Very nice 5 points to the winner there. With the qualification point 6 for Emma.
Absolutely.
Alicia hits a far heavier ball than Emma, with more intensity. But she does get a bit 'moany' at times, which I'm not sure helps.
As people know, I've been a fan of hers since she started playing in the UK after college. And certainly a good draw (although a decent draw for Emma too).
Emma was a bit unlucky not to win a few more games, she had 5 break points in the second set and only managed to take one.
Alicia has certainly improved a lot over the last 12 months, much better player now than when I saw her at Sutton last August
Emma was a bit unlucky not to win a few more games, she had 5 break points in the second set and only managed to take one. Alicia has certainly improved a lot over the last 12 months, much better player now than when I saw her at Sutton last August
I wouldn't say so. Or, at least, I don't know about Sutton, but Alicia looks very much the same player as at Roehampton last September.
Curious that she's played three times against Emma, won two, lost one, and all with very one-sided scores.
But I agree that Emma isn't dissimilar in style from Emily Arb - bouncy, uses her legs well, generally puts a lot of air on her forehand....but doesn't have Emily's timing and ability to take the ball early, or finish the points at the net.
I think I saw Alicia just after she returned from college, so maybe she wasn't at her best. Didn't look at the same level as some of the others there though - Laura S, Beth, Lucy, Aimee. (Not to mention Lisa W, Katy D, Ellie who were all a different level again)
BTW, this was British Tour, Sutton, not ITF
Takes Alicia up to a minimum of 24 points on Monday week. That in itself would give her a big CH around the 720s and put her provisionally into the GB top 20.
I think I saw Alicia just after she returned from college, so maybe she wasn't at her best. Didn't look at the same level as some of the others there though - Laura S, Beth, Lucy, Aimee. (Not to mention Lisa W, Katy D, Ellie who were all a different level again) BTW, this was British Tour, Sutton, not ITF
Yes, I'd assumed it was British Tour.
The Roehampton ITF was a month later.
Maybe just a sign that players all have their ups and downs, good days and bad days....or, as you say, that it was pretty much her first competition post college and she was expecting too much of herself or whatever....
But certainly at Roehampton she was playing top-800 tennis, as noted. Definitely better than Lucy (now), Aimee, Laura S (whose tennis I like but it's pretty one-dimensional, although young and will develop) and probably Beth (a good although frustrating player to support but who is also still young and it may all click).
NB Would love to see Ellie Dean play but never have...
And although I have a lot of respect for Lisa, her forehand makes me wince every time I see it and I seriously hope she doesn't coach kids to imitate it.
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 1st of August 2017 11:19:09 AM
C'mon Eden - she's *2-1 up in the second - I'd been hoping for her to make a match of this one.
Emily App lost the first set 2-6.
At the risk (hope???) of proving myself completely wrong, and acknowledging that she's playing the top seed who is well ranked whatever, Emily really doesn't seem to have made much progress this past year - maybe concentrating more on A levels etc., or maybe confirming the first impressions of various members....