Week 35 - US Open Singles Main Draw - Hard

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

RE: Week 35 - US Open Singles Main Draw - Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Hmm, looks to be some good match play in these results ( insomniac's list from that US Open run )

Laura has a history of fairly inconsistent play, Laura has a history of serve problems, again I would suggest that Laura does not have a history of being frightened by winning posts.

What happened was not good, but it has to be linked to her long time away from the match court and still relatively little time back on it.

I see little reason not to think her match qualities will return. Now consistency and serving, Laura ...

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 1st of September 2015 09:02:47 PM

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

insomniacfolder wrote:
kundalini wrote:
Does anyone have service speed stats for Laura pre-injury ? Average first serve speed and fastest serve speed.

It looks to me as though her first serve speed is down significantly but I didn't keep a record.

First serve percentage was poor against Vesnina though df rate (25%) was down on recent matches (33% approx). During the US Open run when she beat Clijsters and Na Li, her df rate was 12% though it rose to about 16% during her strong autumn that year.
You can look them up on a (select) match by match basis here
Set your search parameters, and then click the highlighted button in each case

The last matches Laura played before her wrist problems started with serve stats were at Wimbledon.

She was around 109mph fastest serve, 103mph average and 88mph second serve average (2013 US Open also similar).

Today she was fastest 105mph, ave 99mph 2nd ave 84mph (all down by 4mph).

The serve is clearly weaker than before her injury, both in accuracy and power - to some extent she is probably reducing the power to get at least c. 50% first serves in. I certainly remember her going for the ones down the t with more power, today she was hitting the same speeds out wide as down the middle.

The rest of her game isn't back to 100% either, but the serve is the part that is obviously some way away.

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 61 lost to DAVIS, Lauren (USA) 84 6-7(3) 6-7(0)
R1: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) 727 lost to VESNINA, Elena (RUS) 110 6-3 3-6 5-7
R1: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 3 97 def CHIRICO, Louisa (USA) 120 6-3 6-0

R2: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 3 97 v MUGURUZA, Garbine (ESP) 9 9 CH=8 17/8/15
H2H 1-1
Luxembourg 2012 6-4 3-6 5-7
Eastbourne 2015 6-4 4-6 6-3

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Thanks for that site.

First serve speed is way down; enough to explain why she isn't getting the number of unreturned first serves she used to.

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

Countless number of fully fit and much better players have lost matches in similar position to Laura. It happens a lot in womens tennis. So it's no big deal. Give her some space and time to get back to where she needs to be.

-- Edited by TennisLover on Tuesday 1st of September 2015 09:23:46 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

No real solace for Laura, but re the results she is currently WR 618 after last week's points in qualifying. Heather and Jo's rankings are up to date OK.

Laura should be up to about WR 550 when her 10 points here add in. It would have been more like WR 35O if that was 70 instead, which would have been helpful with future non PR entries.

airsmashers · County player

www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/tennis/competitions/us-open-tennis/9975771/early-exit-for-robson

indiana · Tennis legend

I notice that Marina Erakovic, Heather's doubles partner, retired at 6-2 3-0 down against Simona Halep. No idea why.

Strongbow · All-time great

Commiserations to Laura - not sure what people are expecting at this stage.

Well done to JoKo smile

philwrig · Hall of fame

tony_orient wrote:
insomniacfolder wrote:
kundalini wrote:
Does anyone have service speed stats for Laura pre-injury ? Average first serve speed and fastest serve speed.

It looks to me as though her first serve speed is down significantly but I didn't keep a record.

First serve percentage was poor against Vesnina though df rate (25%) was down on recent matches (33% approx). During the US Open run when she beat Clijsters and Na Li, her df rate was 12% though it rose to about 16% during her strong autumn that year.
You can look them up on a (select) match by match basis here
Set your search parameters, and then click the highlighted button in each case
The last matches Laura played before her wrist problems started with serve stats were at Wimbledon.
She was around 109mph fastest serve, 103mph average and 88mph second serve average (2013 US Open also similar).
Today she was fastest 105mph, ave 99mph 2nd ave 84mph (all down by 4mph).

The serve is clearly weaker than before her injury, both in accuracy and power - to some extent she is probably reducing the power to get at least c. 50% first serves in. I certainly remember her going for the ones down the t with more power, today she was hitting the same speeds out wide as down the middle.
The rest of her game isn't back to 100% either, but the serve is the part that is obviously some way away.

Yes the serve speeds are down, BUT for me the most important thing is that they're way better than at Wimby this year.

Against Rodina fastest serve 102 here 105, an improvement of 3mph, average 1st serve speed 92 now up to 99, an improvement of 7mph, alike with 2nd serve which is 84 compared with 80. So give her another 3/4 months and I'm sure she'll be close to pre injury speeeds. So a WIP.

I thought the best player won today, but Laura obviously should have won if you know what I mean. In the 2nd when both were playing at their best, for me Vesnina was edging it.

I don't know what everybody's expectations were, but I felt it would be 2017 before we saw peak Laura again. The backhand looks strong, movement as per, but the forehand and serve still below par but getting better.

-- Edited by philwrig on Tuesday 1st of September 2015 10:45:47 PM

-- Edited by philwrig on Tuesday 1st of September 2015 10:46:27 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Fantastic stuff from Jo, so consistent now in the long rallies, and with the help of her mental coach, not getting anywhere near as nervous.

indiana · Tennis legend

Strongbow wrote:
Commiserations to Laura - not sure what people are expecting at this stage.
Well done to JoKo

As far as I can see most folk here, who have commented, think it will take a fair bit of time and ( while undoubtably today was one that got away ) are not really perturbed.

As to the question posed earlier as to "how long are the coming back excuses going to be made for Laura ?" I would say that plenty folk will consider that the relatively short time she has been back is a relevant issue for now and will be for a time to come.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 1st of September 2015 11:17:26 PM

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

When Laura raced to 4-0 in the 3rd set we maybe saw a glimpse that Laura can be top 30 again; it was a pity she couldn't sustain it (her opponent raising her game came into it) as it would've been a big boost in points and morale; hey ho :(

Hopefully she can chalk up some ITF wins now...

PaulM · Tennis legend

Joss and Anna, if they are on site, are now 2 out following Safarova's withdrawal.