Looking like an excellent choice of tournament, a bit of luck, a great win and a few Euros in the bank!
It is really good to see though the choice of tournament for Naomi of a European indoor hard court International tournament at this time of the year with her game is not exactly rocket science. As wolf indicated it was a surprise that she missed such events last year. It cries out "Opportunity!"
Massive game on the Lisicki serve at 1-2*. Naomi managed to create 3 break points and Sabine saved all of them to consolidate the break. Hopefully Naomi can continue to apply that kind of pressure and convert a BP soon.
Naomi broken again to start the second. The difference is in the first serve with Naomi currently below 50% and Lisicki hitting 72% first serves in. Naomi is running out of time to find some rhythm and turn this around.
Superb result, only 1 player in top 50 left in the draw so Heather and Naomi have a great chance, one more win each and a guaranteed finalist we'll have.
I suspect Naomi will have to play a lot better than that to have even the slightest chance in her next match.
3rd set - decent serving backed-up by reasonably competent play, held without facing a bp. One break through a deep return, a lucky netcord, a df and a serve and volley error from Sabine
2nd set - Atrocious initial ground-strokes after her serve handed Lisicki 2 breaks to which she contributed one point in total. Naomi saved 2 mps with first serves then took advantage of Sabine's inability to land her first serve when serving for the match. Did well to hold the next game as Sabine played several breath-taking shots, twice earning her bp. Broke again to take the set 7-5, a superb backhand return winner from Naomi and a 3 unforced errors from Lisicki.
1st set - Sabine got the only break, 2 super Lisicki winners early in that game, though she needed to save 4 bps and would have faced more had Naomi landed 2nd serve returns at key moments.
-- Edited by kundalini on Wednesday 18th of October 2017 07:22:44 PM