Weeks 26-27 - Wimbledon 2016 - London, UK - Grass

indiana · Tennis legend

Weeks 26-27 - Wimbledon 2016 - London, UK - Grass

korriban · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
Well Jo's certainly not really struggling, she's been in pretty good form this week if not at her generally at her absolute best and lost a high quality SF vs Pliskova. Spotlight and pressure will indeed really be on her against Puig who has been playing well, but I would think she will come through OK.

Heather and Tara have decent chances and I wouldn't rule out Naomi on a calm day with her service firing though clearly a very tough match in which she will definitely be the underdog.

Re Laura and Katie I'm very interested in their performance level but have very little expectation of wins.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 25th of June 2016 11:20:37 PM

Agree all round. But like our men, not a fantastic draw by any criterion one might settle on. Jo played well against Pliskova, who in turn had an outstanding serving day which she does from time to time. I back Tara and Heather for wins as well.

Katie, by her very high standards, has struggled on the clay, so it will be a lottery to see ho grass works out, and her opponent has improved dramatically in the last 12 months. A set would be fantastic.....

Laura worries me. Realistically her last big public match before the necessary drop down into $25ks and such like to fight her way back the hard way. Kerber not at her very best, but way too canny, consistent and athletic for Laura. I think Laura will lose heavily, notwithstanding the customary 3 or 4 game blitz where every low percentage shot she attempts comes off. Hope not, but head rules heart. My concern is the level of scrutiny she will get in the aftermath from the general public, the dailies and the TV pundits. This is her first real moment back in the spotlight. I think it could be borderline brutal in the short term (depending on level of fitness and her ability to stick to a sensible gameplan) followed by general indifference with the focus on Jo. For someone who likes attention, perhaps difficult to take, with a risk of soul searching. For her sake, longer term, hope she acquits herself well enough to send her down the right path......

philwrig · Hall of fame

I suppose I'm still very scarred by what I saw at Notts, Jo certainly played well enough last week at her favourite venue, but I still think she's vulnerable at the moment. Hev should beat Beck, but I don't think it's a given. I'd love to think 2/3 could get through, but I'm preparing myself for something much worse.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Laura is 3rd on court 1 tomorrow and Naomi 4th on court 3. I was hoping they would be earlier to avoid clashing with the football so hoping for some speedy earlier matches now.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Steven @GBtennis 14h14 hours ago

Bookies' odds imply GB R1 win probabilities:
66% Heather
59% Johanna
38% Tara
29% Naomi
11% Katie
10% Laura
'Par' = 2.1 winners

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Glad to hear Naomi Cav given a place on the Radio 5 Live (and R5LSX) commentary team as a pundit/colour commentator.

Giving the same thoughtful and insightful coverage that was evidenced in her blog; currently on Kyle's match.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Naomi is getting absolutely schooled. She's really had a rough grass court season.

Hope she can pick up her level as the match goes on

PaulM · Tennis legend

To give an indication of how bad this id, Naomi has only won one return point. It was a double fault

PaulM · Tennis legend

Oh god this is every bit as shocking as Puig and Hseih matches were. She just hasn't turned up, being made to look a fool out there by Svitolina whos barely out of second gear. She is so so much better than this.

I really thought she'd do something special on the grass but then her draws have really been harsh.

One last push Naomi. Come on believe you can make something hapoen here

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Agree. Naomi has been terrible. Her first ground-stroke after her serve is shocking.

Had 15-30 on Svitolina's serve then just gave it away with poor technique, on a forehand then didn't do enough on a volley.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

And so, it came to pass, in a development that will surely bamboozle future tennis historians, that in by far the best year of Naomi Broady's career to date, she won more matches on clay than she did on grass.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Inept performance. The easy drive volley she put long to bring up match point said it all.

PaulM · Tennis legend

After 13 games Naomi had won 2 return points. Thats been her weakness all year she can't even get the ball in play half the time.

Bundled out 62 63

Off to play WTT. Hopefully that helps her get back some spark as the US swing could be a really positive time for her. Didn't do herself any justice at all today, really feel for her.

Not easy once you are with the big girls every week. Just has to keep putting the work in and it will start to come good agaun.

Onwards Broads

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Laura: 9 winners, 22 unforced errors.
2-6
Kerber rarely needing more than second gear.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Laura can still hit the lines and the corners but for every winner there are two unforced errors. She is not at present returning serves as well as she needs to be at this level and nor she is moving well enough. It looks as if she needs a lot more matches to get her confidence and fire back.

-- Edited by Peter too on Monday 27th of June 2016 06:09:29 PM