Boys & Girls: 42nd City of Florence, Italy, clay - Grade 2 (Week 15)

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

RE: Boys & Girls: 42nd City of Florence, Italy, clay - Grade 2 (Week 15)

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

Barnaby 4-0*

indiana · Tennis legend

Good stuff, Emma certainly must have dealt very well with these constant cross court shots of her opponent.

For whatever it matters Emma will now be our top ranked 14 yo, ahead of Holly Fischer, later year but just a bit over 4 months younger, and from rather fewer tournaments. Though let's just hope to continue to enjoy great progress from both.

A QF win should see her into the junior top 200 from that very limited junior schedule to date - made most of her appearances count though that will be her only now reaching her full 6 singles counters. Doesn't trouble herself much at all with doubles.

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

I think it's great we have Emma and Holly who are roughly the same age pushing each other on. Kind of in a an Anne and Bally kind of way. Time will tell if they develop to that level or even beyond but so far so good.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Anton lost in 3 Barnaby won in 2 mixed fortunes can't say I was too concerned about Emma. Matusova next up ranked about 90 turning 18 in December played a number of G2s generally comes a cropper in the QF or occasionally semis when she meets a top 50 player. Should be a good test winnable? Quite possibly.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Friday 14th of April 2017 04:24:19 AM

DavidC · Tennis legend

Boys R2

(Q) Henry von der Schulenburg (SUI) d. (5) Anton Matusevich 2-6 6-3 6-4
(6) Francesco Forti (ITA) d. Emile Hudd 6-3 6-1
(2) Barnaby Smith d. Alexandros Skorilas (GRE) 6-3 6-2

R3

(WC) Davide Tortora (ITA) v (2) Barnaby Smith

Girls QF

Emma Raducanu v (4) Barbora Matusova (SVK)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Barnaby is on the streamed court (yellow top) leading 4-*3 with just one hold so far. Drop shots aren't working for him so far.

DavidC · Tennis legend

Barnaby went on to take the first set 6-3 but the Italian wildcard has just responded in kind, winning the second set 6-3 with a hot dog teasing a smash error on the final point of the set, to rapturous applause from the locals.

DavidC · Tennis legend

A solid final set from Barnaby holding serve comfortably and breaking twice to win 6-3 3-6 6-2 Emma is on later, but not on the streamed court (the stream though was problematic at times this morning)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Emma makes a strong start against the fourth seed winning 5 games in a row from 1-2 to take the opening set 6-2

DavidC · Tennis legend

Matusova takes the second set 7-5 and leads 2-0 in the decider

Boys QF

(8) len Schouten (NED) v (2) Barnaby Smith

DavidC · Tennis legend

Girls QF

(4) Barbora Matusova (SVK) d. Emma Raducanu 2-6 7-5 6-4

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Great fight but a bit of a shame.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

An excellent use of the Easter holidays this far to have knocked out the No6 seed and run the No4 close over three sets I think has established grade 2 and above as the level at which she is now functioning.

Although the girls are physically more advanced at 14 there is an enormous amount of difference between your average 14 year old and 17 year old, to win the first set with ease in both cases and then struggle later suggests physical maturation alone will improve results over the next two years.

GCSE's will undoubtedly be an issue this time next year, particularly for those with high academic expectations. A bit of thought by the LTA around how it can use funds to support the very talented youngsters particularly the girls who at 15 turning 16 can be competitive in junior slams. The Aussie open falls at a good time for our girls and for those that are in a position to get DE should be a priority, it was there that Katie Swan made real progress at a similar age. I was a bit surprised at criticism of the La Manga Easter camp, particularly for those with a chance of playing RG juniors, if well organised in terms of academic support on top of high level training potentially a really good way of joining up the educational and sporting agendas.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I have no problem with the La Manga Easter training camp - some decent clay court practice is good.

My criticism - and that of some others - was the balance between players and staff.

It seems that every player gets to take their personal coach, as well as the general LTA junior coaches. So you're paying a lot of money for rather few players.

It's not the way other countries do it (well, the ones I know). And smacks rather of a 'jolly' for the adults.