Week 25 - WTA Premier ($712K) - Eastbourne, UK Grass

Sim · County player

RE: Week 25 - WTA Premier ($712K) - Eastbourne, UK Grass

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Pliskova pouring it on now, breaks at the start of the decider. Very similar feel to the match earlier this year at Indian Wells between these two.
The match, already edging Pliskova's way, seemed to turn for good on that fall by Johanna. And she falls again, though not as badly, as I type this.
Can Jo get back into this? Looking a very tall order (pun on the Czech's height very much intended

)
7-6(5) 3-6 0-2*

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Things unravelling a bit fast now. Not for the first time at a sit down today, Jo is in tears of - I think - frustration/tension/despair.
Pliskova giving absolutely nothing, at times she barley seems human with that expressionless middle distance gaze of hers, and the mechanical serve.
We may be done here.
7-6(5) 3-6 0-3*

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

The reverse commentators curse works!
Jo gets one of the breaks back to make me look like an idiot. Happy to oblige

Encouraged by the results, I try again... there's no chance Jo will really get back in to this.
7-6(5) 3-6 *1-3

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Jo fighting hard
7-6(5) 3-6 3-4*

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

There's some really great, gutsy rallies, winners and points now!

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Big hold from Pliskova there.
Breaking a pattern of points: Jo plays long rally great point wins it - deuce; servebot goes BOOM - Advantage Pliskova; long rally, Jo wins it - deuce; Servebot...
Serving to stay alive.
7-6(5) 3-6 *3-5

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

So similar to their meeting in Indian Wells. Pliskova - playing well above her recent level - continues her dominance over Jo.
A really entertaining and high quality match No one will want to meet Pliskova at SW19 if she plays like this she could make SF.
Jo played really well apart from after that nasty fall, both players playing top 20 tennis for the most part, and a lot of it was a grade higher than that.
GSM Pliskova 7-6(5) 3-6 3-6

But congratulations to Johanna on another excellent week at a big tournament and with another fine victory along the way against Kvitova.
Well done JoKo. Repeat the trick next week please

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Despite Heather & now Jo's recent SF successes in Eastbourne, our search for the first GB finalist in a domestic WTA level event since Jo Durie made the final at Brighton in 1983, continues...

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Another good week for Jo. I was abit miffed that they didn't start her match later e.g 17.00 to give her more recovery time. She had had a tough two sets earlier in the day, and I think that's partly why her game dropped abit ( and abit is all it takes at that level) in the third set.

Still, all guns blazing with confidence for Wimbledon. Not the easiest of draws for her, especially as 16th seed, but certainly winnable.