Week 14 - WTA International ($250K) Monterrey, Mexico - Hard

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Week 14 - WTA International ($250K) Monterrey, Mexico - Hard

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Ruse has had mixed success against Brits this past year - she beat both Eden and Tara in Nottingham quals, but then retired a set down to Eden in Shrewsbury quals last month, which forced her to miss Glasgow the following week. She beat Katy D in successive weeks in Japan 25ks earlier this month, but then lost to Gabi in the next round.

Although it wouldn't be a top 200 win for Katie which have proved difficult, I'd consider it a very good win if she manages it. Will be interested to see how the bookmakers see it.

Edit - They see it as pretty much 50/50 FWIW. 4/5 Swan, 10/11 Ruse.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Saturday 30th of March 2019 10:11:46 AM

Peter too · Tennis legend

Katie played Ruse in the 2014 Canadian Junior Championships and lost 6-3 4-6 5-7

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Well McHale has just lost in the first Q round, so that's a little bit of an opening there for Katie as she is now the highest ranked in her section. Obviously one match at a time though and see what happens.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Katie S underway, 1-0*

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Pretty much all downhill since that post, 2-6 *0-0.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Better in this set though, recovered from an early break to lead 4-3*

Katie served for second set at *5-3, but back on serve again, *5-5.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Saturday 30th of March 2019 09:12:23 PM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

8 points in a row for Ruse to claim the win and the last 4 games.

2-6 5-7.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Ruse is a good player, so it's not a shock (odds were the same), or a bad result in isolation, but it's yet another match these past 7 months where Katie has come up short against someone in the top 250 and the slam qualifying ranking positions.

US Open - Watson, 136 - Lost
Suzhou - Tomova, 165 - Lost
Nanning - Thandi, 215 - Lost
Liuzhou - Yafan Wang, 83 - Lost - Yafan has come on really well this year, won WTA Acapulco and is now ranked 50th
Playford - Di Giuseppe, 193 - Won - The Italian literally hadn't won a match outside of clay since March 2015.
Playford - Rybakina, 182 - Lost
Aussie Open - Andreescu, 106 - Lost - Bianca's 2019 has obviously been nothing short of sensational
Burnie - Sorribes Tormo, 81 - Lost
Acapulco - McHale, 144 - Lost
Irapuato - Thandi, 210 - Won
Irapuato - Cepede Royg, 175 - Lost
Monterrey - Ruse, 237 - Lost

So that's 2 wins and 10 defeats whenever she has faced anyone of note, and nobody above her ranking. It's Calvi 25+H for her next (W/C April 8th) where she is top seed and the only player in the top 200, so could be opportunity to get more points, but I honestly think her ranking of circa 160/170 flatters her.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I assume she won't be able to get a late MDWC into Bolton?

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I'm assuming that she can't enter two tournies in the same week, even if one is WTA and the other ITF.

flamingowings · All-time great

It would also be a bit ridiculous, it's not like Mexico is just down the road from Bolton.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Harriet gets Jakupovic. Heather gets Muguruza.

flamingowings · All-time great

Anyway, in the MD, Harriet has Jakupovic, Katie has Azarenka and to top it off with a cherry Heather has Muguruza

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

flamingowings wrote:
It would also be a bit ridiculous, it's not like Mexico is just down the road from Bolton.

Yet Harriet is making pretty much the same trip in reverse, playing in France today and may well play in Mexico on the Monday? Obviously more of an opportunity in a bigger tournament, but the logistics would be just as ridiculous.

They could put Swan on as late as possible on the Tuesday and she would be a high seed so probably have softer touches in the opening rounds.