Week 29 - ITF (W25) Imola, Italy Carpet

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Week 29 - ITF (W25) Imola, Italy Carpet

the addict · Tennis legend

Double bagel - that's going to hurt, especially after last week's winning streak

Michael D · All-time great

Wow, not often Mandy gets taken out like that

R16: CARRERAS, Amanda (GBR) 500 lost to RUBINI, Stefania (ITA) [2] 346 (CH:293 Oct18) 0-6 0-6

Strongbow · All-time great

Still 5 points which will do her no harm smile

Peter too · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
Wow, not often Mandy gets taken out like that

R16: CARRERAS, Amanda (GBR) 500 lost to RUBINI, Stefania (ITA) [2] 346 (CH:293 Oct18) 0-6 0-6

Is this result perhaps down to the difference between carpet and Mandy's preferred clay?

Michael D · All-time great

Maybe, but she's actually been playing on different surfaces Peter. Her last tournament was hard, then in May she played twice on the Obidos carpet reaching the SF once. (It was after Obidos she was entered into the Surbiton grass tournament but didn't get in).

Strongbow · All-time great

Peter too wrote:
Michael D wrote:
Wow, not often Mandy gets taken out like that

R16: CARRERAS, Amanda (GBR) 500 lost to RUBINI, Stefania (ITA) [2] 346 (CH:293 Oct18) 0-6 0-6
Is this result perhaps down to the difference between carpet and Mandy's preferred clay?

Mandy is vertically challenged so obviously prefers a slower surface. Before this year she has always struggled at 25ks+ except in Switzerland,

The one time she played on grass she did OK.

-- Edited by Strongbow on Friday 19th of July 2019 12:27:29 AM

PockyTastic · Futures level

Strongbow wrote:
Peter too wrote:
Michael D wrote:
Wow, not often Mandy gets taken out like that

R16: CARRERAS, Amanda (GBR) 500 lost to RUBINI, Stefania (ITA) [2] 346 (CH:293 Oct18) 0-6 0-6
Is this result perhaps down to the difference between carpet and Mandy's preferred clay?
Mandy is vertically challenged so obviously prefers a slower surface. Before this year she has always struggled at 25ks+ except in Switzerland,

The one time she played on grass she did OK.

-- Edited by Strongbow on Friday 19th of July 2019 12:27:29 AM

I wouldnt say she always struggled at 25Ks+ outside of Switzerland pre-injury. Shes actually reached the Sf (in 2012) and QF (in 2016) at Imola (and yes it was a 25K both years). Shes also had a fair amount of success in France (e.g. Several runs at 25k level and a 50k at saint-gauden) and Brazil (inc her first 25k final in Rio in 2012). Her first 25k main draw wins back in 2009 were in Poland and Italy... and the match which she got injured in was a 25K SF in USA. In fact she won 34 25k matches before she won one in Switzerland.

it would be fair to say shes never completely transitioned away from playing 10/15Ks (her injury in 2017 preventing her when she looked like she was shifting completely away) Which I think is what youre getting at - valid point.

And Your ref to her doing ok one time on grass was presumably her QF run at the 50k in Eastbourne (though that of course wasnt the only time she played on grass)?

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, the initial injury in April 2017 really interrupted Mandy at her peak until then. She went to her CH 236 a week after she retired a set up from that US 25K SF and these points were added in.

In the previous year to that date she played in only 2 tournaments below 25K level ( 2 15K RUs in November 2016 ) and was verging on making the qualifying list for the 2017 French Open. Not been going all the way but that previous year had brought a Swiss 25K RU plus a 50K+H SF and 4 25K SFs in other parts.

Such a pity that she wasn't able to push on at that stage and further establish herself at 25K+.

.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
Maybe, but she's actually been playing on different surfaces Peter. Her last tournament was hard, then in May she played twice on the Obidos carpet reaching the SF once. (It was after Obidos she was entered into the Surbiton grass tournament but didn't get in).

Yes, I did note earlier that she has been experimenting recently with different surfaces. This result does suggest there is a weakness in her game on faster surfaces that a fast court player can exploit. I guess it will depend on what coaching she has available whether she will continue with the experiment and try to find a way to overcome the problem or whether she returns to the clay courts. Of course if the injury has for example limited her mobility she may have to develop an alternative to that of a clay court specialist. However that is just speculation.

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Or maybe playing 14 matches in 12 days had caught up with her.

Michael D · All-time great

Currently Mandy is entered for both the upcoming UK hardcourt tournaments in Woking and Chiswick. She is in the MD for Woking, and Chiswick is indicated as her top priority. So some stepping outside the confines of clay at the moment for her.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Originally she had Woking down as her 5th choice with a W25 in Spain 1st and then 3 W25 Clay court events in 2nd, 3rd and 4th. It looks as if she decided to opt for a couple of weeks competing in the UK. I wonder is she has some coaching/training arranged over here.

the addict · Tennis legend

She's 37th Alt for Chiswick before the withdrawal deadline, and may well be in qualifying after Tuesdays deadline - there are more than 30 above her with priority 4-6 so hopefully most of those will go elsewhere.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

The IR system, like Woking, might be her biggest hope of getting in. Of the 5 currently in those spots, only 1 has P1 - I haven't checked if the others are likely to get in directly to other events, but hopefully the do. After that, Amanda is 7th on the IR alt list, only 3 of those have P1 (including Emily), so she is currently the 5th player with P1 status, so she may get in that way which would be ideal, to either save an (unlikely) MDWC or avoid her having 2 Q matches. Of course, some might not get into their preferred events, some might have just put any order down, and some may change their mind once their entry had been guaranteed, but still a chance she gets in that way.