Week 9 - WTA International (227K) - Monterrey, Mexico Hard

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Week 9 - WTA International (227K) - Monterrey, Mexico Hard

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Hmmm!!!
My niece is still certain Jo is going to win. Her faith is stronger than mine.

cwej · Lower Club Player

Not a chance!

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Flipper does seem to be serving a blinder this third set though. 80% 1st in, 75% 1st won, 100% 2nd won.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Bagel avoided!
3-6 7-6(2) 1-5*

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

An emphatic final set.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

But not the breadstick

QF: Johanna KONTA (GBR) [4] 27 lost to Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL) 73 3-6 7-6(2) 1-6

DF · Tennis legend

Not to be this time for Jo.

and then there was Heather.....

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Wasn't expecting that after pulling the second set out of the fire cry
Ah well, move on to IW for Jo; maybe Heather can upset the odds later smile

-- Edited by vohor on Friday 4th of March 2016 11:27:03 PM

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

This morning I would have bet good money that Jo was the one certainty to advance today so that is a bit of surprise but it does appear that Flipper played a blinder in the 3rd from the stats. Does appear as though Jo could have nicked the first if she could have converted her break points and then it probably would have gone according to plan.

Still, nice to be sitting here thinking Jo getting knocked out at the QF stage of a WTA event is a shock!

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Disappointing today.

Overall though, a very acceptable week, actually equalling her best ever performance in a 'bog standard' International.
Racking up these sorts of scores week in week out is the key to consolidating her place in the top 50. Even when, as seems to have been the slight case over the stay in Mexico, she hasn't absolutely been firing on all cylinders.
As much as I'd like to say, well, seeded fourth, not making the SF is therefore a failure somehow, I still think there is a lot of acclimatising for Jo to do with her new lofty ranking and the advantages it confers.
You don't just go from being a player struggling to enter the top 100, to being indefatigably a top 30 player in every respect, overnight. Or, indeed, in 6 months. All these things - media and promotional expectations, seeding, your game being a known quantity etc. - are new and represent the first time that Johanna has been able to exercise her new ranking. Reaching a QF this week, alongside winning a match last week, is a fine solidification of her potential and ability to live at this level.
Not to say that it's a great fortnight, but it's good enough to facilitate clearing the hurdles placed in her way before she can really begin to exploit the opportunities that she has earned. Bedding in, if you will.
Bring on Indian Wells and Miami - apropos of nothing, easily my two least favourite events of the year - where good performances will bring greater rewards.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

insomniacfolder wrote:
Disappointing today.

Overall though, a very acceptable week, actually equalling her best ever performance in a 'bog standard' International.

Yes, Jo has had great performances at levels above and below WTA International but has yet to have a really good week at an International event. Given what she has done on bigger stages, and proven ability to win tournaments at ITF events it's only a matter of time until she makes the final of one of these events though.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Heather with a super forehand down the line winner, then a crosscourt backhand winner after a long rally make it 15-30. Caroline takes the next 2 before Heather with a great drop shot followed by a pass into the open space with Woz off the court. After all that great play, Caroline holds to 40 for *0-1

Heather up 30-0 gets a bit careless then at 30-30 comes up with a super backhand pass winner. Woz gets lucky with a netcord winner. Caroline just wide on a backhand crosscourt. Heather likewise. Caroline earns bp then dumps a 2nd serve return in the net. Super forehand down the line from Heather for A-. Heather with a stop volley winner to hold. 1-1

An usual serve from Caroline. It bounced in the service box, hers not Heather's, table tennis style. Heather with a drop shot followed by lob gets it back to 40-40. Another drop shot from Watson, this one bounces before it reaches the net. Heather with a super forehand pass for 40-40. Woz comes through to hold *1-2

I have my suspicions that in between points, when deciding what the next point should be, the answers in this particular contest include 30 shot rally, and I think I quite fancy a moon-ball. Heather holds without much excitement or incident 2-2

Woz df for 15-30. Heather with a deep backhand that gets a weak response, only to dump a backhand into the bottom of the net. Heather with a backhand winner gets it back to 40-40. Bp. Woz saves it with a big forehand winner. Another bp saved by a big serve. Long rally, Caroline eventually unleashes a huge backhand winner. Goes on to hold *2-3

Heather dictating the play, holds easily, up 40-0 df then ace 3-3

Caroline with a well constructed point, driving Heather from side to side until striking a winner down the line. Comfortable hold *3-4

Heather starts the game by winning a couple of lengthy rallies. Goes on to hold to 15 despite a df 4-4

Woz with a moon-ball sneak attack, decides to leave Heather's moon-ball response, believing it to be going long, it drops right on the line. Surely an error like that must cost you more than just one point! Caroline holds to 30 *4-5

Heather with a rare ace. Another well constructed point creates the space for a backhand winner crosscourt into the open space 5-5

Caroline fires an aggressive forehand just wide for 0-30. Good serves get it back to 30-30. Heather dictates, forehand winner for bp then Caroline attacks only to dump a forehand into the net *6-5

Heather impressive as she holds to love for 7-5

-- Edited by kundalini on Saturday 5th of March 2016 03:41:11 PM

cwej · Lower Club Player

Wozniacki winning but so far Watson playing the far showier tennis. Hope she can keep it up!

cwej · Lower Club Player

Well if she hadn't taken that first set it would have felt very unfair. It was one of those weird sets of tennis where one player was clearly outplaying the other by a long way but somehow the score was level the whole way. Heather playing sensational stuff - she really does love playing the big names doesn't she... She's playing the most consistent tennis I've seen from her in years but then managing to pull the trigger every other point and hit winners all over the place...

Now just keep it going...!