Very consistent in points won per set

31 ( to 22 ), 28 ( to 41 ) and 29 ( to 15 )

To be fair that does look to be about as competitive a 0-6 as you will get.

Very strange match. Missed the early stages, including the only break in the opening set. Naomi had bps for a double break but Bibi saved them with first serves. Naomi struggling to land a first serve but looking very solid behind her 2nd, took the set without facing a bp. The Broady backhand was very impressive in the later stages of the set, two brilliant backhands down the line in the final game, having won several points with backhands immediately after her serve, in her two previous service games.

2nd set. Bibiane held largely due to Naomi's errors. Then a Broady service game that went on forever. Naomi started it poorly, ground-strokes finding the net on the first two points, had 40-30 after two unreturned serves and her first ace of the contest, another error, saved some bps thanks to a forehand winner after a decent serve, a superb lob, a smash wide from Schoofs, a Broady backhand dtl and an unreturned 1st serve. By this time, the frustration at her inability to land her first serve had turned into a total lack of confidence in Naomi's game. Bibiane seemed to realise that her opponent wasn't offering much, regardless of whether she landed her first serve or not, so proceeded to take complete control, eventually earning the break with a forehand pass. The stream died at 0-2 40-30, reappearing with Naomi 0-5 down. She saved 3 bps before two super backhand pass winners clinched the set for Schoofs. Anyone watching this set could not be blamed for suspecting Naomi was a wildcard entrant, thanks to her wealthy father making a generous contribution to someone close to the tournament's organisers.

3rd set. Naomi took the opening point of the 3rd set then failed to move her feet on the next three, gifting Bibiane three unreturned body-serves and a wild Broady backhand long handed her a comfortable hold. Naomi with a super volley winner then 2 unreturned 2nd serves as she too held easily. Similar pattern on the next two service games, though this time it was Naomi's first serve that Bibiane couldn't return. After a comfortable smash, Schoofs looked on course for another easy hold, but Naomi threw in a bit of variation, chip and charge Tim Henman style, that confused Bibiane into making errors on a passing shot then a lob. Naomi with a superb backhand return to get back to 40-40 then a rare decent connection on a forehand slice cross-court that Schoofs unwisely attempted to blast down the line for a winner, only to put it long. Naomi with a brilliant backhand down the line winner for the break *3-2. From 30-0 Naomi lost three points in a row as Bibiane punished anything less than perfect, bp saved with a forehand after a decent serve, then held with two unreturned first serves. Bibiane's forehand failed her twice at the start of the following game, Naomi with an uncharacteristic delicate forehand cross-court pass that Schoofs couldn't deal with, and an aggressive forehand return to take the break to love. By the end, Bibiane's forehand had gone missing, while Naomi's first serve was looking more like its usual self, having appeared unrecognisable in the 2nd set. Naomi winning the last 11 points of the contest.

-- Edited by kundalini on Wednesday 22nd of November 2017 03:19:57 PM

R1: BROADY, Naomi (GBR) 5 117 def SCHOOFS, Bibane (NED) 213 6-3 0-6 6-2
R1: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) 229 lost to WICKMAYER, Yanina (BEL) 3 115 5-7 4-6

R2: BROADY, Naomi (GBR) 5 117 v NAMIGATA, Junri (JPN) 210 CH=105 2011
H2H 2-0
FUKUOKA 2014 3-6 7-612) 6-4
Tokyo 2016 6-2 6-3

Ian1314 wrote:

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Does Laura have a chance of Aus. Open qualies?

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 Not if everyone turns up with just 96 in qualifying. Not sure what the normal sort of Aussie cut-off is though.

kundalini wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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Ian1314 wrote:

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Does Laura have a chance of Aus. Open qualies?

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 Not if everyone turns up with just 96 in qualifying. Not sure what the normal sort of Aussie cut-off is though.

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 Tennisforum's lists aren't totally clear to me but I think the cut-offs for the last four years were 251, 207, 212, 222

The cut-off date for qualifying is 3 weeks before so still time for players to gain or lose ranking points. If Laura is desperate to play Aus then turning up for the $100K + H in Dubai in mid December would seem a sensible move. 

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Thanks re cut-offs and good point re cut-off not until the 18/12 rankings so Dubai counts. I should have said "not on her current ranking if everyone turns up ... "

3-1 up

First set to Naomi 6-2 and an early break in the second.