Week 22 - ITF (W25) - Santa Margarita de Montbui, Spain - Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

RE: Week 22 - ITF (W25) - Santa Margarita de Montbui, Spain - Hard

Michael D · All-time great

Wow, lovely to see for a whole host of reasons. But encouraged especially by Sam's form, this seems to be the best she's been playing for a couple of years now. It's obviously going to be tough for many of our players to get much game time during the short grass season, where the LTA is really focusing on the top ranks of players, but I hope people like Sam and a few others around her - Mandy is another - do get some game time.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes great to see from Sam.

Unfortunately experience has indeed shown that the likes of Sam, Em and Mandy are not likely to be any sort of LTA focus. Top ranks and/or much younger prospects will no doubt take priority.

All the best to them.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 30th of May 2019 07:25:03 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

I hope Elitsa is going to have something left in the tank for the doubles final. Her singles QF is looking like a real battle - already 69 points in just seven games in the first set and almost an hour gone. I'm surprised that they didn't put her match on first today, as she is the only one involved in the doubles final.

Edit - one hour and 35 minutes, one set 7-6 and 110 points

-- Edited by the addict on Friday 31st of May 2019 03:34:55 PM

Michael D · All-time great

A very tight match is now underway. Wish there was a livestream for it. Emily and Sofia have just saved 3 BPs, the first BPs of the match, to keep the score at 4-4.

...But they've now broken Sam and Elitsa, so EWS/Sofia will serve for the first set.

-- Edited by Michael D on Friday 31st of May 2019 05:11:22 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

Served that out comfortably, and broke immediately at the start of the second. Quite a few games have gone to deuce though.
E+S 6-4 3-1*

Michael D · All-time great

Yes, the BP score sums up the match so far - 0/6 to Sam and Elitsa, 2/2 to Em and Sofia.

...Make that now 3/3 for Em and Sofia *4-1 and just two games away now

-- Edited by Michael D on Friday 31st of May 2019 05:36:15 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

Served for it twice from *5-2 - and now it's 5-5*

Michael D · All-time great

Wow, Em and Sofia went to 5-1* and looked to be coasting to victory, a double break up and with no breaks against in the match. But perhaps they've tightened up because Sam and Elitsa have pulled it back to 5-5, without any MPs in either of the two games Em and Sofia served for the match...

the addict · Tennis legend

Another break, and it's *6-5

the addict · Tennis legend

And thhis time they do serve it out.
Fourth W25 title of the year for Em and Sofia

Michael D · All-time great

Fantastic well done Em and Sofia, they're really on a roll now and hope they get opportunities to play together during the grass season.
Great from Sam too, though guess this was a bit too much for Elitsa after a tough singles. Wonderful for both Brits though

F:- Sofia SHAPATAVA (GEO) / Emily WEBLEY-SMITH (GBR) [2] 485 (197+288) beat Elitsa KOSTOVA (BUL) / Samantha MURRAY (GBR) 605 (273+332) 6-4 7-5

the addict · Tennis legend

I really hope they get a chance to play in the grass season, but they may need wild cards to get in.

50 points for the winners and 30 for the runners up. Should boost them all up the rankings.
Note that the rankings used in this thread are those at the start of the tournament, and they've already risen a few places as earlier points went on.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Michael D · All-time great

the addict wrote:
I really hope they get a chance to play in the grass season, but they may need wild cards to get in.

50 points for the winners and 30 for the runners up. Should boost them all up the rankings.
Note that the rankings used in this thread are those at the start of the tournament, and they've already risen a few places as earlier points went on.

Yes, Sofia has also lost 50 points this week, so the win will keep her around WR 177 post French Open, whilst Emily will see a rise to around WR 215

Sam will rise to WR 270