Week 1 - WTA International ($750K) - Shenzhen, China - Hard

Jan · Hall of fame

Week 1 - WTA International ($750K) - Shenzhen, China - Hard

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Has Jo made any announcement about her coaching set up yet? Thought I caught Fitzy in that shot and he was in a photo with her at the end of her training in the south of France.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Wim Fissette is her new coach but it's possible Fitzy is also in the set up as hitting partner/travelling coach. Odd to think it but as a top 10 player it would be odd if Jo did not have a team as opposed to just an individual coach, how times have changed!

LordBrownof · Futures level

Fitzy is her hitting partner/assistant coach.

Peter too · Tennis legend

QF: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 3 10 v PLISKOVA, Kristyna (CZE) 60 =CH
H2H 0-2
Paris 2014 6-7(2) 6-4 4-6
Nottingham 2014 5-7 6-7(2)

Jaffa · Challenger level

With Halep out the draw is wide open!

Kounosuke · Intermediate Club Player

Jaffa wrote:
With Halep out the draw is wide open!

Konta may be the favourite ranking wise, but she still has to get past Pliskova first! Her combined record against both Pliskovas is not good at all at 1-7, with the 1 win coming from a final set tiebreak.

indiana · Tennis legend

I hadn't realised that Kristyna P had pushed so far up the rankings, largely assisted by a WTA 125 Series title in China and a WTA International title in Uzbekistan in a few weeks from early September.

Looks in the late part of last year to have had some good wins and competitive losses against top 100 players if not top 50 players. Though hopefully the current Jo will have too much for her.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Jo won 6-4, 6-7(11), 6-3

indiana · Tennis legend

So did have too much for Kristyna with not a huge amount to spare.

Jo now has so far added 110 ranking points ( 50 net ) for the week and her lowest non mandatory counter goes to 105 !

Julia Carrot · All-time great

The second set tie break in this match was quite something. i went back to sleep again after that but delighted to see Jo came through in the third. Both girls were playing really well.

indiana · Tennis legend

I imagine Jo had some MPs in the second set, at least in that TB. Well done on then producing in the final set.

indiana · Tennis legend

QF: (3) Johanna Konta WR 10 beat Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) WR 60 (at CH) 6-4 6-7(11) 6-3

SF: (3) Johanna Konta WR 10 vs Katerina Siniakova (CZE) WR 52 (CH 49 in October 2016). Seemingly no previous meetings. Siniakova beat Halep in R2.

Jan · Hall of fame

Well done Jo

blob · All-time great

Good win. Kr. Plis obviously has pedigree, and was one of the strongest finisher to 2016 outside the top 20.
Siniakova - looking like having a real break out year - will be another good test.

I don't think Jo's played especially well so far this week, but still matched her seeding, which is not to be dismissed, even early season, to which Simona, Serena, Domi & Caro can all attest this week.