Week 21 - ITF (W25) - Jerusalem, Israel - Hard

paulisi · Tennis legend

Week 21 - ITF (W25) - Jerusalem, Israel - Hard

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Jodie was *4-1 up and coasting, but Sam won back to back games (both to 15) and had at least 1 BP to get it back to 4-4, but Jodie held and one game away. 6-1 5-3*

paulisi · Tennis legend

Another final for Jodie - can she finally win one at this level

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Happy with how that went. 1 hour 25 on court, so not too long, and Sam not totally blown away. Hopefully the next semi final goes long.

6-1 6-4.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Slightly easier run to the final than in Bolton it has to be said where she blew away top 250 players Kalinskaya (top 200) and Shinkiova and then a good win over Emma. Whoever comes through in the other semi final, she will certainly have much more chance than she did against Diatchenko. However, I do remember she was quite a clear pre-match favourite in her first W25 final in India against the Japanese player, but lost in 3.

3 W25 finals (and hopefully more) and a W60 semi final, so at least 120 points from those, is brilliant.

Michael D · All-time great

So far these points will move Jodie into the mid-250s, easily breaking her CH, which has been moving upwards steadily so far this year. Win this and she will be closing in on Naiktha.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

In the other semi final, Yushchenko got the better of both long deuce games to break for *3-1, and then kind of ran away with the set to take it 6-1 - I guess quite similar to Jodie's first set with Sam.

I'd never heard of Yushchenko. She's 20 next month, so pretty much the same age as Jodie and is currently ranked 659, which is just shy of her career high (646). It does look like she has been injured a bit this year as she had one tournament in Jan and didn't play again until the end of March. She came through qualifying (one round) and has had some fairly convincing scores this week (like Jodie), but if it is her, I'd like to think Jodie would have a great chance. Still hoping it goes 3.

Edit - it's gone 3, 6-1 3-6. Right, Vismane then...

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Saturday 25th of May 2019 10:15:57 AM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

It was Vismane who came through, 1-6 6-3 6-2 in 2hr 20. She's a bit younger, 19 in August, but is similarly ranked to Yushchenko (649, CH 562). I was more aware of her name because she's the 4th or 5th best player in a small nation who have 2 top players (Latvia), so she gets Fed Cup squad experience (on a bigger stage) that most her age / current ranking wouldn't get. Her younger age might make it a bit less predictable, but it still looks a great chance for Jodie to get her biggest singles title to date.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Saturday 25th of May 2019 11:20:29 AM

Strongbow · All-time great

Sam+ lost their doubles final 6-2 4-6 [8-10] cry

However, with 18 singles and 30 doubles points it's a good week for Sam. smile

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Great to see Jodie in a final again. Hopefully this time she gets the title.

Jodie has been on the up, up, up this year. Chasing the bigger names from the past couple of years.

Peter too · Tennis legend

SF: BURRAGE, Jodie Anna (GBR) 3 277 def MURRAY, Samantha (GBR) 539 6-1 6-4

F: BURRAGE, Jodie Anna (GBR) 3 277 v VISMANE, Daniela (LAT) 649 CH=562 1/10/18 [18yo JCH=17]

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Jodie's match starts at 2pm UK. The 30 points in the bag are great, but hopefully she can go into the grass season on an even bigger high and go one step further today.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Plenty of other tennis going on, but Jodie is underway and has held, saving a BP. 1-0*.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

*2-4. 3 comfortable holds so far for the Latvian.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Disappointing set, 2-6. Only won 2 points on Vismane's 4 service games.