Week 11 - ITF ($10K) - Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - Hard

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Week 11 - ITF ($10K) - Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I'd agree that beating Galfi in that particular week ( and having looked it up for seperate reasons, i.e. when Eden Silva very nearly beat her last week, I know how impressive Galfi's senior ITF results have been ), and going on to reach the Australian Open junior final, to some extent came out of the blue.

Terrific player as Katie may or may not ultimately be ( and she is very good for her age ), that is why I did not expect more in Sharm and think she's done absolutely fine, while of course always hoping for better from GB players.

I sense we just had a slight difference in expectation for Sharm.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

It could also be that Katie as a big hitter just isn't in great form during this trip and is finding her first sets into senior tennis a bit too much. It could be by the end of the year she's inside the top 500 after some great wins. Who knows?

I would be a bit disappointed if we didn't see her getting a few decent wins during this trip

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

indiana wrote:
Katie is doing just fine.

If I recall correctly, CD thinks that too. His issue was with the hype that seemed to be eminating from other quarters, basically outside the forum including, to both of us, extremely surprising apparent comments from Judy Murray in which she mentioned next year's Fed Cup.

Looking at everything she has done to date, and her general progress, I see no reason to have been particularly expecting more in Sharm. She has waltzed through qualifying matches and played two competitive main draw matches with top 500 ranked seeds, the first a very competitive 3 setter with the winner of the Sharm title the week before, who as a result of that title is now up to the 420s in the rankings.

Any overhype is not Katie's fault and that hype may have unfairly brought greater expectations. The girl is still 15 ( she turns 16 on the 24th of this month ).

Anyway, nice to see such a better looking main draw this week. Hopefully, she can get a few more matches this week.

I concur. I wasn't expecting any more than she is doing now. Learn à work on stuff à progress. Win = bonus. Focus on development Katie, don't be burdened by results and don't believe the hype. You have time.

wimdledont · Challenger level

I think that Katie would do much better to make Juniors her main focus for now; and to set herself the goal of getting into the JE scheme for next year. This week, for example, she could have been Seed 1 for the Grade A in Brazil. Win that, and she would be JR4 in the world next week. Win this 10k, and her new senior ranking still wouldn't get her direct acceptance into most 10ks.

With just 12 points for a win, she'd have to win 7 or 8 10ks to have any chance of direct acceptance to most 25ks. Better take the bypass.

After the Oz Open, she's was on the front row of the grid to make it to JR1 by 31/12/15. This Sharm shebang looks like an ill-advised pitstop to me.

Still, hope she does well, and has fun, and learns a lot.

The only time I've seen her play, in the Oz Open final, she was injured, so it may be a little unfair to say that I think that her opponent made her look quite one-dimensional. A big serve and booming forehand only gets you so far. So I'm also disappointed she's not playing doubles on this side-trip. I think it would be good for her.

Yeah, and don't believe the hype; but she shouldn't lump it either, but like it. "Katie Swan tennis" gives me 502k Google hits; while "Dalma Galfi tennis" only gets 56k. More is better. During her recent injury time-out, Laura Rob$on was not left envying the French healthcare system, because she could afford to go very private indeed. As one of only 3 native Anglophones in the Junior top 20, with a pretty name and a pretty face, Katie is in a strong bargaining position. 446k Google hits stronger than Galfi.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Perhaps she meant just get her around the fed cup team, similar to the way Kyle and now Liam are getting a flavour of Davis cup but still a little way off playing.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Perhaps she meant just get her around the fed cup team, similar to the way Kyle and now Liam are getting a flavour of Davis cup but still a little way off playing.

philwrig · Hall of fame

I'm quite happy Katie's trying her hand in seniors, learning the ropes, not getting any free handouts. Playing junior tennis in weak fields may get you up the rankings, but what are you learning. Getting to JWR 1 would be nice but I don't think its the be and end all.

indiana · Tennis legend

I'm the same, Phil.

I was very happy to see her in Sharm for 3 weeks.

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

philwrig wrote:
I'm quite happy Katie's trying her hand in seniors, learning the ropes, not getting any free handouts. Playing junior tennis in weak fields may get you up the rankings, but what are you learning. Getting to JWR 1 would be nice but I don't think its the be and end all.

Indeed

PaulM · Tennis legend

Dani lost 61 64, nicer effort than her recent losses for sure!

Katie/Aimee up against Laura and partner in doubles just now.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Katie/Aimee win 2&1

wimdledont · Challenger level

Pleased to see Katie playing (and winning) doubles.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, good to see.

Katie's junior success has been very biased to singles. And while that is certainly the way round we'd like to see it, at this stage playing doubles as well and picking up some additional skills should stand her in good stead.

steven · Tennis legend

Aimee lost

but Katie gets her first WTA point

L32: (WC) Aimee Gibson UNR lost to (Q) Martina Hrubá (CZE) WR 1127 (= CH) by 0 & 4

L32: (Q) Katie Swan UNR beat Irina Lidkovskaya (RUS) WR 954 (CH 949 last month) by 4 & 2