Week 18 - WTA Premier Mandatory - Madrid, Spain - Clay

wimdledont · Challenger level

RE: Week 18 - WTA Premier Mandatory - Madrid, Spain - Clay

indiana · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
Brilliant, really, really proud of you Ms Broady, delighted to see you overturning everybody's doubts (though I think it was pointed out earlier that this Madrid clay plays a bit quicker than the rest). Never mind, its a wonderful result, and must be Naomi's first 20 points on clay!
And congratulations to Heather too, for another of her battling results, good to see her great TB mentality here.

-- Edited by Michael D on Friday 29th of April 2016 05:07:10 PM

Naomi did also get 20 points for reaching QR2 of last year's French Open, beating Cagla Buyukakcay

It was just on my mind because 20 is her lowest counter and if you consider counters to be the most recent ones, then today's 20 points just takes over from these 20 points in her best 16, and she gains nout - other than huge satisfaction !!

Just have to win another match ...

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 29th of April 2016 05:29:45 PM

Michael D · All-time great

indiana wrote:
Michael D wrote:
Brilliant, really, really proud of you Ms Broady, delighted to see you overturning everybody's doubts (though I think it was pointed out earlier that this Madrid clay plays a bit quicker than the rest). Never mind, its a wonderful result, and must be Naomi's first 20 points on clay!
And congratulations to Heather too, for another of her battling results, good to see her great TB mentality here.

-- Edited by Michael D on Friday 29th of April 2016 05:07:10 PM
Naomi did also get 20 points for reaching QR2 of last year's French Open, beating Cagla Buyukakcay
It was just on my mind because 20 is her lowest counter and if you consider counters to be the most recent ones, then today's 20 points just takes over from these 20 points in her best 16, and she gains nout - other than huge satisfaction !!

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 29th of April 2016 05:17:39 PM

Yes, it's why Fitzy needs to get Naomi not to be worried about the points (relating to the earlier discussion around his interview), and just focus on what she is doing on court. I saw from Steven's next week table that none of these points was going to add to Naomi's current tally, but the symbolic importance of this win is much greater than that. Seems likely she will play Monica Puig next, who does play on clay, but as long as she goes into the match with some confidence and doesn't worry too much about the outcome, who knows?

indiana · Tennis legend

wimdledont wrote:
wimdledont wrote:

I don't think Naomi has NO hope against Dodin.
Further thoughts...
I don't think Naomi isn't on course to become the most celebrated sportswoman in Britain, this century, come July.

With Leicester City probably going to settle SPOTY team of the year early doors, even before the Olympics and any further Davis Cup heroics, I am sure tennis would settle for personality of the year and coach of the year

wimdledont · Challenger level

Puig for Naomi and Ranieri for me, with apologies to Fitzy.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Heather on 2nd on pista 7 against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. Naomi on 4th on pista 5 against Monica Puig. Play starts at 9.30am (I think)

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Leicester on the verge of winning the Premier League shows that anything can happen.....no even using this as an example I can't see a way Laura beats Azarenka.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q1: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 3 56 def HRADECKA, Lucie (CZE) 115 7-6(9) 7-6(4)
Q1: BROADY, Naomi (GBR) 13 80 def DODIN, Oceane (FRA) 148 6-2 6-4

Q2: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 3 56 v LUCIC-BARONI, Mirjana (CRO) 11 75 CH=32 1998
H2H 1-0
Montreal 2014 6-3 6-7(9) 6-4
Q2: BROADY, Naomi (GBR) 13 80 v PUIG, Monica (PUR) 5 63 CH=41 2014

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Great win for Naomi. Solid by heather. Hoping for more tomorrow.

steven · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
indiana wrote:
Michael D wrote:
Brilliant, really, really proud of you Ms Broady, delighted to see you overturning everybody's doubts (though I think it was pointed out earlier that this Madrid clay plays a bit quicker than the rest). Never mind, its a wonderful result, and must be Naomi's first 20 points on clay!
And congratulations to Heather too, for another of her battling results, good to see her great TB mentality here.

-- Edited by Michael D on Friday 29th of April 2016 05:07:10 PM
Naomi did also get 20 points for reaching QR2 of last year's French Open, beating Cagla Buyukakcay
It was just on my mind because 20 is her lowest counter and if you consider counters to be the most recent ones, then today's 20 points just takes over from these 20 points in her best 16, and she gains nout - other than huge satisfaction !!

Yes, it's why Fitzy needs to get Naomi not to be worried about the points (relating to the earlier discussion around his interview), and just focus on what she is doing on court. I saw from Steven's next week table that none of these points was going to add to Naomi's current tally, but the symbolic importance of this win is much greater than that. Seems likely she will play Monica Puig next, who does play on clay, but as long as she goes into the match with some confidence and doesn't worry too much about the outcome, who knows?

I thought that when I was doing the table too - it's actually quite impressive in many ways that she'll now have a 20-point *non*-counter! I don't know why she seemed quite so shocked to have won, given that she beat last week's Istanbul champ at RG last year (as has been mentioned above) but Puig will be tough, I'm sure - she won Strasbourg WTA on clay a couple of years ago.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

So pleased firstly for Heather for winning a close one. I remember the pain of sittng courtside last year, watching Hev lose despite having 5 MPs on the day. I have not doubt that particular match was on Heather's mind at some stage.

Also delighted for Naomi after such a resounding win. I am just gutted I can't be there this year. Fitzy (and his bro) always look after me when they are there.

indiana · Tennis legend

Naomi now has ( or rather hasn't ) 114 points in 17 non counters.

Donate them to anyone and they wouldn't be far off getting in the mix for GB #4 !

There is probably a case as Fitzy said in podcast for her playing a bit less to help work on certain areas, but she does really like playing tournaments. Maybe used to such a schedule as well from at times financial needs.

And things aren't going badly ...

Strongbow · All-time great

Clay might not be her favourite surface but I think she might be out to prove a point.

She certainly surprised me today smile

cwej · Lower Club Player

Her response to clay reminds me of the days of Bally - whenever she won a match on clay it was a huge event too! Good for Naomi!

And great result for Heather! Tiebreaks starting to go her way a bit more now!

Michael D · All-time great

indiana wrote:
Naomi now has ( or rather hasn't ) 114 points in 17 non counters.

Donate them to anyone and they wouldn't be far off getting in the mix for GB #4 !

There is probably a case as Fitzy said in podcast for her playing a bit less to help work on certain areas, but she does really like playing tournaments. Maybe used to such a schedule as well from at times financial needs.

And things aren't going badly ...

I was trying to see whether Naomi has reduced her schedule at all so far this year, but is hard to tell, and if any not much. She has played 10 tournaments in the 4 months so far (Jan-April), not including Madrid. Last year in the 4 months to come (May-Aug 15) she played 14 tournaments but that includes the grass court and US hard court seasons. She played less end of last year.

In comparison, JoKo has played 8 tournaments so far this year, and Heather 7, but both have had niggles on occasion. I think one difference is that Naomi is now taking some time out to work on her game, so expect that her tournament load will reduce a little, especially if she can maintain/ improve this kind of level. Good to see her reaction to the clay win, seems probably a good psychology on the surface for her!