Week 2 - WTA International ($250,000) - Hobart, Australia - Hard

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

RE: Week 2 - WTA International ($250,000) - Hobart, Australia - Hard

Sim · County player

paulisi wrote:
Also Heather through to doubles SF with a walkover

Sloan Stephens obviously realised she had no chance against Hev!

Seriously wonder if it was Sloan who had some issues - could help explain the 6-1 second set scoreline. Had anyone watched the match yet?

Doubles w/o gives Hev a day off tomorrow.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

The full official video of Heather vs. Sloane is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3FM8lPavY

philwrig · Hall of fame

Sloane cited an abdominal injury as the reason for her withdrawal from the doubles, I suspect its precautionary with the Oz open coming up.

It's getting quite exciting now with the prospects for another tournament win for Hev.

I watched her previous encounter with Vinci live on the grass in Birmingham. Vinci was in the form of her life at that moment, whereas Hev was still on the rise. Hev was able to deal with Vinci's knifing backhand slice well, and eventhough Vinci was clearly the deserved winner that day, Hev played a very competitive match. Now with Vinci playing well below that level and Hev in the form of her life, you'd have to fancy a reversal in the result.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well, I've just watched AliB's excellent link to Heather's match (cheers, Ali) and no sign of any injury to Sloane - she was lazy with her footwork (as she often is) but was striking the ball very strongly, as usual, with no sign of holding back for abdominal injury reasons.

And Heather was serving well, pretty aggressive ground strokes, a few killer volleys on key moments, deep returns - all good really.

Jan · Hall of fame

AliBlahBlah wrote:
The full official video of Heather vs. Sloane is available

thanks for the link - I enjoyed that!

indiana · Tennis legend

It has been good to see that those of us who were less panicked by Heather spraying it about quite a lot in the first week of the season ( and basically told that if Darren Cahill was so concerned, well so should we ) have ( so far ! ) perhaps been rather vindicated.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, CD, I was impressed by Heather.

Generally controlled aggresion ( range finder much more in order and selective ) with there often seeming to be much more purpose to her rally shots than too often in the past, with depth and angles, which left her so much more in control of rallies. Although pretty consistent she was certainly not just trying to frustrate Sloane and wait for mistakes, she was making plays.

And yes pretty good serving and quite a number of very confident looking and effective vollies.

Good stuff :)

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

AliBlahBlah wrote:
The full official video of Heather vs. Sloane is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3FM8lPavY

Thanks, enjoyed watching that. Thought Heather played really solid and generally had so much time on the ball. Sloane did seem to be struggling on her 1st serve a bit and to be going for winners before she had the right ball so maybe there was a bit of a niggle there. But take nothing away from Heather, a great win.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Good stuff Heather. Seems to be playing better and better

korriban · Challenger level

The Optimist wrote:
AliBlahBlah wrote:
The full official video of Heather vs. Sloane is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3FM8lPavY
Thanks, enjoyed watching that. Thought Heather played really solid and generally had so much time on the ball. Sloane did seem to be struggling on her 1st serve a bit and to be going for winners before she had the right ball so maybe there was a bit of a niggle there. But take nothing away from Heather, a great win.

Sounds like someone else we know. I'm convinced Sloane and Laura are twins.

As for Heather, I'm really comfortable (injuries notwithstanding, all fingers and toes crossed) with my prediction that she could end the year top 20, given how well she seems to be playing from the get go.

-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 13th of January 2015 08:12:01 PM

PaulM · Tennis legend

To be fair Indy there is no conflict. Her approach against Cornet and Aga was completely wrong, but against the lower ranked players she isnt under as much pressure or doesn't place as much pressure on herself so keeps a clearer head. She didn't go for the sorts of winners against Casey and Sloabe she was trying time and time again against Aga and Alize, because she got worked up and flustered in the latter two.

Ita about balance and against the top players she gets it wrong consistently because she thinks she has to do more with every ball than is the case. She overpresses, stops thinking. Forgets to do what she does well. Her first two Hopman matches were a completely 'uncontrolled aggression' approach. Cahill is correct, she will never beat Aga trying to play like that.

In her other matches she is more comfortable and doesn't go as 'all-out'. Its a mental thing I think, but she needs to start learning how to deal with the top 20 a bit better to move forward to where she wants to be. Right now shes in her comfort zone competing against the 40-80 range

-- Edited by PaulM on Tuesday 13th of January 2015 10:32:25 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Fair points, Paul, and although yes I guess we have seen it before, I'd just rather like to see how Heather plays against top 20 players in ranking tournaments later in this season rather than in the first week of the season in the Hopman Cup.

Yes, she won't be successful playing as she did in her first two matches so I would then be more concerned if that was repeated further into this season, indeed in the Australian Open.

Spectator · All-time great

Late to the party, but so glad to see Ms Watson doing well.

Sim · County player

No play today - washout. Hev is one of only 3 players through to the QFs, the rest will have to play 2 matches tomorrow.

Hev's match is 3rd on centre court tomorrow so will be starting about 2 - 3am for the night owls. Should be on youtube as on centre court for the rest.