Jaggy1876 wrote:

---

Saves MP with a second serve, then an ace and ten takes set point 7-6 into a decider. Gutsy indeed but asking a lot of the play continues as it has to keep the reliance on the serve.

---

It is. But serving consistently well is what can make her competitive, indeed a threat, against good players.

Clearly can be generally outclassed but she is still likely to get occasional chances on return. Protect her serve and she's in business. Kind of was part of the Fitzy mantra while still looking to improve other areas.

In truth it has been a pretty even contest so fair that it should go to a third set.

Both players held throughout the set. Naomi had a bp at 2-1* after 2 dfs and a deep backhand return. Timea with a first serve to Naomi's forehand, very much her plan A for the contest to date. Got a weak reply that allowed her to dominate. Naomi with a poor forehand drive volley error later at 40-40. At 4-3* Naomi fought back to 40-40 only to fail to land two 2nd serve returns. Timea also reached 40-40 the following game but couldn't cope with Naomi's deep 2nd serve. Timea missed 6 first serves in her final two service games of the set yet managed to hold to love each time. 

The tiebreak was a mess. Babos took the first point as Naomi put a backhand in the net, on the defensive after Timea attacked a 2nd serve. Timea landed her first serve on the next two points but Naomi with an aggressive forehand for 1-1 then a super b dtl for *2-1. Two unreturned 2nd serves made it 4-1* Then Naomi's level dropped alarmingly, an unreturned 1st serve then an ugly return off a 2nd serve. Back to 4-4 as Naomi's forehand cross-court is slightly long after a rally. A real shocker next as a big first serve set up an easy forehand winner but Naomi sent it straight back to Timea, then followed by putting an easy volley just wide for 4-5* Timea wasted her mini-break with a backhand wide immediately after her serve but safely put away the next for mp. 2nd serve Timea with a difficult chance to pass but her forehand clips the net and falls wide, Naomi well positioned anyway 6-6. Ace for Naomi for set point. Timea misses her first serve, Naomi takes the set with an aggressive forehand.

3rd set

Mostly easy holds. Naomi serving at 1-2 got herself in trouble with a careless volley wide on the first point, then a df for 15-30. T with an aggressive forehand for bp, which Naomi saved with a big 1st serve. Naomi held despite another ugly forehand error immediately after her serve. 

Timea up 30-0 the following game then missed her next 5 first serves. Naomi punished some 2nd serves but not others, so never earned a chance to break. 

Not many service points lost in the next few games up until 5-5. 

It looks like another easy hold as Timea has 40-15 only to df for 40-30. Naomi with bp after Timea struggled with a deep moon-ball then surprisingly put a b pass long. Naomi with a backhand just long on bp during the rally; neither a chance nor much of an error. Then T with big serves closes out the game for 5-6.

Naomi broken to love to lose the match. Timea with a super b return winner off a decent 2nd serve. Then Naomi narrowly wide on a backhand immediately after her serve. She argues with the lineswoman and umpire over the close call. Same shot weakly hit into the net. Match point 2nd serve. Timea with a deep backhand that Naomi can't deal with. 

Surprising end to a close match. Overall Naomi served well. Her initial ground-stroke after her serve was patchy and at times, shocking. First serve return awful as it so often is. The occasional brilliant ground-stroke. Two straight-forward volleys missed as well as a drive-volley. Several decent shots that narrowly missed. In the first set, it seemed every close call went against Naomi. 

Timea is a far better player than Naomi but her level today was ordinary so it was a chance missed. Timea landed her first serve on all four bps she faced. Naomi landed hers twice out of four and made a terrible error after an excellent first serve gave her total control on the key point in the first set.

More WTA QF doubles success to add to Heather+ earlier.

QF: Naomi Broady & Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) CR 247 (85+162) beat (2) Maria Irigoyen & Miyu Kato (ARG/JPN) CR 121 (68+53) 6-3 6-2

SF: Naomi Broady & Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) CR 247 (85+162) vs Mariana Duque-Marino & Evgeniya Rodina (COL/RUS) CR 418 (169+249)