Week 46 - WTA 125K series ($125K) - Houston, USA Hard

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Week 46 - WTA 125K series ($125K) - Houston, USA Hard

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Heather would face either (WC) Kayla Day or a Q/LL if she gets past Loeb.

Naomi would face Lepchenko or an Aussie WC (who I'm not familiar of, Haet) if she gets past her TBC 1st round opponent. Could face top seed Bencic again in the quarters, but that's maybe too wishful thinking.

'Boulter Watch' - Monica Niculescu faces Asia Muhammad and then a guaranteed Q/LL in order for her to get to the QF that she would need to pass Boulter. Nicole Gibbs opens up against the 8th Bouzkova.

Potential Qs for Naomi include:
Ann Li - who Naomi beat a few weeks ago, but Heather lost to
Osuiqwe - former top junior who won 80k in her last outing 7 days ago, beating Bencic and Haddad Maia en route. Also comfortably beat Swan earlier in the year
Lauren Davis - seeded at Wimbledon 2017, but a big fall in the rankings
Kucova - reached a WTA international QF last month, beating Ostapenko.

So a few tricky opponents there.

PockyTastic · Futures level

Michaela Haet is a Rice Owl (Texas college which Natalie Beazant attended). Had some decent success on ITF your in early 2017 before starting at Rice (winning a $15k) but I would surprised if she beat Lepchenko.

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Ace Ventura wrote:

'Boulter Watch' - Monica Niculescu faces Asia Muhammad and then a guaranteed Q/LL in order for her to get to the QF that she would need to pass Boulter. Nicole Gibbs opens up against the 8th Bouzkova.

Niculescu withdraws with a right foot injury. Nicole Gibbs moves into her position as 9th seed in the draw.

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Naomi gets 16 year old Osuigwe.

R1: Heather WATSON (GBR) (3) 98 vs Jamie LOEB (USA) 181 (CH: 132 Feb 18)
R1: Naomi Broady (GBR) 198 vs Whitney OSUIGWE (USA) 225 =CH (16yo JR:15 JCH=1 16/10/17)

-- Edited by RedSquirrel on Monday 12th of November 2018 04:23:40 AM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Tough draw for Naomi up against a potential future super star. Rapidly developing elite juniors probably the biggest cause of underranking inside the top 250. Good luck to Naomi she may need it.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Was just about to say she is 0-4 off the top of my head against very promising youngsters in 2018.

the addict · Tennis legend

Heather's match has started. Live streaming at
oraclechallengerseries.com/houston/houston-score-center/watch/
(Scroll down to WTA at the bottom of the page)

scottie1 · Futures level

Heather 4-4 just missed breaking serve

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Dropped the first set 5-7.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Doing better this set though 4-0*

the addict · Tennis legend

Looks really cold and breezy there. Heather seems to have found a better strategy this set, and has been in control. 6-1

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Heather wins 5-7 6-1 6-1. Very good recovery and basically a complete reversal of the scoreline in her defeat to Lao last week in Vegas.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Not sure if there were any prior breaks, but young Whitney has just broken Naomi in the 10th game to take the first set 4-6.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Tuesday 13th of November 2018 06:52:25 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

There were breaks - Naomi trailed 2-4 and 3-5. But lost out 3 breaks to 2. Her serve doesn't look very potent at the moment, 70% first serves in, only 59% won.