Week 20 - Roland Garros women's qualifying

Jan · Hall of fame

Week 20 French Open Qualifying - Women

steven · Tennis legend

Week 20 - Roland Garros women's qualifying

philwrig · Hall of fame

Not particularly kind draws given that they are against non seeds.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Hopefully Cagla Buyukakcay doesn't bring her Fed Cup form to Roland Garros

indiana · Tennis legend

Ah, I was thinking why is that name ringing rather a few bells. That's it, Fed Cup bells.

scottie1 · Futures level

tony_orient wrote:
Hopefully Cagla Buyukakcay doesn't bring her Fed Cup form to Roland Garros

personally I think Naomi will bow out in the first round probably her weakest surface against a player who beat Heather recebtly

wimdledont · Challenger level

Really good draws for both girls.

Buyukakcay has had a torrid time since the Fed Cup - W2/L7, and picked up 28 points for the 3 months. Carry on at that rate, and she'll be WR 350 before too long.

Jaksic - W/L 6/12 for the year isn't good. She has fallen 132 WR places since this time last year. She'd be lower ranked still without 2x10 ranking points from losing in R1 at both RG and Wimbledon last year.

I don't doubt that both JoKo and Naomi have amply demonstrated the fine British ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and may again do so here, but their first round draws could hardly be much better. Two unseeded players who are both in desperate form.

Matches 2 and 3 on Court 9.

indiana · Tennis legend

The old line about Brits having any particular capacity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory I rather doubt stands up to much scrutiny. It certainly happens fairly often both for and against like with other nations. Though Jo is one who may not aid our stats much there.

Re Jo and Naomi's QR1 opponents I must admit I'm not up on their general form, just remembering Cagla from the Fed Cup.

philwrig · Hall of fame

wimdledont wrote:
Really good draws for both girls.

Buyukakcay has had a torrid time since the Fed Cup - W2/L7, and picked up 28 points for the 3 months. Carry on at that rate, and she'll be WR 350 before too long.

Jaksic - W/L 6/12 for the year isn't good. She has fallen 132 WR places since this time last year. She'd be lower ranked still without 2x10 ranking points from losing in R1 at both RG and Wimbledon last year.

I don't doubt that both JoKo and Naomi have amply demonstrated the fine British ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and may again do so here, but their first round draws could hardly be much better. Two unseeded players who are both in desperate form.

Matches 2 and 3 on Court 9.

I hear you, looking at current form you have a good point. And I agree its not just about pedigree, it's about current form and fitness. And from a British perspective these draws look much kinder after digging deeper.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Jo's draw is fine but she has a tendency to peak before the GS and then flop in it.

Naomi would struggle against 95% of the field anyway.

Strongbow · All-time great

JK tends to play to form, NB is erratic and could suprise anyone on the right day!

Best to them both :)

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Can't ask for much more in a GS QR1.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Naomi could have done with it being about 15 degrees warmer than is forecast for tomorrow and so the conditions will make it really hard for her. I think JoKo has a good chance of winning tomorrow though

wimdledont · Challenger level

Naomi has played 31 tournaments in the last year, and is actually, despite an apparent (and imho very unfair) reputation for lack of application, keeps up this sort of work-rate most years.

But her last match on a clay-court was Sep '12. Bit rusty on the dusty...

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

wimdledont wrote:
Naomi has played 31 tournaments in the last year, and is actually, despite an apparent (and imho very unfair) reputation for lack of application, keeps up this sort of work-rate most years.

But her last match on a clay-court was Sep '12. Bit rusty on the dusty...

I have often heard Naomi B criticised for a lack of consistency and success, including via this board, but never for a lack of application. Indeed, along with EWS, she is recognised as having the tournament schedule of a Duracell bunny year in year out.

She has a high risk game of big shots and almost constant attack. When she has her range it can be super effective but there is no margin for error on off days.