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

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

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

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

5-7 at the second change.
All the spectators now crowding around this one court, the Mexicans have really been lifted by the crowd throughout the second half of the match.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Winning 5 points in a row to take the TB and match 10-8.

-- Edited by Peter too on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 12:36:01 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

They scrape home! recovering from 5-8 in the MTB.
... and breathe!

R1: WINDLEY, Jade / MELICHAR, Nicole (GBR/USA) 355 defeated (WC) RODRIGUEZ, Victoria / ZACARIAS, Marcela (MEX/MEX) 866 6-2 5-7 [10-8]

wolf · Tennis legend

A lot of epic points in this match!!

-- Edited by wolf on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 12:44:32 AM

steven · Tennis legend

Phew! I got more into that than most doubles matches by the end - it's Jade's 2nd WTA main draw win (first against a non-GB pair) and should take her up to a new career high around 160 (plus quite a few more $s!)

Edit: my post crossed with the wolf's - the previous win was the one with Sam against Nik & Mel in Linz last year.

-- Edited by steven on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 12:42:56 AM

wolf · Tennis legend

Yes, apart from Wimbly last year I couldn't even remember her getting any home wild cards (and I then looked and she hadn't) but didn't think outside the grass season.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Stiff test up next for Jade & Nicole.
However, the third seeds only inched home today [10-7] in the MTB against a pair ranked 547. So, who knows what might happen.

QF: WINDLEY, Jade / MELICHAR, Nicole (GBR/USA) 355 vs. JURAK, Darija / MOULTON-LEVY, Megan (CRO/USA) [3] 110

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Well done Jade, onwards and upwards!

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

The QF is streamed tonight, about 01:30 UK.

On an entirely fluffy and inconsequential note, you can see JoKo and Jade (and Melichar) all looking resplendent for a brief second, from the, zombie themed, players party (hence the music) here: youtu.be/wZMs0MHiV70

steven · Tennis legend

Jade & Nicole are *4-5 in the 1st set (1 break each)

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Nicole & Jade acquitting themselves very commendably early on.
Playing smart stuff, and an early break up. After the first round of services were all held, they broke Jurak's serve, to 15.
*3-2

Nicole's serve is broken on the deciding deuce point to put us back on serve. Jurak hitting a clean return winner DTL as Jade moved across. Nicole is not great at touch shots, but fares much better when she can thump the ball.
3-3*

The seeds race through a love hold.
*3-4

Jade holds to 15, playing well - exploiting the iddle ground and drilling the ball at the feet of oncoming players.
4-4*

Jurak holds, mostly thanks to her partners reactions. Moulton-Levy may only be 5 feet tall, but she's mighty hard to get a ball past tonight.
*4-5

Hold to 15 from Nicole. Good serving backed up by good volleys from Jade.
5-5*

Rats! They got to deuce in Megan's service, after more good returning, and were well in the point but eventually one of Jade's shots floated a little in the middle of the court and 6 feet of Daria Jurak pounced on it and pounded it away to ensure the hold.
*5-6

From 40-15 to deuce on Jade's serve means a set point against. The seeded pair both staying back on several points running. Jade trades with Daria and then goes cross court where Megan cuts it off and takes what was a very even first set

5-7

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Playing to Daria, and keeping the ball away from Moulton-Levy, seems to be the play that will bring best rewards at the moment, and it does. 0-40 on the Jurak service, Megan recovers them two points, but can't stop Jade Nicole breaking to 30 as Daria pushes a routine volley long. Not disheartened by the end of the first set at all then, and with reason. They're really in this match on even terms.
5-7 *1-0

Nicole holds, and it is she that the seeds are targetting, playing most every ball to her, with Jade left trying to pick up scraps, and doing so to good effect when possible.
5-7 2-0*

Megan holds to 15. The only player not broken thus far.
5-7 *2-1

A DF from jade gives the seeds 3 break back points at *15-40. Nicole makes a nice pick up off her toes to force an error to save the first, Jade drills a shot at Daria to save the second.
Oh no! Jade DF again on the deuce point to put us back on serve

5-7 2-2*

The generally vulnerable looking Jurak serve gets to 0-40* courtesy of UE from Jade and Nicole. A nice winner cross court from Jade gets one point back, but another Melichar UE puts the seeds ahead for the first time in the set.
5-7 *2-3

Indecision! Jade semi-lobbed, lined up for a smash, and then left it, too late for Nicole to do much. But, it's of no consequence being the only point they lose in that game.
5-7 3-3*

Good volleys from Jurak, who looks much more comfortable when able to get to the net and crowd in; a hold to love for Megan, whose serve doesn't look like it has much about it, but is giving alot of problems to Jade & Nicole.
5-7 *3-4

And the streams have all collapsed

Deuce on Jades serve, and broken.
The seeds will serve for the match.
5-7 3-5*

0-40* 4 MP

Jade nets, and the ending is a bit flat.

They were well in that and had plenty chances, but a little bit of inexperience and indecision ultimately cost them. Absolutely no disgrace though, a very meritable showing against a well seasoned pair, to whom the scoreline was a bit flattering on the balance of play.

Jade's Mexican Adventure ends then, but it's been quite arewarding little trip.

QF: WINDLEY, Jade / MELICHAR, Nicole (GBR/USA) 355 lost to JURAK, Darija / MOULTON-LEVY, Megan (CRO/USA) [3] 110 5-7 3-6

Spectator · All-time great

Thank you for the commentary, IF. Sounds like quite a productive foray.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Yeah if a couple of those deuce points had gone their way it would have been a different story.