British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

christ wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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Emma playing an exhibition against Anisimova in New Jersey in early December. Alcaraz also on the card v Tiafoe.

x.com/jon_wertheim/status/1965506466422595704

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 Presumably one of the tour matches that she is concentrating upon.

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 Which tour match is that, given it's being held in December?

B00thy wrote:

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Yes, I too don't understand why folk could not see the value in playing a top player as a warm up for 2026

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 I honestly don't think it's really a warm-up event 

But I think she's quite right to play it 

The Racquet at the Rock is obviously going to be a very flamboyant, razzamatazz, glitzy event - it's the first time ever for tennis - the appearance money is not to be sniffed at () - but more importantly, it's fun 

Nearly all year, the players are playing 'important' matches, it all matters, the press are on their backs, defending points, trying to get more points, managing expectations ...

And so it's great for young players to get some glitzy downtime - enjoy the tennis, enjoy the crowd, enjoy all the trappings that go with it - just relax and enjoy their own show  

I hope all four of them really have fun 

Personally, I don't like exhibition tennis nor say football friendlies, especially if it's going to cost anything much to view. I can't recall the last time I watched such a thing. A long long time ago.

Give me sport where the result matters every time.

Don't though blame Emma or other players for taking part.

Just seen this:

@RaducanuNews
Emma has ended her 2025 season as she has pulled out of her scheduled final event in Hong Kong due to illness that she has been battling for 10 days
Its also been confirmed that Emma will work with her coach Francisco Roig in 2026
2025 has seen continued improvement from Emma and looking forward to what happens in 2026

Get well soon Emma!

Edit - now on BBC website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cjek3pp34ljo

indiana wrote:

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Pity but good to see that Emma is continuing with Roig.

Some really good signs at times when fit and well, if inconsistent, but rankings wise it's no doubt not gone as well as she would have hoped in Asia, now compounded by the early finish  

It's currently looking likely she will be seeded for the Aus Open ( I think her minimum aim ) but in the #25 to #32 seed bracket, meaning she will be bracketed against #1 to #8 for R3. And if her 2025 draw luck continues into 2026 that draw will not open up and if she gets through she will face a top seed then.

I recall reading that she needs to start winning more against players in the WR 11 to 20 range, to which the immediate answer was that it would help if she played them more.

For 2025: vs ...
WR 1 to WR 10 : Won 1, Lost 10
WR 11 to WR 20 : Won 2, Lost 1
WR 21 to WR 30 : Won 3, Lost 1
WR 31 to WR 40 : Won 3 Lost 3
WR 41 to WR 50 : Won 5, Lost 3

Top 50 : Won 14, Lost 18

 

Hopefully she will be good to go again pretty soon so that they can have a really productive off season.

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Take out the top 10 and shes operating at a circa 2/3rds win loss rate. that actually stands up pretty well Id say; anyone achieving circa 65 percent isnt doing badly, these are all good players. For me, its working out how to play and compete with those in the top 10 who routinely beat her. She can compete. Sometimes. Eg Sabalenka matches. But she doesnt always compete and not for a whole match. Thats what I would focus. Start beating some of those.