Week 25 - WTA Premier ($1M) - Birmingham, Great Britain Grass

indiana · Tennis legend

Week 25 - WTA Premier ($1M) - Birmingham, Great Britain Grass

Status Quo · Intermediate Club Player

indiana wrote:
So, as mentioned, Harriet is in with some unranked American. And another opportunity for Beth & Silva who seem to be looking good for a Wimbledon MD WC.

Of course, this is a good thing.
Reminds me of the positive effect that Venus had on Johanna's career at about a similar place in the rankings. Jo was struggling at the time to get out of the WR150-100 vortex, and breakthrough for the first time - treading water, and in danger of stagnating. Venus just saw Jo practicing, thought she had talent, approached her and started chatting, in her offhand way. The relationship was strong enough that Venus approached Jo to be one of only two (non-Venus!) players at the time to wear the EleVen brand. Johanna's big pushes into the top 100 for the first time, and then back into the top 100 and the stratosphere followed shortly in the wake of this.

I wonder how this partnership with Harriet came about, whether it was a similar sort of informal chat.
Regardless of any results on court, what a chance to soak up all that knowledge and experience. Harriet strike me as quite the right type to drink it all in and absorb as much as possible.

JonH · All-time great

Heather is 4-2 up first set on Strycova, hope she can keep it up.

Babfive · Pro player

Heather took the first set 6-3

markymc1983 · Club Coach

As expected whenever Hev wins the 1st set, we're now into a 3rd

mbturner · Lower Club Player

Heather became tentative and Strycova took control. She's going to have to harness her frustration into hitting the ball harder rather than abusing her racquet.

the addict · Tennis legend

Not so good for Beth and Eden. As described on twitter - a Penkobagel in the first

flamingowings · All-time great

markymc1983 wrote:
As expected whenever Hev wins the 1st set, we're now into a 3rd

H3v

Would be great if she won the 3rd sets...

flamingowings · All-time great

the addict wrote:
Not so good for Beth and Eden. As described on twitter - a Penkobagel in the first

Penkobagel - I like it! As long as she isn't doing body serves as well!

PaulM · Tennis legend

Horrible miss from Heather at *2-2 30-30 and broken

indiana · Tennis legend

markymc1983 wrote:
As expected whenever Hev wins the 1st set, we're now into a 3rd

I make it a grand total of just 3 previous times this season that Heather has lost the 2nd set after winning the 1st, once her very first match of the season.

In these she was W1 L2 in winning the 3rd set.

Here she is 3-4* in the 3rd.

DF · Tennis legend

Beth and Eden into a match tiebreak after winning the second set in a tie break 7-3

which they lost 8-10

-- Edited by DF on Monday 17th of June 2019 03:30:22 PM

markymc1983 · Club Coach

indiana wrote:
markymc1983 wrote:
As expected whenever Hev wins the 1st set, we're now into a 3rd
I make it a grand total of just 3 previous times this season that Heather has lost the 2nd set after winning the 1st, once her very first match of the season.
In these she was W1 L2 in winning the 3rd set.

Here she is 3-4* in the 3rd.

4 occassions in half a season is not insignificant. My general feeling with most Heather Watson matches, is that it's going to be a 3 setter and a frustrating watch.

-- Edited by markymc1983 on Monday 17th of June 2019 03:40:18 PM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Strycova is top 50 and usually does well on grass, especially Birmingham, so it was a tough ask and was a narrow defeat, but at the same time, you've got to think if Hev has hopes of ever establishing herself back in that 70/80 range then she's got to be taking more advantage of free hits like these, especially when you see the amount of fast rising teenagers and U21s currently in the WTA top 100 - MDWCs in WTA events are few and between.

the addict · Tennis legend

As usual when Heather plays, a lot of good points, and a lot of unforced errors. Can't be doing that against someone as good as Strycova on grass.