Week 15 - ITF ($25K) - Obidos, Portugal Carpet

the addict · Tennis legend

Week 15 - ITF ($25K) - Obidos, Portugal Carpet

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

I don't like the look of this. Katie loses the first set 2-6 and there is a MTO.

Michael D · All-time great

Well, Katie is not doing well so far. She's won none of her service games and has lost the first set 2-6 to the 18 yr old qualifier, Kulikova cry

the addict · Tennis legend

She won the first 3 points in her first service game, but only one point per game after that. Second serve getting the treatment 2/12 points won, and only 4/11 on first serve.
Certainly looks like a problem.

telstar · Strong Club Player

Michael D wrote:
RedSquirrel wrote:
The problem is that the indoor courts are apparently in Santarem which requires transport to be organised and an agreement to be reached with the venue. They are also, according to a translation of a Portuguese news site, fast hard courts which is not what this tournament is supposed to be on. According to the same article, one of the indoor courts became unusable.
Ahh, that explains what happened yesterday. I was surprised that there seemed to be a court empty but matches not starting yesterday... For the latter part of the afternoon they were certainly only using two courts, and I think one match was actually switched mid match. That also explains why they did not start any of the doubles yesterday, and it may be challenging for them to do so today too!

Without knowing the full facts this sounds extremely unsatisfactory! Last year there there was consistent rain at Obidos and a huge amount of waiting around. Is a venue at this level not expected to have suitable indoor facilities available? If the doubles is cancelled then a number of serious doubles players will have wasted a week and spent substantial amounts of money...for nothing. It seems to me that, if this venue is incapable of guaranteeing that events can be completed, it should not be permitted to hold 25k events.

-- Edited by telstar on Friday 13th of April 2018 03:29:15 PM

-- Edited by telstar on Friday 13th of April 2018 03:40:26 PM

TomTraubert · Futures level

yer right telstar but wta dont make you need reserve indoor courts so aint no way itf tiddler tourney are gonna need them
boulter on a comeback and got that second set done some how

Michael D · All-time great

telstar wrote:
Michael D wrote:
RedSquirrel wrote:
The problem is that the indoor courts are apparently in Santarem which requires transport to be organised and an agreement to be reached with the venue. They are also, according to a translation of a Portuguese news site, fast hard courts which is not what this tournament is supposed to be on. According to the same article, one of the indoor courts became unusable.
Ahh, that explains what happened yesterday. I was surprised that there seemed to be a court empty but matches not starting yesterday... For the latter part of the afternoon they were certainly only using two courts, and I think one match was actually switched mid match. That also explains why they did not start any of the doubles yesterday, and it may be challenging for them to do so today too!
Without knowing the full facts this sounds extremely unsatisfactory! Last year there there was consistent rain at Obidos and a huge amount of waiting around. Is a venue at this level not expected to have suitable indoor facilities available? If the doubles is cancelled then a number of serious doubles players will have wasted a week and spent substantial amounts of money...for nothing. It seems to me that, if this venue is incapable of guaranteeing that events can be completed, it should not be permitted to hold 25k events.

Yes, I think the larger problem is that those 'carpet' courts are not very quick drying. You can't just sweep them and go once the rains have gone, or indeed get back on them as quickly as you can on clay too.

Michael D · All-time great

Anyway, things are looking up a bit... they finally have a doubles match underway, and as Tom has mentioned, Katie B has evened up at set all.

Freya is also warming up now for her first doubles match...

hoots · Intermediate Club Player

4-4 in the final set.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Katie's had at least 4 or 5 BPs in this game from deuce but not to be as of yet. Such a big game this one you feel.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Now serving to stay in it...

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Katie held to 15, but the Russian has held to 40 so KB serving to stay in it again at *5-6. Her recent TB form has been good so hopefully she holds here.

Michael D · All-time great

3rd set TB and 3hrs 6 mins on the clock... if they wanted some quick matches here this pm they ain't got them. 3-1* to Katie....

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

It said 4-0, but then changed to 3-1 so must have been an overrule.
*3-2 now.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Back on serve. KB had 5-2* but now *5-5.