Wimbledon Qualifying, Roehampton

Strongbow · All-time great

Wimbledon Qualifying, Roehampton

PaulM · Tennis legend

Thanks for all the reports. LTA probably have to answer for themselves on Holly, sounds a ridiculous situation.

the addict · Tennis legend

Strongbow wrote:
Nobody was expected to win today - so no harm done. Does beg the queation that 2 or three 15ks might have been more beneficial to GBR tennis. Felt sorry for Holly and a few others who were out of their depth.

-- Edited by Strongbow on Tuesday 26th of June 2018 11:47:12 PM

You'd think that this week would have been a good time to put on a 15k, when so many players at the higher levels are otherwise engaged. A good opportunity missed to give experience (and points) to our players who didn't make qualifying. Far better than soul-destroying defeats to players at a vastly different level.

Edit: - I suppose the excuse would be that they don't have the resources (i.e. officials, umpires etc) to put on another event at the same time as all the major events around the country. Well they could always change Southsea into something more meaningful, rather than a $100k, 16 draw that only benefits our two wild cards.

-- Edited by the addict on Wednesday 27th of June 2018 08:23:21 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Strongbow wrote:
Nobody was expected to win today - so no harm done. Does beg the queation that 2 or three 15ks might have been more beneficial to GBR tennis. Felt sorry for Holly and a few others who were out of their depth.

I would beg to differ with that. Such a whupping at this stage is surely going to be demoralising and demotivating for some time to come.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Coup Droit wrote:
Fran has spent good time in the gym - seemingly she is known for being the player who pushes herself the most, doing the most intense workouts, and it shows: she's strong, fit and very aggressive. She could well have forced a tb in the first set if it weren't for a couple of ill-advised drop shots (drop shotting Gibbs who is a little nippy player with decent touch is not a good idea). And, as said before, a fair score for set two would be 6-4, it was close. How any linesperson can call a double footfault, on BP, in a really important game, AND when the second one most certainly wasn't - I was watching, right on the line - is beyond me and Fran was shaken - however, that is experience, I guess, and she should be pleased.

Emma too played a super game, right up there. She had cramp in her calf in the third, as well as getting shoulder massages (someone mentioned tendonitis), and was never going to have the strength to get a win in the third, which is not a criticism, she's got a good physique but she's only 15.

Neither girl can volley well - which is something Fran in particular should work on - with her style of game she gets 'easy' net points to finish a point, and has the speed to get there, but it's not part of her schema of play yet.

But, in short, two very good matches and good wildcards.

Is this confirmed CD? That sounds abit worrying in her fledgling career. Good experience of a good three setter for her against a decent player S she's a grafter anyway, so I'm not worried about her conditioning at this stage. I was very impressed with her FO interview.

Great report, thanks, Fran hasn't been on my radar, but it sounds like she's a really good prospect.

Michael D · All-time great

Helen40 wrote:
Strongbow wrote:
Nobody was expected to win today - so no harm done. Does beg the queation that 2 or three 15ks might have been more beneficial to GBR tennis. Felt sorry for Holly and a few others who were out of their depth.
I would beg to differ with that. Such a whupping at this stage is surely going to be demoralising and demotivating for some time to come.

I noticed that the French in the lead up to the French Open had two tiers of ITF tournaments ongoing. They had some larger ones (but more 60k than 100k), and then also smaller 25k/ 15k tournaments too. Such as system much more patently caters for all your professional tennis players at different levels of the ranking, and gives a wider number an opportunity to test themselves and potentially progress up the ladder during your (short) 'home' season.

The fact there is no balance in the LTA strategy is a glaring faultline in their myopic elitism. There is no doubt Holly, and most of the other juniors here, including on the mens side, would have benefited more from the opportunity to play in some smaller value tournaments in the lead up to Wimbledon. Then a few of those who had managed to perform better in those could have been given the q WCs. Of the two that played a bit better yesterday, Emma and Fran, Fran hadn't even played a tournament on grass before the q event. The flaws in the LTA's grass season strategy are so obvious that it is clear that the motivation behind it has nothing really to do with player interests, but much more with marketing. Even for their favoured elite players, it only really works for those already established and not the upcoming ones.

SuperT · Futures level

Just catching up with all this after a long day out at Roehampton yesterday. Most of what I saw has already been said. Emma and Fran were a joy to watch - really competitive in close matches against tough opposition. I thought Fran's match turned when she got called for several foot faults in succession which lost her the service game and seemed to dispirit her, and of course the experienced Nicole Gibbs knew exactly how to up her level and take advantage. Neither of the girls is quite at this level yet but their performances show they are not that far off and they must be hopeful that if all goes well they could be back back here winning next year. Wild cards were definitely justified. I was half watching Holly at the same time as Fran, and she did look a bit lost. She was clearly thrown in at the deep end far too soon and wasn't able to swim. However I was most disappointed with Maia who I felt would do better - maybe lack of grass court play in the lead up was to blame? Stood a few yards away from Conny to watch a bit of Tara and found their on going chat throughout the match most entertaining. Didn't get to see either Freya or Sam as too many matches on at the same time. Despite the disappointing results it was still a great day out. In 2016 I saw Gabi win, and in 2017 I saw Harriet just miss out and both have made huge progress since. I shall now be closely following the progress of Emma and Fran in the hope (and expectation) that they can do the same.

Shhh · Challenger level

Shocking report Coup. And it is a hiding to nothing what tournaments to stage at this time of year. I found with the mens, the cream (?) went to Queens and got knocked out which left Ilkley very light. A 15k would be good this week but the concept of having a free hit in the qualies with no expectations on you if also a good one. When you read what is was like for Holly though it no longer seems so clever.

the addict · Tennis legend

Great to read so many reports. Sounds like you all enjoyed the day, despite the results, and are pretty much agreed on the players' performances.

Nix · Futures level

Thanks CD. Really interesting stuff!

Michael D · All-time great

After reading all these again, I'm so incredibly struck by that double footfault call with Fran on BP.... It must have been incredibly disconcerting for her, but what kind of person would make such a call TWICE, and to take it upon themself to so alter a match this way? One call maybe, but to call it straight after, when in all probability the player would have made an adjustment, seems so unbelievable, that in other circumstances you'd suspect the person to be deliberately trying to alter the game. It's just awful, and to do it to a young British girl who is also physically handicapped... I can't get over the awfulness of it. But I'm glad Fran, with Emma, played well, and I love her determination, and as others have wished, hope they can both build on their performances.

christ · Futures level

Edit

-- Edited by christ on Thursday 28th of June 2018 08:39:28 AM

Michael D · All-time great

christ wrote:
Michael D wrote:
After reading all these again, I'm so incredibly struck by that double footfault call with Fran on BP.... It must have been incredibly disconcerting for her, but what kind of person would make such a call TWICE, and to take it upon themself to so alter a match this way? One call maybe, but to call it straight after, when in all probability the player would have made an adjustment, seems so unbelievable, that in other circumstances you'd suspect the person to be deliberately trying to alter the game. It's just awful, and to do it to a young British girl who is also physically handicapped... I can't get over the awfulness of it. But I'm glad Fran, with Emma, played well, and I love her determination, and as others have wished, hope they can both build on their performances.
Awful, true: but the rules don't - and shouldn't - make allowances for a "young British girl who is also physically handicapped" - either she continually foot-faulted or she didn't. If she did, it is a learning experience, and if she didn't it was rank cheating on behalf of the line judge/ umpire regardless of the nationality or handicap of the player.

On CD's account she definitely did not foot fault the second time. I just find the motivation of the line judge inexplicable.

christ · Futures level

Edit

-- Edited by christ on Thursday 28th of June 2018 08:39:41 AM

Nix · Futures level

Im literally the only person supporting Bonaventure/Schoops against Bouchard/Dolehide. My teams winning so far, one set up. Ha!