Week 10 - WTA Premier ($6.1M) - Indian Wells, USA Hard

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

RE: Week 10 - WTA Premier ($6.1M) - Indian Wells, USA Hard

philwrig · Hall of fame

My personal assessment of that 1st set was that Jo came out and was in complete control but KP was very sluggish, then KP started to find her range midset, however she then dropped off again as Jo hit a purple patch, but that 6-5 game was crucial, a couple of sloppy errors put her in trouble and that was that. I get the feeling the H2H scoreline is starting to be a factor mentally, if KP continues to play her 'A' game it'll probably be a comfortable straight sets victory.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Mmm, yes, those previous matches must play on your mind, as Jo said in press, "I've played both of the Pliskova sisters, actually, and I haven't beaten any of them yet."

Pliskova saves a break back point with an Ace. Jo's level has edged off a shade, but the Czech is flowing pretty smoothly now, serve thundering, groundstrokes like cannonballs.
Can Jo do to Pliskova, what the Czech did to Jo in the first set, and come back from 0-2 to take the set?
0-2*

On the board is a start.
When Pliskova plays well you almost dislike her simply because she makes it look ridiculously easy, just waft the racquet at the ball and it rockets away almost in a sonic boom.
1-2*

Lucky net cord gives Jo 2 BP at 40-15*... and the first is taken (it looked awfully close to out, but no challenge). Break recovered
*2-2

Better from Jo, and three straight games as reward, edges ahead in the set.
3-2*

A rash of Czech errors, and Jo breaks again
*4-2

Pressure at *30-30, brought about by a DF, had chances to close the game but missed two easy FH put aways. Jo makes her first BP save of the match - Pliskova was previously 3/3 - and then holds courtesy of a flubbed Czech smash.
5 consecutive games for Jo. Scrapping tough!
5-2*

Love hold for Karolina.
Come on Jo! Serve it out!
*5-3

0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15... YES!
Let's go JoKo!
6-7(2) 6-3

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Wednesday 16th of March 2016 02:06:23 AM

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Between sets, both coaches down: Jo's calmly laying out a detailed plan. Karolina's trying to avoid flying racquets, as his charge smashes two whilst sitting down, and barely inches from him!

Set 3
The venting seemed to work; Karolina opening with a strong love hold.
*0-1

Which Jo duly matches, crowning it with a nice BH DTL winner.
1-1*

Some fine tennis in this game, good rallies. Then, a misjudgment from Pliskova, leaving a ball that dropped in, takes us to deuce, but the Czech fights off the pressure. Karolina calls the coach again.
*1-2

No seeming back swing but somehow Pliskova generates blinding pace on that FH, she thumps some unplayable strokes. Add in a few Jo errors, and *30-15 ends up with a Czech break three points later.
1-3*

First signs of frustration from Johanna, and it's not hard to see why. She's playing well, trading with one of the heaviest hitters on tour winning those rallies outright, and doing everything right most of the time, but the game is on the Czech racquet - when she connects, serve, FH or BH, the point is as good as over.
Jo will need to cut out the errors altogether to get back here. Crowd are on her side.
Nice BH winner helps along the way to a hold to 30
2-4*

2 nice cross FH from Jo, one an outright winner, the other as good as had us at 30-15*. We get to deuce... a difficult chance to go DTL but couldn't control the power, ADV PLiskova. Then a DF for deuce 2, but it doesnt matter as the Czech uses the classic one two yet again, changing the angle skilfully, to hold.
Come on Jo!
*2-5

Good overhead scurrying back, *15-0, cracking winner from Karolina - the flattest of thumped FH DTL , *15-15, *30-15, good serving to hold to 15.
Can we get that break through? pliskova has a habit of serving 2 or 3 Aces in many similar games.
3-5*

30-30* ... Ace! Jo challenges, it was slap on the middle of the lne... MP...
6-7(2) 6-3 3-6

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Wednesday 16th of March 2016 02:46:38 AM

Peter too · Tennis legend

R4: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 25 26 lost to PLISKOVA, Karolina (CZE) 18 19 6-7(2) 6-3 3-6

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

No shame in this though, for the most part Jo played well, and at times, very well. Traded as equals with a player that fractionally missed out on Singapore last year, and one of the purest ball strikers on tour.
Objectively, perhaps should have killed that first set off, but as counterpoint did so well to dig out the second.

A good week for Jo, last 16 of 3 big tournaments in the last 6 months, and building her general reputation, belonging here at this level.
Well done Jo, and we'll see what Miami may bring

philwrig · Hall of fame

Jo must get great credit for fighting to the last point, after losing that 1st set having served for it, but as insomniacfolder so eloquently pointed out when KP found her range and cut out the errors she was just too good. Still though another very solid tournament for Jo, and now firmly consolidating herself in the top 30.

PaulM · Tennis legend

That's ok Jo. Great fight

Spectator · All-time great

Sounds like a terrific match. Thanks, IF, for the commentary.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Thanks IF. I heard it, and it sounded like she was patchy and so was the other player. But a fairly good week consolidating her ranking. I'll take that, for now

. Onto Miami

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Sounds like a decent performance from Jo even though she lost, and she actually won more points in the match (91 to 90).

Did anyone think Rybarikova would make the quart finals after watching her against Laura? .... No, thought not!

Jan · Hall of fame

Thanks for the commentary.
Still heading in the right direction!

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Yep, no disgrace in that loss (albeit it felt that the first set slipped through her fingers) and she's going to be at worst new CH #24 on Monday :)

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

tony_orient wrote:
Did anyone think Rybarikova would make the quart finals after watching her against Laura? .... No, thought not!

Including, I suspect, Rybarikova herself!

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Thanks so much for the commentary and comments re Jo's match since I slept through it's entirety.