Week 41 - ITF ($25K) - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France Hard

Michael D · All-time great

Week 41 - ITF ($25K) - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France Hard

paulisi · Tennis legend

Interesting discussion. Both are talented players, but in my opinion, Maia has got more natural ability. Maia tends to be let down by her serve and can be very inconsistent at times, but I feel she has more potential.

the addict · Tennis legend

I must admit I've only seen Maia play live once, at Chiswick this year, and that was obviously an exceptionally bad day, just as paulisi describes. Hope next time I see the other side of her game !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Interesting discussion. Both are talented players, but in my opinion, Maia has got more natural ability. Maia tends to be let down by her serve and can be very inconsistent at times, but I feel she has more potential.

I think Maia has better natural ball skills, I agree. (She's a little like Emily Arb, in my view, you could see her playing many different sports).

But her height is an issue - not her fault of course but it's difficult for her to step forward and take the ball on the rise. It makes it difficult to serve well too. (There are shorter players on the tour, I know, and many do well. but it doesn't make things easy, especially outside of clay).

Eden has longer levers and uses them far better - as Michael says, nice technique and better ball striking. I was surprised the first time I saw Eden play - an elegant game, with power too.

I'm not sure if it's confidence, or just being distracted by life in general. But I don't think Eden has quite buckled down. Definitely certain head issues there.

Both girls have quite important points to defend over the next few months. Maia has 23 points before the end of the year (including her win in Sunderland). Eden has her win in Finland and RU place in the Wirral, a mega total of 34 points altogether. However, the bulk of both players' points come from 25ks and above, so that's good.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Maia underway. Just saw the score now. It's 3-3 40-40*. Maia had a BP but it was saved with an ace, the first of the match. Now GP Tan.

Michael D · All-time great

No breaks of serve today until the crucial 10th game, then Maia lost from 40-15 up to lose the set 4-6

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Shame, but she is up an early beak in the second 4-6 *1-0.

the addict · Tennis legend

Maia breaks in the first game of the second set.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Maia broke to lead *4-3, but it's gone a bit wrong since then. She lost 8 points in a row so it went to *4-5 and in trouble on her serve here. *15-30.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Unless it's a cracking rally I've a feeling live scores may have froze as it's been 15-30 for a while now.

Jan · Hall of fame

Ace Ventura wrote:
Unless it's a cracking rally I've a feeling live scores may have froze as it's been 15-30 for a while now.

And it still is....

Jan · Hall of fame

Now showing that Tan won 6-4 6-4

Michael D · All-time great

Yes Maia lost her last three service games in a row A better week for her compared with many of late, but could have been better still.

SF: Maia LUMSDEN (GBR) 415 lost to Harmony TAN (FRA) 371 (CH:324 July 17) 4-6 4-6

-- Edited by Michael D on Saturday 13th of October 2018 02:42:12 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

There were 7 breaks of serve in that second set so it's not too surprising that, at three breaks apiece, Maia got broken one extra time at the end.

The score seems to back up their respective rankings, close but with a slight advantage to Harmony.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And Loudmilla Bencheikh, age 17 (born 2001), and with no WTA ranking (although she did have a little ranking this time last year) has gone and made the final.

She's put out the top seed, ranked 138.
And the 7th seed, ranked 257 (ex 60).
And - today - the third seed, ranked 221.

An amazing run for the young unranked player.