Not wanting to look too far ahead but of Jo defeated Serena the rankings in the top 10 would close significantly approx 2500-3000 would separate the top 10 and make for an interesting season. And if Jo did take the title she'd have a shot at number 1 in the coming months as well.
Just because I happened to notice this: if Johanna wins tonight, she will cross the $4M total career earnings line, and also, move into the WTA's all-time top 100 prize money earners.
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Data I post, opinions I offer, 'facts' I assert, are almost certainly all stupidly wrong.
Mouthwatering prospect of a match - the GOAT of women's tennis versus the GORN (Greatest of Right Now)?
I think Jo has been, in the view of many experts, including her own coach and Serena's, and several of her illustrious beaten opponents, the best player on the WTA in 2017, so far.
If she does win tonight, I will start to worry that my prediction of her year end ranking (3) was too pessimistic.
But first, the toughest opponent she's ever faced.
SW holds to 15 with an ace despite Jo taking the first point with a K f winner *0-1
An ace and 3 unreturned as JoKo holds to love 1-1
Serena struggling to land her first serve, JoKo recovers from 40-15 thanks to a df, then a K b winner, K f winner to get a bp but makes a b ue after a short rally, then sees SW eventually hold, that was a big chance wasted *1-2
Serena with a return winner then a f cc winner for 0-30, 2nd serve SW drop shot ue, 2nd serve SW deep f 15-40, ace 30-40 JK b dtl ue net 1-3
Serena holds to 15 *1-4
3 unreturned as JoKo holds to 15 2-4*
Joko with a super b cc winner but SW dominates from then on, 4 first serves including an unret, an ace, f(s) w and b(s) w *2-5
JK b(s) w, K f pass, df, unret 1st 40-15, W agg R(b), K f(s) ue net 40-40, SW f cc ue wide A-, SW punishes a 2nd serve 40-40, JoKo wastes another game point with a poor f ue, SW punishes another 2nd serve and JK wild f(s) ue long for the break 2-6
JoKo played some decent tennis but guilty of being careless on the key points
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Serena holds to 30 with 2 aces and an unret *0-1
JK terrible start to the game, df then 2 more ues for 0-40, saves one with an unret 1st 15-40, K b(s), then Serena poor b ue net after JK f(s) is too short 40-40, much better play from Jo finishing with a v winner then SW f ue long 1-1
Serena up 40-15 can't land her first serve for the rest of the game, df, W b(s) ue wide 40-40, K agg b dtl 40-A, SW f cc ue wide for the break *2-1
Poor b ue long from Jo to start the game but she recovers with 3 unret and a lovely K b(s) w 3-1*
Serena b(s) ue net but takes the next 4 with 2 aces to finish *3-2
Shocking game from Jo, K poor f(s) ue net, another f ue, df 0-40, in total control of point but fails to put it away then a poorly executed drop shot becomes an invitation for Serena to break to love 3-3
K agg f dtl 15-15, unret 30-15, SW f ue long 30-30, Jo super play finishing with a f drive volley winner 30-40, 2nd serve unret, ace, ace *3-4
W f ue net, K poor b ue net 15-15, unret 2nd 30-15, SW f w 30-30, rally K f dtl ue long 30-40, 2nd serve SW b cc winner for the break 3-5*
Easy love hold for Serena 3-6
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Underwhelming performance from JoKo, especially given Serena only managed to land 45% of her first serves. Far more unforced errors than I was expecting to see from Jo.
-- Edited by kundalini on Wednesday 25th of January 2017 04:33:56 AM