Week 3 - Australian Open (women's)

PaulM · Tennis legend

RE: Week 3 - Australian Open (women's)

Peter too · Tennis legend

Very few winning shots or plays, its more a case of Pironkova making a few less errors than Heather.
Heather 0-1*

PaulM · Tennis legend

Should add that Pironkova is woeful. If heather was fit this would have been a demolition job I have no doubt.

Heather goes up 0-40 with a lot of help from Tsveti, but misses all three. Then a fourth with a makeable pass.

*0-2

Peter too · Tennis legend

Pironkova goes from 0-40 to deuce, gives another break point but Heather can't convert any.
Heather *0-2

PaulM · Tennis legend

Saved 2 break points very well and tried to get herself going but misses a forehand on the third.

Poor girl. Such a great opportunity this tournament presented and she just can't compete. Last week just took too much out of her I guess.

Shes not even at 20%.

Cruel sport.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Heather tries to psych herself up with shouts of "Come on" after two winning plays from 0-40.
Heather 0-3*

Peter too · Tennis legend

Heather *0-4

Peter too · Tennis legend

Heather 0-5*

PaulM · Tennis legend

So so sad.

Over and out. 64 60. Missed a break point in the final game.

Play anywhere near her capabilities and it wouldn't have been close. Really hope she is ok and she just needs rest and fluids.

Peter too · Tennis legend

First serve 46%
DFs 5
Win on 1st serve 50%
Win on 2nd serve 33%

Pironkova offers a break point but Heather can't convert.
A case of moribund in Melbourne.

R1: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 49 lost to PIRONKOVA, Tsvetana (BUL) 67 4-6 0-6

Peter too · Tennis legend

Of course Pironkova may have played a better game against a more consistent opponent but if she had played the same against last week's Heather the scores would have been reversed.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, difficult to fully judge Pironkova and she was playing well last week. But a fit and well Heather would certainly have had a good chance.

Anyway, such a pity for Heather. There was always that danger of being a bit flat and a letdown after last week, but clearly much more awry today. Hopefully just a bug that she can get over fairly quickly.

Very annoying, but she has looked very fit and played consistently well last week with great reward so essentially her game looks pretty good. And although she would so want to show it at the Slam, overall a pretty good start to the year with still much promise going foreard.

Spectator · All-time great

So sorry for Ms Watson, and hope it's nothing but a local bug that can be easily overcome. If so, she can take courage from the fact that she's defended everything she needs to defend for now, and that there are really good signs that she can press on and achieve her goals.

PaulM · Tennis legend

So the good news is it's just a virus, should be fine in a day or two and still plans on playing doubles.

Bad news is that it's a recurring issue, wonder if it's linked to the glandular fever, her immune system probably took a bit of a battering.

I completely agree Indy, the first couple of rounds in a slam are a lottery at the best of times for unseeded players, and I wouldn't trade the Hobart title for a possible second or third round here, which in light of her section is probably as far as she was going to get (unless Cornet gets taken out in round 2).

Rest up, feel better, and don't be down Hev. Just one of those things.

Spectator · All-time great

Phew! So glad to hear that it's nothing more than a virus. Upwards and onwards!

(PS: Anyone notice that they've put Shelby Rogers v Ajla Tomljanovic on Laver ... and Serena Williams' opening match on Margaret Court? Of course everyone wants home players to be in the spotlight ... and the chances of a competitive match are probably higher in the one case than the other ... but that seems a bit odd)