Week 9 - WTA International ($250K) Acapulco, Mexico Hard

ROSAMUND · Futures level

RE: Week 9 - WTA International ($250K) Acapulco, Mexico Hard

Michael D · All-time great

Coup Droit wrote:
Is there another forum ?????

Yeah, good reason to stick with this one!

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

ROSAMUND wrote:
One gets the impression that Sloane Stephens only makes an effort in the major events. Judgjng by Jo's result against Donna Vekic I think we should be glad that we faced Serbia in the Fed Cup and not Croatia. I could not understand why Iva Majoli played Jana Fett in the match with Serbia and not Ana Konjuh. For some reason or other Jo's game has disintegrated when she plays Donna Vekic. I seem to remember shots going astray when they played in Tokyo last autum .

Yeah, it's really strange, she's one of the most talented players of her generation, but only seems to turn up when she wants - must be so frustrating being a fan. She was one of the very few top 10 players to miss Dubai and then to put the little effort in the other day (not to take all the credit away from BHM) is disappointing.

I guess the main reason for the Fett-Konjuh situation would have been the lack of matches for the latter due to the ongoing elbow issue and not wanting to play her too many times to risk aggravating it, but yeah, Fett is struggling in 25ks these days so wouldn't have been expected to beat any of Krunic, Danilovic or Jorovic. Hypothetically, had it have been Croatia instead of Serbia then there'd be a good chance we'd have been relying on a deciding doubles rubber win to advance.

I'm hoping for a Donna- Andreescu final.

Edit - I think Ana did actually play a doubles match so that kind of goes against my theory. Unless they thought it would be less stressful, or then a case of needs must. Who knows.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Friday 1st of March 2019 11:26:28 AM

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Not a British issue but there is a certain similarity with Ana Konjuh's career and Laura Robson. i.e. what might have been if serious injury problems had not interfered. Re Jo at Acapulco she did better here this year than in her last appearance in 2016 which was her first tournament after the Aussie Open semi final. She reached the 2nd round then and was beaten by another Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

LordBrownof · Futures level

Jo just didn't have a good serving day and seemed to go have trouble timing her shots - on lots of the higher bouncing balls she was jumping too early.

20% of second serve points won is where she lost the match.

hoots · Intermediate Club Player

Ace Ventura wrote:
ROSAMUND wrote:
One gets the impression that Sloane Stephens only makes an effort in the major events. Judgjng by Jo's result against Donna Vekic I think we should be glad that we faced Serbia in the Fed Cup and not Croatia. I could not understand why Iva Majoli played Jana Fett in the match with Serbia and not Ana Konjuh. For some reason or other Jo's game has disintegrated when she plays Donna Vekic. I seem to remember shots going astray when they played in Tokyo last autum .
Yeah, it's really strange, she's one of the most talented players of her generation, but only seems to turn up when she wants - must be so frustrating being a fan. She was one of the very few top 10 players to miss Dubai and then to put the little effort in the other day (not to take all the credit away from BHM) is disappointing.
I guess the main reason for the Fett-Konjuh situation would have been the lack of matches for the latter due to the ongoing elbow issue and not wanting to play her too many times to risk aggravating it, but yeah, Fett is struggling in 25ks these days so wouldn't have been expected to beat any of Krunic, Danilovic or Jorovic. Hypothetically, had it have been Croatia instead of Serbia then there'd be a good chance we'd have been relying on a deciding doubles rubber win to advance.

I'm hoping for a Donna- Andreescu final.

Edit - I think Ana did actually play a doubles match so that kind of goes against my theory. Unless they thought it would be less stressful, or then a case of needs must. Who knows.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Friday 1st of March 2019 11:26:28 AM

And Vekic has just been deservedly beaten by Wang Yafan in 3 sets in the semi final-6-1 in the final set.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Yeah, strange match. Congrats to Wang Yafan on making her first main WTA tour final.

Vekic seemed to implode from 3-3 in the second set, a bit like against Birrell at the AO (also lost that final set 6-1). She was broken all 5 games in the second set and her serving stats were really poor - 50% and 38% first serves in set 2 and 3 respectively and only 13% of points won on her second serve in the second set, which will never bode well. She's had a good few chances to win another title after Nottingham 2017, but proving to be tricky.

It'll be an interesting final. If it's Kenin then she can get her 2nd title this year and if it's Andreescu, then someone will win their first tour title. It's also a rare WTA final with no European representation.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Well I did say do not under esimate the Chinese player. Kenin playing in the final despite serving plenty of double faults in her last 2 matches.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Avoided the thread while I caught up with Andreescu - Kenin. Was hoping the young Canadian would come through, but not to be, long match. Kenin's time on court, particularly her last 2 matches could be significant later on.

Starts at midnight UK time, so I'll at least watch the first set.

flamingowings · All-time great

Ana Konjuh is having surgery (again)

Just a little update pic.twitter.com/ojgynyQgn3
Ana Konjuh (@anakonjuh) March 3, 2019