Week 23 - WTA International ($250K) - Nottingham, UK - Grass

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

RE: Week 23 - WTA International ($250K) - Nottingham, UK - Grass

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

From 0-40* Hev got into the game and had 3 BP, but Rybarikova finally held and we're in the last chance saloon, 6-4 0-6 *3-5
Playing marginally better in the last 3 games...

TheTraveller2 · Lower Club Player

Watched the tie break in the doubles. Thought Freya did well. Looked a lot more reliable than Laura

wimdledont · Challenger level

Pliskovas took their 6th MP 12-10

I didn't watch all of that, but in the bits I saw, Freya was the best player on court.

Jan · Hall of fame

Come on Hev!

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Freya played fantastically well - definitely a player to be excited about.

Not a good day elsewhere though

DF · Tennis legend

Heather was not defending any points but Naomi had 29 points from Surbiton last year to defend.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

What a stinking rotten day

Tara apart, who was wonderful, and the only one that played any good tennis for longer durations than single points.

Only doubles tomorrow, for Naomi and Jossanna, Tara and Jo on Thursday.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Dreadful but better that here than in SW19

DF · Tennis legend

Tara gets a deserved day off tomorrow

wimdledont · Challenger level

Only Naomi+ and Jossanna tomorrow.

Freya+Laura could be the silver lining. Freya imho deserves a Wimbledon doubles MD wildcard, and Laura will get one. They could well get a face-saving win or two; and if they play together for the rest of the grass, that extends Laura's court-time, which she clearly lacks, and introduces Freya to more of the limelight, without her being isolated centre stage.

They are within a couple of points of eachother in the singles rankings, and are likely to be entering the same tournaments come July; so perhaps it might be a partnership that will stick, to the ongoing longterm benefit of both. Doubles partners, hitting partners, travelling companions.

Disappointing also that Tara and Jo are in the same quarter.

indiana · Tennis legend

DF wrote:
Heather was not defending any points but Naomi had 29 points from Surbiton last year to defend.

Naomi will replace the 29 with one of two spare 20s she has so just drops a net 9 points to 805.

Only another net 10 at risk until August ( when she began to take off last year ) - 30 next week which can be replaced by the other spare 20 with last year's Wimbledon 10 being replaced by at least a new 10.

Heather is defending 185 ( 55 + 130 ) from Eastbourne and Wimbledon, which she can currently replace by 11 ( 1+ 10 ) assuming she lines up at Wimbledon.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

My thoughts on the day :

Tara : I had this match nailed on for Tara, for 2 reasons 1. Tara's form right now is solid top 100 and 2. Vekic is in a downward spiral at the moment. Tara didn't even need to play as well as yesterday to win this one, but she was still excellent. Vekic did a couple of things which were very unsporting during the match, have lost a bit of respect for her.

Laura : practiced very well yesterday, I really was expecting something better today. Flashes of brilliance, but too many very soft errors, and she should have won the 2nd. But what about the line calling ??????? Must be a world record for overrules. I counted maybe 10-15. And they generally went against Laura, which put her on a major downer. She tightened up at 5-5 just when you thought she might sneak the 2nd. I still think she needs a major training block just as much as anything else. 1st serve speed well down, which means it comes back unless she places it very well. Lucie Ahl will be with Laura for Birmingham.

Naomi : headscracther . No aces !!!!! Serve speed well down. Hsieh was good but Naomi will be gutted with that performance.

Hev : it seems that she's been struggling with another ab tear, so at least there are some extenuating circumstances. Probably explains why she chose not to play doubles this week. Still though I thought she'd come through that one.

Freya/ Laura doubles : Freya played brilliantly I thought, whilst Laura played 1/2 decent too. They really seemed to enjoy the experience. Felt Laura faded a bit in the MTB.

-- Edited by philwrig on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 07:19:58 PM

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Didn't see any of the action today but pretty disappointing all round apart from Tara who has been consistently excellent. A major opportunity missed for Laura that shows she needs lots of match practice at lower levels and hopefully just a slow grass court start for Heather and Naomi.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Now I know why Jo ain't on the schedule tomorrow, she's all glammed up at an awards show this evening in London, come on Jo, please put your best foot forward on Thursday.