is decent reward for the risks involved.

As for Joko, well, she may actually have been better of having to go through qualifying, because, as I noted above, MD is quite strong, and if the draw is unkind - say Woznizcki, Ivanovic or Pennetta - then, with Johanna in patchy form so far this year, it is likely to be a short Mexican adventure.

But, best of luck to both, and well done for taking the opportunity.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Good to see Jade giving this a go

steven · Tennis legend

L32: Johanna Konta WR 115 v Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) WR 82 (CH 36 last Aug)

H2H 0-3 - Mlad the Impaler won in 3 sets at Irapuato in 2011, 3 & 4 in Stockholm the same year and 4 & 1 in Birmingham last year.

The winner will play Wozniacki or Vandeweghe in R2.

(this is based on @JuaniCeballos live-tweeting the draw, so subject to confirmation but probably correct)

PaulM · Tennis legend

Not great. If Mlad is serving well the conditions will really suit her.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Jade down for around midnight tonight. good luck Jade!

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Kiki has had a fair share of pretty tough draws this year, but even so hasn't been playing well when the favour did find her, and her ranking has slipped considerably. Even her doubles form has suffered, which had been very strong the last year or so.

Hard to imagine Joko could play her at a better time. Well, except for the small matter of her own form.
Hope the Vancouver Joko re-emerges this week, and if she does, she's every chance.

Peter too · Tennis legend

The match before Jade's has reached 7-6 5-0 so she should be on before long.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Jade had a good chance for an excellent start in the opening game, at 40-15*, but the American held on: *0-1

Tight opening games, both at deuce. Both servers hold: 1-1*

More BPs for Jade at 40-30* and then the first Advantage point. But, again, both elude her: *1-2

Always ahead, Jade holds to 30: 2-2*

More useful pressure at 30-0* becomes a great chance with 40-0*. Melichar saves all 3 BP though, one with an Ace (Melichar's third).
0 for 7 on BP for Jade already, an eighth comes from Deuce 2, but is similarly denied. The American finally holds from the fourth deuce.
Hopefully these missed opportunities don't come back to haunt Jade!: *2-3

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Sunday 30th of March 2014 12:24:39 AM

steven · Tennis legend

According to the stats, Jade has had no less than 8 break points in Melichar's first 3 service games but hasn't converted any yet.

*2-3

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

In contrast to Nicole's struggles to hold serve, Jade goes up *40-0 and holds routinely to 15. She has faced no BP on her serve yet: 3-3*

Long pause at 3-3*, on all courts. WTA App seems glitched, so... we switch to Bet365, where... the score is now 4-4*
No idea how we got there.

2 More BP for Jade at 40-15* Again they are denied
OK Jade, it's very well mannered of you to refuse all these BPs, like a dinner party guest declining the last petit-four, but really, it's OK to take one!
Melichar holds from deuce: *4-5

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Sunday 30th of March 2014 12:39:15 AM

steven · Tennis legend

The ATP/WTA app score now says 3-3* but it's clear from the stats that it is actually *4-5 and Melichar has now saved 10/10 bps

(at least Jade's the one getting bps, I just hope she won't live to regret so many slipping through her hands)

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Jade holds to 15, Melichars only point courtesy of a DF: 5-5*
Now Jade, Now!

steven · Tennis legend

Break point no. 11 comes ... and goes

I wonder whether Melichar serves far better from one side of the court than the other. How frustrating must this be for Jade though.

*5-6

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

30-30* leads to... you guessed it, another BP! And... you guessed it! Denied! Melichar holds on again, he muttered with grudging respect, from deuce 2: *5-6

Jade ensures the TB with a love hold: 6-6
Have a nasty feeling about this...

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Sunday 30th of March 2014 12:51:18 AM