Week 10 - ITF ($25K) - Mildura, Australia Grass

indiana · Tennis legend

Week 10 - ITF ($25K) - Mildura, Australia Grass

Michael D · All-time great

Mervatron2 wrote:
Well done Gabby. Shame for Katy.

My one concern. Gabby hit 16 DF's. That needs to be cut down.

It's so impressive to see Gabby so dominate at this level now. I'll be intrigued to see how she does in the final 2 events in AUS on clay. 1 a 60k and 1 a 25k. I would assume her plans for April and May have changed now as she will be in French Open qualifying.

I assume maybe a training block of sorts in april followed by some bigger challenger events/ small WTA events on clay in Europe?

Yes, it will be interesting to see how Gabi adjusts her plans following her success in this Aussie leg. I guess the next two weeks will also give her a look in to the start of the clay season, and how well she does in these clay events may also influence her plans. The 60k event especially, being a step up, will be interesting to see if she can have any kind of run in this. At the moment it looks like she will just be seeded which should certainly help her.

On the DFs, I didn't watch last night, but facing the sun on the far side was a problem the day before... and that whole having to pick up the missed serves before being able to hit the second serve must also be off putting, but still that number is far too high, so hope indeed that she can cut down in the final. It seems Reix will play a very mixed up game, and thus really look to throw Gabi's rhythm off. It could be a very interesting match tactically.

blob · All-time great

So far this week, every macth that a Brit could win at $25K level, they have won. The only matches we have lost were in all-GB ties.
Two more to go.
Here, lets hope Sherazad isn't telling any beautiful stories, rubbing any magic lamps, or finding the magic words to 'open sesame' on Gabi's game. At least it's unlikely the match will last 1001 nights.

Gabi will now belooking to move up another tier, and April offers a lot of ITF opporutinites in the $60K-$100K range, as the calendar goes into overdrive with multiple big events every week. Even if those pass by, Gabi has enough in the bank that she is surely guaranteed plenty of dispensation during the UK major events season, and plenty of time to plan for that. This week also reconfirms that the surface will not be an issue come early Summer.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Well done Gabi and excellent fight from Katy :D

jb288 · Satellite level

Gabi and Katy's match is now on YouTube.

Some good stuff! They were closely matched, some really nice rallies. Katy much more consistent than when I've seen her before on grass. Serve can be a bit vulnerable. Gabi seems to have abandoned the extreme second serve tactic for now?

Lots of screams in the second set! But also some nice moments like Katy correcting a call which wrongly went in her favour.

indiana · Tennis legend

From observation in a couple of matches and from more general stats Gabi's extreme second serve tactic seemed to have variable effect. Sometimes her opponent's second serves won stat was indeed pretty low but sometimes it was actually relatively high and near their first serve won %.

I think if using it as a tactic it has to be selective by opponent and probably within matches as well. My observation was that it was often more of a hurried push into mid court rather than a decisive return of a second serve. Her general game is in such good shape she certainly doesn't need it as a general tactic but maybe a change up at times.

The fact that they are on grass has maybe been a factor this week. Be interesting to observe in coming weeks.

Anyway, thanks re pointing to the Gabi vs Katy match being on YouTube. I must have a look some time.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 10th of March 2018 10:47:27 PM

blob · All-time great

jb288 wrote:
Gabi and Katy's match is now on YouTube.

Thanks for the heads up

For the interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_od2AVVwfCY

the addict · Tennis legend

Thanks for the link - I'm going to watch that tomorrow

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

I've flicked through it.

Some amazing rallies and winners from the girls. Katy seems to be a lot more aggressive than when I've previously seen her.

JonH · All-time great

Worth noting that if Gabi wins the final, she will be Race leader on grass for the ytd. Not to be sniffed at. "best player on grass in 2018 is a note worth having against one's career palmares

blob · All-time great

In the warmup: http://live.itftennis.com/en/live-streams/video.php?vid=14020385

blob · All-time great

Well... I never thought I'd see it!
Found somebody at last.
Reix's BH actually reminds me of Naomi's!

Gabi starts well, 2-0*

LordBrownof · Futures level

6-0 easy peasy.

Yes, her backhand is Naomi level weird but Gabi is kicking butt. Her aggressiveness on her return of serve is a JOY to behold. Groundstrokes are deep and into the corners.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Wow, wasn't expecting the first set to be that easy. Hopefully she keeps it up.

blob · All-time great

On the showing of the first set: How did Reix ever reach the final?

Gabi's footwork is very good, and it pays dividends here, as the court is now very worn, and the bounce pretty uneven, but good movement and small adjustment steps give her plenty of time to address the issue; several times, as the ball has shot low, Gabi has changed to a short slice to pick it up, where as Reix has flapped at similar balls, and generally had a tantrum: Reix's Pieces, if you will.