Week 19 - WTA Premier Mandatory ($7M) - Madrid, Spain - Clay

Michael D · All-time great

RE: Week 19 - WTA Premier Mandatory ($7M) - Madrid, Spain - Clay

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Jo is one of the most coachable players in tennis but also one who really needs coaching. Some almost coach themselves, ie live the game and everything about it, Andy, Fed and Novak being classic examples in that they know what they want to change to improve and rework, like fine steak they need seasoning. Jo resembles her passion, she is a bit more like the ingredients of a cake! Each year they are all there but they all need putting together and baking.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Monday 6th of May 2019 04:39:52 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

I'd say Andy was one person who really really needed the right coach.

While deep down he maybe knew the best way to succeed, consistently he often reverted to a more passive game, often mixing defense and skilul change up such as drop shots and lobs. He is a bit of a tennis connoisseur, loving to outfox an opponent. But I remember my heart sinking a bit when he for a time talked about reverting to much more variation under Mauresmo and enjoying his tennis more.

Because beforehand he had finally got a coach for whom he had total respect and he listened. He clearly became more aggressive in his play, fairly continual controlled aggression with few time outs for shot brovado just because he reckoned he had the skill to do it rather more than it was truly the shot for the time. In some ways often not as interesting as before. Watch that first Wimbledon Slam, it was Djokovic that ultimately was trying to mix it up, in vain. Lendl brought that, Lendl mark 2 was bringing it back again. The extra natural skill remained in Andy"s locker for when the moment needed it but it had become very rarely a 'go to'. Controlled agression won out and big titles were won.

Andy so needed Lendl. How much he wanted to change is debatable. As I said maybe deep down he did and that was partly why he brought Lendl on board. But it did take Lendl to change him.

Anyway, excuse my slight Andy tangent regarding a player who needed coaching. Certainly in the sense of finding a direction. Andy left to coach himself or feel much less respect for a coach would IMO probably never have won a Slam.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I agree with what you say about Andy but he was battling, Novak, Fed and Rafa to be no 1 for a decade. They all played consistently at another level to the rest of the field. Really you are talking about subtle finishes to some high quality bakery. Jo is way off that, much more a table of ingredients, a skill set, mental and emotional attitude you need to blend to make a sponge and then the next step ie with the right coach she is so much more 1st round MD to potential Semi finalist

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

After what has been an annus horribilis thus far for the British women, this last week had been great to see.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bit of an exagerration re prior to last week. But you are not alone.

But last week was indeed a really good week, and great to see.

Our top 10 singles rankings average is now better than it was at the start of the year. Admittedly the Naiktha Bains switch back to GB has secured that. But it wouldn't be so far off even without her.

Still yes some players have undoubtably had relatively poor starts to the year, and from a relatively young group one hopes for ongoing progress upwards. But overall I have questioned just how bad, the relatively limited time frame and the dissection of some players' results so far this year. Overall not much worse than the ups and downs to be expected.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Jo v Halep now on. Absorbing match from the start.

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Tuesday 7th of May 2019 10:19:22 AM

JonH · All-time great

an early break up for Jo, 2-1

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Halep breaks back 4 -4*

Michael D · All-time great

One way traffic now... and Jo is going to get time to rest and recover soon 5-7 *1-4

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Shame - really thought she had the match early on. 1st set was so good by both. Not surprising Jo fell away really - she has had so little time to recoup some energy. But all in all a very encouraging performance. I do hope she is not too disappointed by the result.

Michael D · All-time great

With this being the final result. Time for rest and recovery now before going again next week.

R32: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 41 lost to HALEP, Simona (ROU) 3 CH=1 2017 5-7 1-6

LordBrownof · Futures level

First six games from Jo is the best I've seen her play in two years, and I've watched A LOT of Jo.

Interestingly, she didn't sign her coach in which I understand means he can't perform any on-court coaching. I'm sure to the delight of some but does seem odd, considering tactics and mix up play can be so important on clay.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

LordBrownof wrote:
First six games from Jo is the best I've seen her play in two years, and I've watched A LOT of Jo.

Interestingly, she didn't sign her coach in which I understand means he can't perform any on-court coaching. I'm sure to the delight of some but does seem odd, considering tactics and mix up play can be so important on clay.

I don't think Jo's coach was in Rabat either. There was some comment then about hitting partner. Perhaps she thought her time on the clay was going to be short so the coach would only be needed for 2 matches.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Michael D wrote:
With this being the final result. Time for rest and recovery now before going again next week.

R32: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) 41 lost to HALEP, Simona (ROU) 3 CH=1 2017 5-7 1-6

Yes Jo finished up playing 7 singles on clay in the last 8 days. Could not have foreseen that 8 days ago. Re next week unless something has changed then she is only in qualifying in Rome. I think because of this weeks rankings then Maria Sakkari would now be the 1st alternate. Admittedly Caroline Wozniacki hardly looked fit to play in Madrid and Camila Giorgi has got some wrist problem. At the moment Serena Williams looks like she's on the celebrity circuit. Looking out for somebody else who might not be fit.