Week 2 - WTA Premier ($711K) - Sydney, Australia Hard

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Week 2 - WTA Premier ($711K) - Sydney, Australia Hard

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

By the time qualifying finished there were 3 lucky loser spots. Naomi rather got what she deserved after such a score-line. Had the players withdrawn after qualifying had finished then Naomi, as the highest ranked loser, would have got in but since they withdrew while qualifying was taking place, the lucky loser spots were contested by the final 4 (number of lucky loser spots + 1).

JoKo v Arina Rodionova (LL)

-- Edited by kundalini on Sunday 8th of January 2017 05:31:20 AM

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Can't agree that Naomi was any less deserving than the other LL candidates. The match up may have been a bad one for her or maybe somethiing affected her game today but I still would rather see her in the main draw than Donna Vekic.

indiana · Tennis legend

Without evidence to the contrary I suspect Naomi was simply heavily outplayed today for no real other reason than not playing well on the day. She is not famous for her consistency apart probably for a period with Fitzy.

I do rather worry that the inconsistencies may more return this year, occasionally very good but in general a relative struggle compared to last year. Hopefully it turns out better than that.

Pity about the LL draw but noone can really moan about not getting through after losing ( not that I am aware Naomi has ), to be unlucky enough not to be lucky.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q3: BROADY, Naomi (GBR) 90 lost to BONDARENKO, Kateryna (UKR) 5 68 1-6 1-6

R1: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 6 10 v RODIONOVA, Arina (AUS) LL 187 CH=157 2010

When Naomi played Bondarenko 4 years ago she also lost heavily, it could be a matter of styles.

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

kundalini wrote:
That's a heavy defeat against a modest top 100 opponent, in conditions that would appear reasonably favourable to Naomi.

Bondarenko is not a modest top 100 player. She's a former top 30 player who wasn't even ranked 12 months ago following injury. She is in effect a better version of Naomi and has good movement.

markymc1983 · Club Coach

Mervatron2 wrote:
kundalini wrote:
That's a heavy defeat against a modest top 100 opponent, in conditions that would appear reasonably favourable to Naomi.
Bondarenko is not a modest top 100 player. She's a former top 30 player who wasn't even ranked 12 months ago following injury. She is in effect a better version of Naomi and has good movement.

Yes she was a Quarter finalist at the US Open not too long ago. She was off for over a year after having a baby as opposed to being injured, however.

indiana · Tennis legend

Mervatron2 wrote:
kundalini wrote:
That's a heavy defeat against a modest top 100 opponent, in conditions that would appear reasonably favourable to Naomi.
Bondarenko is not a modest top 100 player. She's a former top 30 player who wasn't even ranked 12 months ago following injury. She is in effect a better version of Naomi and has good movement.

Kateryna ( other Bondarenkos are available ) actually seems to have played pretty continuously since returning in April 2014 ( as markymc says, having had a baby ) from her 2012 retirement. She ended 2015 WR 88 and has been in the 60 to 90 bracket through 2016.

Now aged 30, her CH 29 dates back to 2009 when she was 23. 2009 was also when she reached the US Open QF, her only singles venture past the last 32 in a slam.

By the way, when Kristyna beat Naomi 6-3 6-1 in Miami in March 2012 she was WR 75 and Naomi WR 191, quite a time before Naomi made her really significant moves up the rankings.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 8th of January 2017 02:50:54 PM

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Johanna under way, 2-1*

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

A bit scratchy, but safely through. 3 & 4
Gavrilova or Vekic next.

Jan · Hall of fame

PaulM · Tennis legend

Jo looked to be really struggling in the heat. Wouldn't be surprised to see her go out against Gavrilova tomorrow if she's not fully recovered.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

R1: Johanna KONTA (GBR) [6] 10 defeated (LL) Arina RODIONOVA (AUS) 184 6-3 6-4
R2: Johanna KONTA (GBR) [6] 10 v. Daria GAVRILOVA (AUS) 25 (CH 24, Oct. 2016)
> H2H 1-1
> 2015 Cagnes-sur-Mer, France - ITF $100K - Clay - R16 - DG [3] - Gavrilova by 2-6 6-4 6-2
> 2012 Copenhagen, Denmark - WTA International - Hard - FQR - Konta by 3-6 3-6

Edit: scatterbrain

-- Edited by AliBlahBlah on Monday 9th of January 2017 10:24:03 AM

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Strong first set, even when only converting 23% of BP (3/13), 6-1

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

Following the theme of wasted BP, Jo lets 4 MP go by in game 8.
Now 4/20 conversion. Hopefully no chance to regret that profligacy.
6-1 *5-3