Well Anna is not going to spend any time kicking her heels in Japan. She's off to Istanbul next too... and it's yet another partner change for her. Rather interestingly, she plays Raluca Onlaru in the first round, with whom she seemed to have the potential of a promising partnership last time out. But so far they've played just the one tournament.
In addition, Harriet is continuing her successful partnership with Ayla Aksu here, which is good to see They also take on Anna's last but one partner, Renata Voracova, with whom I'm not sure Anna won a single match.
R16: Xenia KNOLL/ Anna SMITH (SUI/GBR) [3] 123 (75+48) vs Raluca OLARU/ Yana SIZIKOVA (ROU/RUS) 160 (49+111)
The draw for Harriet may not be that kind however if she were to quality its 2 QVQ slots in the draw so would be a great chance to earn the points to take her in to the top 200 before her Asia swing.
Breaks to 30 and leads *4-2. There looked signs that Rodina was getting back into it after a fairly long hold from Harriet in the 5th games. Hopefully she can see it out.
Harriet casually dropping a CH win 6-2 6-2 in a WTA event, like its no big deal.
Improves her best mark from WR121 to WR118 in convincing fashion
Already as good (better) a week as a QF at a $25K.
More!
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Data I post, opinions I offer, 'facts' I assert, are almost certainly all stupidly wrong.
These 12 points ( so far ) should certainly improve her current WR/CH 225 and will move her ahead of Laura to GB #6. Top 200 well in sight.
Harriet is perhaps a player that maybe increasingly comfortable in her own skin has the ability to majorly reset expectation parameters. Her average end of season predicted ranking, from our historically generally optimistic predictors, stands at WR 268.
-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 22nd of April 2018 04:49:02 PM