Jodie's always had a really strong game. Like Freya. Like Laura. Similar physiques so not surprising.
But the control, footwork and strategy has been a bit lacking (in all of them). Control is often sacrificed to power, which is fine, and sometimes the desire for control is counter-productive too (Katie B used to play too conservatively) but there is a balance.
That's hopefully what Alex is bringing to Jodie's game.
As a junior, Jodie relied on her big serve and big forehand.
I suspect her coaches tried to improve her all round game and some of the weapons were dumbed down.
She now seems to be back to utilising her big weapons and developing them, which is probably the right move.
Looks like the one sided nature of yesterdays L16 matches are continuing in to today. Bolsova has just won her first set 6-1 against Hesse and in those 6 games won, she only dropped 5 points.
I saw they had taken the first and it was something like 3-4 in the second and when I checked the scores on Bet365, nothing was showing so I assumed they must have turned it around because there wouldn't have been enough time to have finished that set and played a decider. Well done to them, hopefully a bit extra confidence, little bit of money, and I guess improving her double ranking at the same time.
Wow, Smitkova is 1-6 *0-1 down to Harmony Tan, who has won the last 5 games to 30, 15, 15, 15, love - wasn't expecting that.
Smitkova lost 1-6 0-6 against Tan. Yesterday against Jodie she looked quite formidable. Wonder if she had something hampering her today? Either that or Harmony Tan played out of her skin.
Maia lost 3-6 3-6, ending on a DF. Respectable scoreline and good that it doesn't look like that knock she picked up in the first match was too much of a concern. 2 wins under the belt and hopefully ready for Glasgow 25k.
Obviously GB (single's) interest is over now, but top seed Diatchenko has just gone an early break up in the final single's match against Zimmermann (3-1). There's a few watching in the stands, you can't see it all, but I'd guess a little over 30 - I wonder how many more would have been there if it had been say Dart vs Diatchenko instead?
It doesn't look like Harriet will be playing next week and she'll probably struggle to get into Acapulco or IW 125k the week after. She's not had a single's match since Jan 14th and when she withdrew (before Fed Cup started), she might have thought she'd have played more than 2 dead rubber doubles match, one against a weakened Greece, so I wonder in hindsight if she regrets not playing here?
Edit - Diatchenko took the set 6-1
-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Thursday 14th of February 2019 05:15:29 PM
Yes, they've gone to so much trouble to put up stands with seats now. When we were watching Laura they were tiered benches but packed, of course. (No charge though; I'm not complaining.)
Yes, they've gone to so much trouble to put up stands with seats now. When we were watching Laura they were tiered benches but packed, of course. (No charge though; I'm not complaining.)
Ah, yeah, I think they were charging from today. The stands do look great though.
It's obviously old ground and has been discussed a on here a lot this past week, but I bet they certainly didn't think Maia and Jodie, who had just broken into the top 400 for the first time, were going to be the highest ranked Brits playing when they put the (60k) event on and considered implementing the temporary stands. Maia and Jodie both did very well, so it's been a positive for both of them and it was also good how it was the return of Laura who ended up getting an extra match in and created a bit of buzz, so it's not all doom and gloom, but just not as much of a success as it could, or perhaps should, have been.
Edit - Forgot about Naomi, although when she wasn't high enough to be in the main draw and had only won 1 of 9 matches, a lot at the lower 25k level, I doubt too many would have expected a deep run from her, unfortunately.
-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Thursday 14th of February 2019 05:28:19 PM
Wow, Smitkova is 1-6 *0-1 down to Harmony Tan, who has won the last 5 games to 30, 15, 15, 15, love - wasn't expecting that.
Smitkova lost 1-6 0-6 against Tan. Yesterday against Jodie she looked quite formidable. Wonder if she had something hampering her today? Either that or Harmony Tan played out of her skin.