Week 25 - ITF ($100K) - llkley, Great Britain Grass

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 25 - ITF ($100K) - llkley, Great Britain Grass

the addict · Tennis legend

Laura survives a blip to hold at 3-1*, and then breaks for *4-1

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: DART, Harriet (GBR) WC 279 lost to SAKKARI, Maria (GRE) 98 4-6 0-6
R1: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) WC 188 def BLINKOVA, Anna (RUS) 114 4-6 7-6(5) 6-1
R1: CHRISTIE, Freya (GBR) WC 384 lost to PETKOVIC, Andrea (GER) 6 86 3-6 2-6
R1: TAYLOR, Gabriella (GBR) WC 284 lost to RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena (SVK) SR 107 4-6 6-2 4-6

R2: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) WC 188 v ZANEVSKA, Maryna (BEL) 119 CH=107 2013

DF · Tennis legend

Well done Laura!

the addict · Tennis legend

Ran away with it in the end. From *2-1 0-30 Laura only dropped one more point on serve, and in a blink it was over

Peter too · Tennis legend

The fighting spirit was good to see, hopefully that will give Laura confidence for the next match.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Absolutely blooming marvellous . Presume Philwrig and others cheering her on ?

the addict · Tennis legend

I'm sure Laura's game has picked up a lot since she started playing doubles with Jos (although not this week, as Jos is back with Maria)

paulisi · Tennis legend

That's a very good win. Blinkova played very well at Manchester.
The Belgium next, who Gabi beat at Manchester.

Ian1314 · Lower Club Player

Great win - hoping that Laura improved rather than the opponent crumbling.
Very impressive number of aces from both.

Priesty · Challenger level

Probably one of Laura's best wins since her return? Great to see.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Looking forward to any reports !! ( A not very subtle hint, sorry

)

philwrig · Hall of fame

A couple of interesting matches today !!

Watched Gabbi's match from the start of the 2nd, Rybarikova was a pale shadow of the player that I saw last week in Notts, she looked completely exhausted but a big 1st serve and a bit more experience towards the end of the 3rd saw her home. Gabbi had 0-40 and 15-40 in the final set, but some big serves from MB kept her in it. Then at the end of the 3rd MB adopted the policy of I'm not going to miss, by just pushing the ballback and sadly Gabbi eventually made some errors. Gabbi really lacks a big 1st serve, but was very good off the ground.

Laura didn't quite look the player I saw in Notts in the first 2 sets, she was giving away 10mph on the 1st serve and she also looked a little flat, she could easily have gone down a double break in the 2nd, but she fought very hard to save a few bps. Then out of nowhere Blinkova blinked and through in a horror of a service game to get broken. But she rediscovered her poise until 5-1 in the breaker when a combination of gutsy play by Laura/ a bit of a choke by Blinky/ a much more vocal crowd getting behind the Brit miraculously saw her win the 2nd. In the 3rd Laura sensed her opportunity and really upped her level whereas Blinky sort of knew she'd blown it. Crowd really helped her through I'd say.

hoots · Intermediate Club Player

Thanks for the reports Phil.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Yes, thanks Phil. Great you were there .