Week 20 - WTA Premier 5 ($2.8M) - Rome, Italy Clay

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Week 20 - WTA Premier 5 ($2.8M) - Rome, Italy Clay

Peter too · Tennis legend

R2: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 5 6 def PUTINTSEVA, Yulia (KAZ) 29 6-3 6-0

R3: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 5 6 v WILLIAMS, Venus (USA) 9 12 CH=1 2002
H2H 3-1
Wuhan 2015 4-6 6-3 5-7
Australian Open 2016 6-4 6-2
Stanford 2016 7-5 5-7 6-2
Miami 2017 6-4 7-5

indiana · Tennis legend

Jo vs Venus is second on Centrale tomorrow, following Fognini vs Sacha Zverev which kicks things off at noon local, 11 am BST.

For now Jo has dropped back one place to #7 in the live rankings, back behind Muguruza. She can start adding points if she beats Venus since her lowest counter ( ignoring the mandatory zero she is carrying ) is currently 110 points. A QF would be worth 190 points ( 80 points net ).

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

The rankings after Wimbledon are going to interesting could potentially be the top 10 covered by 1000-1500 points due to Serena and Kerber dropping and pressure of Muguruza to go deep again at RG. Can see Pliskova being number 1 with Halep 2 after Wimbledon. I'm tipping Pliskova for Wimbledon and Halep for RG. I've picked the correct winner of the last 4 women's Grand Slams now by the way since Muguruza winning last year.

Jan · Hall of fame

Venus played an incredible first set and took it 6-1.
On serve 3-2* in the second.
Jo's had a few break chances in this set.
Come on Jo!!

Jan · Hall of fame

Jo takes the second set 6-3
All to play for!
Go Jo!!!

Peter too · Tennis legend

R3: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 5 6 lost to WILLIAMS, Venus (USA) 9 12 1-6 6-3 1-6

Jan · Hall of fame

Too good from Venus.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

I fancied Jo for this one, Venus hasn't played in a while and is not known for her clay court prowess. However it sounds like she found some of her best form today and Jo was unlucky to be on the receiving end.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Venus in the first set was just AMAZING - she'd have flattened anyone. Her level dropped a bit after that but not by much. Jo played really quite well throughout but it has to be said her game is not as effective on clay as on other surfaces. She often doesn't seem quite as balanced as she makes her shot and just misses in a way that rarely happens elsewhere.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Jo and Laura lost to Errani/Trevisan 62 67(5) 7-10

indiana · Tennis legend

Bit of a surprise, after beating the #8 seeds, to lose to the Italian WCs. Clearly we know Errani, but 23 yo Trevisan has little pro doubles pedigree, being unranked ( WR 214 in singles ) and with a CH 847 from 2015.

Still not Jo's priority and the couple of doubles matches have given her more court time.

philwrig · Hall of fame

At least it keeps Jo fresh for the all important grass/NA hard court season. With a reasonable draw R16 a good target for FO.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I'm encouraged by what Jo has done on clay this year. I remember her and Robbo going out on the same day in R1 of the FO last year. Now for me, she's odds on to get at least two wins this year.

markymc1983 · Club Coach

tony_orient wrote:
I fancied Jo for this one, Venus hasn't played in a while and is not known for her clay court prowess. However it sounds like she found some of her best form today and Jo was unlucky to be on the receiving end.

Doesn't Venus hols more clay titles then any other active player? She is actually very good on clay (just perhaps not so much at Roland Garros)