Week 20 - ITF ($100K) - Trnava, Slovakia Clay

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Week 20 - ITF ($100K) - Trnava, Slovakia Clay

Michael D · All-time great

RedSquirrel wrote:
Anna is back with Xenia Knoll and they are the top seeds.

R16: Anna Smith/Xenia Knoll (Sui) [1] 117 vs Irani Falconi (USA)/Michaela Honcova (Svk) 478

NB: Rankings are provisional.

Ahh that's great to see... consensus seemed to be this was the preferred partnership for the time being smile smile smile

I think a great deal of that seemed to be Xenia's name biggrin biggrin biggrin (spellable at least wink ). But they did have a first good tournament together and Xenia's ranking (69 CH:40) suggests it could both benefit and benefit from playing with Anna. It will be interesting to see how they get on here this week and then whether they play the French Open together.

Michael D · All-time great

Anna is eventually due on court for the first time this week next up. All matches were weather postponed yesterday. Her match should be on live streams.

http://live.itftennis.com/en/live-streams/video.php?vid=14551100

-- Edited by Michael D on Wednesday 16th of May 2018 01:49:10 PM

Michael D · All-time great

Some work to do, lost the first set 3-6 and shouldn't have. And not sure yet about Xenia either. She was the weaker of the pair, often cutting the ball when she needed to hit it harder and take her opponents out of play instead of allowing them to get back into play. She is a lefty, which helps, but I was underwhelmed by her contribution to the team in that set, expected more. Anna's and her coordination too was often not the best, too often leaving the court open for passing shots.

They are an early break down in the second set, so need to find another gear now to stay in this match 3-6 0-1*

Michael D · All-time great

And I don't know what Xenia is doing at the net either. SHe's too far back and keeps letting the ball bounce, and then has to play those cuts shots to get it back over, whereas Anna stands up to the net and simply swots it away. Neither opponent is a power player, so no need to be hanging back. They broke back thanks to Anna, but then Anna's serve got broken again, basically because of at least two poor errors from Xenia, and I didn't watch all the points. So disappointing on this performance... 3-6 1-2*

Anna and Xenia really should be strolling this. Their opponents are not that strong.

-- Edited by Michael D on Wednesday 16th of May 2018 02:50:05 PM

Michael D · All-time great

Finally they are starting to click better, and with some good serving from Anna 3-6 5-2*

TomTraubert · Futures level

all pete tong in mtb 4-8

TomTraubert · Futures level

comeback 9 all

TomTraubert · Futures level

completed the job nice one 11-9

Michael D · All-time great

Wow, and was that pulled out of the fire, and done the hard way..... But really happy to see Anna + come through in the end, and I hope the + becomes more of a + in the next round... I couldn't see the last part of the match, but glanced quickly at the MTB score and they were 2-6 down, so to come back from there was something at least.

R16: Anna Smith/ Xenia Knoll (Sui) [1] 117 beat Irani Falconi (USA)/ Michaela Honcova (Svk) 478 3-6 7-6(5) 11-9 smile

QF: Anna Smith/ Xenia Knoll (Sui) [1] 117 (48+69) vs Dalma Galfi/ Anastasia Potapova (HUN/RUS) 563 (305+258)

-- Edited by Michael D on Wednesday 16th of May 2018 04:08:14 PM

paulisi · Tennis legend

That was some comeback in the MTB. They were down and out.

Strongbow · All-time great

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Phew; very close to the wire but well done Anna & Xenia :D

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Anna+Xenia lost the 1st set 5-7.
5-1* in the 2nd set

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Well, that was harder then it needed to be.
5 games in a row, saw Anna+ go behind *5-6. Finally, ended the run and took it to a TB. Lost a 6-2 lead in the TB before finally taking it 8-6.