Week 20 - ITF ($10K) - Hammamet, Tunisia Clay

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 20 - ITF ($10K) - Hammamet, Tunisia Clay

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Good to see Fran giving the seniors a go.

I'm taking Mirabelle is a late entrant and hence in qualifiers?

DF · Tennis legend

Mirabelle lost 7-6(3) 1-6 0-6
Fran won 6-1 6-2

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh dear, it's not going well for Mirabelle.

I read about and have mentioned reference being made to her probably taking some time to work on her game, especially with her having no ranking points to defend until well into the year.

But for whatever reasons results are continuing to be surely not as she would have wished for. I do hope she gets things going in an upward trajectory again soon.

Well done to Fran.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, despite the 'investing for the future' argument, it's difficult to see (from a distance) what good the new coach has brought.....

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Well, in mediation, Kim Clijsters rates Bovy very highly, invited her to train at her academy, and has previously cited her as a role model example of a young player.
Mirabelle's being in qualifying here rather suggests this was a last minute decision, or, at least, that something prevented her taking the MD place that she could easily have secured.
Generally I think Mirabelles been very well scheduled and advised, picking tournaments in sensible locations and ambitious ones where possible. Also seems to acknowledge that there's only so far she can go if she doesn't add other things to her repertoire, or additionally improve those qualities she already has.
One step backwards? Perhaps. I look forward to the two steps forward soon.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Her scheduling in the last couple of months has been very much based round her team commitments (and home money tournament) in France.

Those are finished now (in theory).

So she now has free reign, so to speak.

In Jan, I had her at WR 500-550 for the end of 2016, and stick by that. I was practically spot on last year, at 650, (one of my few claims to fame) but it would be nice to be wrong this year - with Mirabelle zooming into the top 500 after a good run somewhere AND then remaining there - the first bit I can see, not so sure about the second.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q2: JONES, Francesca (GBR) Q UNR v ZMAU, Michele Alexandra (ROU) 1093 CH=1090 9/5/16

DF · Tennis legend

Fran takes the first set 6-1

wimdledont · Challenger level

This is a R1 match, noy Q2, with a ranking point, at first attempt, at stake...

6-1, 3-3

paulisi · Tennis legend

to clarify:

FQR: JONES, Francesca (GBR) UNR bt PETROVA, Aza (UKR) UNR 17yo JCH=1244 6-1 6-2
L32: JONES, Francesca (GBR) Q UNR bt ZMAU, Michele Alexandra (ROU) 1093 CH=1090 9/5/16 6-1 6-4

First scorer for Fran

wimdledont · Challenger level

6-1, 6-4, and a ranking point, at third time of asking (she played a couple of qs as a 14yo)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Brilliant !

For anyone who's interested and missed this two weeks ago (as it was in the junior part), Fran's story is amazing, with a battle against a rare genetic disorder that badly affected/affects her hands/feet/palate and has necessitated countless operations, and still isn't (and won't ever be) quite perfect. But her determination is second to none !

www.youtube.com/watch

DF · Tennis legend

Well done to Fran winning 6-1 6-4

KK · Club Coach

Good idea re-posting that video. I was so glad I saw it. It makes her an extra special person to support.