Week 30 - ITF (W25) - Porto, Portugal - Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

Week 30 - ITF (W25) - Porto, Portugal - Hard

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Looks like the bookies were actually selling Eden short at the initial price they were offering - she leads 6-2 *4-0.

Maia has 3 BP chances her however to get one of the breaks back.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Eden wins 6-2 6-1. Great win for her obviously, but again, pretty concerning for Maia.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Ace Ventura wrote:
Eden wins 6-2 6-1. Great win for her obviously, but again, pretty concerning for Maia.

Yes, good summary. I'd always have my money on Eden over Maia, in general, but you'd have expected the score to be a fair bit closer than that - by her nature of play Maia does not normally concede points easily.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
Eden wins 6-2 6-1. Great win for her obviously, but again, pretty concerning for Maia.
Yes, good summary. I'd always have my money on Eden over Maia, in general, but you'd have expected the score to be a fair bit closer than that - by her nature of play Maia does not normally concede points easily.

Do you think Eden will go further CD (i.e. be higher ranked in say 12-18 months), or just playing a bit better at the moment, or just generally a better match up? I mean on paper, someone who turned 21 earlier in the year who is at or near a CH of circa 260 would (in general) appear more promising / hopeful of moving on to that next level (like say more potential to be an established top 200 player) than a 23 year old who hasn't yet been beyond 400, but Maia's last 12 results are:

417 - L 2-6 5-7

91 - L 1-6 3-6

481 - W 6-3 7-6

28 - L 3-6 1-6

140 - L 3-6 1-6

229 - L 4-6 4-6

507 - W 2-6 6-4 6-3

518 - L 2-6 4-6

607 - W 6-4 6-2

710 - W 3-6 6-2 6-4

438 - L 0-6 4-6

449 - L 2-6 1-6

That obviously included the bolded 'grass' season where a lot of those results were expected, but since then she's been labouring to 3 set wins over those outside the top 500 (and 700), and only won 7 games in her last 2 matches against those currently in the mid 400s, plus that recent straight sets loss to 518 Lily as well. She's obviously earned all the points she has won (even if the 30 for beating Tara was generous), but looking at those results (as well as the very close pre match odds today), it does look more of a case of she's done very well to get to where she has and a more natural position would maybe be mid 300s or something. Perhaps quite similar with Naiktha as well.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

My own view is that Eden has a better game to advance long-term. Nothing really to do with recent form.

Although, as you rightly point out, Maia is younger and better ranked. And Eden somehow has a habit of getting your hopes up and then disappearing off the radar for a bit. So nothing may come of my view at all.

In terms of tennis, Maia has some excellent ball skills but she is rather short, plays a long way back and doesn't hit through her forehand properly, but rolls it. The sum total is that is all lacks penetration. And it's difficult to see that really improving. Whereas Eden has some excellent power, longer levers, and an elegant, technically good game that looks as though she should be able to take it up a notch.

However, as we know, character, work ethic, luck and a whole heap of other things come into it, and Maia certainly seems to apply herself really well and, as said, has some good skills.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Thanks CD. Yeah Eden does post the odd good run which makes you think 'hey up', but then goes a bit quieter. Thinking about it, I haven't streamed that many of her matches, I've definitely seen more of Maia, either at the GB lower level stuff or the grass season.

the addict · Tennis legend

Beth fails to serve out yet another set from a break up and loses 5 & 5

Andy Parker · Club Coach

I thought the Eden versus Maia was a fascinating match up. I enjoyed watching Eden's run in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon and saw the whole of each match on the Red Button/BBC i player - I know doubles and singles are two very different things, but I wonder how much confidence her run in that competition gave her (including knocking out the number 2 seeds) - wonder what those who know far more than me think - has her mixed doubles run in front of big crowds at Wimbledon given her a bit more self belief and maybe inspiration to succeed, or is mixed doubles so removed from the singles tour, that it is all just a distant memory and irrelevant.

I'm fascinated now to see how her singles and doubles career progress from here - she looks to my untrained eyes like someone who could go on to make a career as a specialist doubles player.

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: SILVA, Eden (GBR) 449 def LUMSDEN, Maia (GBR) 263 2 263 6-2 6-1
R1: GREY, Sarah Beth (GBR) 511 lost to OSAKA, Mari (JPN) 6 312 5-7 5-7

R2: SILVA, Eden (GBR) 449 v EVTIMOVA, Dia (BUL) IR 611 CH=145 2011

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Hopefully Eden can get a few wins in.

Michael D · All-time great

Play her so far today has been rain affected. No play yet and start times keep being pushed back. 15.30 showing now.

Michael D · All-time great

I thought they might abandon play for the day in Porto, but looks like they will still try and play the women's 2nd round singles at the main venue. The men have now been sent off elsewhere for theirs (initially they were all scheduled for the main venue).

The match before Eden's has resumed.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Eden won the first set 6-1. Second just started.

the addict · Tennis legend

First set to Eden 6-1

Closer than the scoreline - saved all 7 break points, and took 2 out of 4