Week 25 - WTA Premier ($710,000) - Eastbourne, UK - Grass

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Week 25 - WTA Premier ($710,000) - Eastbourne, UK - Grass

indiana · Tennis legend

Maybe thinking about byes, PockyTastic ?

Like when top seeds, such as Andy quite often, get a bye to R2, they don't get points for reaching R2. They either win R2 and move onto the R3 points or lose R2 and get the basic R1 loss points ( if indeed any ).

As far as I am aware though whenever someone has a scheduled opponent and advance by withdrawal they get the money and the ranking points just as if it had been a normal win.

PockyTastic · Futures level

Yep I think my sleep deprived brain was confusing the two.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

What a horrible set of tennis for Hev. Really playing badly - especially return of serve - both can't return serve for that matter.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

I think it's more to do with how Keys is serving than Heathers return really

Forbesman · Social player

Oh dear that was terrible! I was looking forward to the match too. Over in a flash and a whimper sadly.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Gutting play. Really horrible match. Oh well onwards to Wimby. Poor Hev, not her best play, got abit blasted off the court too. 6-3, 6-1

steven · Tennis legend

SF: (WC) Heather Watson WR 70 lost to Madison Keys (USA) WR 47 (CH 36 last Oct) by 3 & 1

airsmashers · County player

I think Heather played quite well, just really struggled with that kick serve the ball was around head hight.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Not really that bothered by this. She got a slice of luck with Kvitova pulling out, and going very deep in Eastbourne isn't always a good thing (look at Hampton last year, she was absolutely exhausted from her Eastbourne exploits and played terribly in her first match at Wimbledon).

Better to have a bit of a nervy let-down today, get straight up to London and have a good weekend of practice before the main event.

Madison played very very well, and should beat Kerber tomorrow.

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 20th of June 2014 02:36:32 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, generally Heather is in as good form as she has ever been, if not today, although Keys seems to have played very well.

And while I am sure Heather would rather have made the final than not, a relatively ( unfortunately ) short SF then more time for practice and preparation should be no bad thing before Wimbledon.

Not a lot to be getting overconcerned about here.

LordBrownof · Futures level

Enjoyed the match today - Heather showed huge improvements on the pre-GF Heather. Better ball striking, lovely touches around the net and a willingness to come forward. The serve is better too and I really enjoyed it when she went for the second serve. Nice to see.

The difference today was the way they played at key points. Heather had points to win the first three games but somehow found herself 3-0 down. You can't go behind against big serving player like Keys- you won't get many chances. When Heather did have break points, Key's came up with huge serves. I think I counted at least 4 aces on BPs.

One thing I did notice, more against Pironkova and Pennetta, is that whilst Heather moves excellently and manages to retrieve lots of balls she doesn't do much with them when she gets there. So whilst her movement and speed around the court seem like a big asset she often just knocks it back in without placement or power, unlike a Halep or Radwanska who gets there and then makes it difficult for the opponent. Not sure if I'm being a little harsh, it was just a bit frustrating that her defensive play wasn't winning her any points. Thoughts?

steven · Tennis legend

From @newballsplease, who is on journo duty in Eastbourne:

Watson: "Today I feel that of all the WTA matches I have ever played, ITF, pro, anything, I think today was against my toughest opponent ever. 'I think if she doesnt get top 10, I think shes definitely underachieving."

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Agree with LordBrownof. She gets to the ball with plenty of time but often it just goes back at half pace allowing her opponent to then hit a winner the other way.

It's hard though Keys was hitting such a heavy ball what else can you do? Hev will learn. Remember guys Hev was ranked 160 odd at the start fo the year and within 6 months is now back top 60. That's a quick rise. She's played and won a lot of matches. What she needs now is to play the higher ranked players week in week out and she'll get better and better.

My big plus point for this week has been Heathers serving which has been excellent. Her coach seems very level headed and a great person in her camp. Hev has always been someone who has struck me as a hard worker and she will continue to work to get better and better

indiana · Tennis legend

The more Heather continues to rise again, the more she will get these opportunities against top players. And she seems better equipped than ever before.

Already with a record for the year of 5W 6L against top 50 players and 8W 1L against these ranked 51 to 100, it is pretty clear which group she more belongs with ( and she appears to be improving ), and no doubt Monday's "race" positions will just reemphasise this.

Yes, does seem that the adage of making the opponent play one more ball is much more relevant if it is one more challenging ball. Something to work on...