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

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

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

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Oh,well done Heather

I'll make time somehow to watch the replay later - thanks for the link, Ali

paulisi · Tennis legend

I've seen Riske several times live and she is a very good player. Excellent court coverage and very strong on the backhand. 50/50 match.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Doubles
QF: Heather WATSON/Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (GBR/CRO) 178 defeated Taylor TOWNSEND/Sloane STEPHENS (USA/USA) 861 w/o
SF: Heather WATSON/Ajla TOMLJANOVIC (GBR/CRO) 178 vs. Vitalia DIATCHENKO/Monica NICULESCU (RUS/ROU) 195

indiana · Tennis legend

Tomljanovic is well ranked in doubles and I've previously seen Heather call her one of her best friends. So maybe they will play more together and Heather could move to specialising in doubles with her seemingly improved net skills.

Joking :)

Though, if Heather and Ajla win the tournament Heather will be back in the doubles top 100 and GB no 1 ahead of Joss and Anna.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Just for interest, Heather is playing the Oz Open with Alexandra Panova, who she won Baku with. Ajla is playing with Gajdsova.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

AliBlahBlah wrote:
Fantastic!

Full official match replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z6eM14zL8k

SF: Heather WATSON (GBR) 49 vs. Alison RISKE (USA) [8] 42 (CH 40 10/2014)
Senior H2H 1-0
Oct 2013, Poitiers $100K, Hard - Indoor, QF, AR [3], 3-6 6-4 6-4

Despite knowing the outcome, I found the game at 2-5 in the first set agonising to watch. Not sure I'd have coped watching live!

Thanks for the link

paulisi · Tennis legend

PaulM wrote:
Just for interest, Heather is playing the Oz Open with Alexandra Panova, who she won Baku with. Ajla is playing with Gajdsova.

I think we may see a new GB doubles no.1 shortly.

Another result here and/or a win at Melbourne would almost certainly put Hev above Anna/Joss

philwrig · Hall of fame

That first set showed Hev at her best, looked down and out despite playing some quality tennis and having numerous BP opportunities, but undeterred kept fighting and eventually it turned around to dramatic effect, eventually winning the big points. Despite a late blip in the second, that was plain sailing.

I have spotted that her hands at the net have improved this week, I've seen some really high quality deft volleys and also great touch on some drop shots. 1st serve great as well.

Riske is a quality opponent, but won't be able to hit Hev off the park, so there'll not be much in it.

-- Edited by philwrig on Thursday 15th of January 2015 07:23:33 PM

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Great week for Hev so far. Hope she can keep going

Jan · Hall of fame

Good luck Hev!

philwrig · Hall of fame

One of the great byproducts of this week is she will effectively will be playing with house money at the Oz open i.e. a reduced amount of pressure with regarding picking up ranking points, given the big haul she has obtained this week.

gjr · Club Coach

Unfortunately I'm at work so don't have pictures for this.

3-3 first set. They've traded a break each.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Heather recovered from *1-3 down to lead *5-3

Peter too · Tennis legend

Heather wins five games in a row to take the 1st set 6-3