One of the longest ever tennis matches

Andy Parker · Club Coach

One of the longest ever tennis matches

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Thanks Andy. I was just checking odds generally and saw she was 7-6 3-2* up, and then broke to go a set and 4-2 up, and just assumed that would be that, and forgot about it until I saw this thread. That's certainly a long time to be on court, especially at this time (and they are an hour ahead).

I remember you saying you have been a big fan of her for a while having followed her at Wimbledon, but I must say I am a bit confused by her schedule this year:

www.tennisabstract.com/cgi-bin/wplayer-classic.cgi

She's never been lower than #137 in the past 12 months, but while she has played the odd WTA event, her schedule seems to be very W25 heavy. She's won 6 W25s since April, so has collected 300 points alone from that. I guess it's a bit of a cut throat sport outside the top 100 and you have to do what's best for yourself, and at #104 now, if she can get in the top 100 by the Aussie Open, it'll probably be job done for her, but just seems a bit unambitious, and while not unfair, a bit of a shame for the rest of the field where seeds are often ranked 200+ places below her, and she stands out massively. Maybe next year if she can establish herself back in the top 100, she'll look to concentrate more on higher end ITF events, or WTA events / quals.

Tomorrow is actually only her second opponent in her past 22 matches to be ranked inside the top 300, she lost that match to Shinikova, but won all the other 20 matches against those 300+.

Edit - she actually lost one other match, so is 19-2.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Saturday 14th of September 2019 12:32:21 AM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Arantxa has taken to the court today and is on serve in the early stages of her semi final, so will be interesting to see how that goes, given the circumstances. Winners play an 18 year old Italian in the final who has posted some decent results this season.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Despite that marathon quarter final, Arantxa won a marathon two a half hour semi too the next morning, and then the final today - even if she was top seed and playing lower ranked players, that is still some level of fitness. Normally anyone who wins a quarter like that in over four hours, would have no chance in the semis the next day.

Regarding her decision to enter so many 25K satelite tournaments, it seems to be due to the fact that she has been stuck just outside the top 100 for a couple of years, without falling much below 120 or 130. It's an interesting and unusual strategy - to constantly have to win five matches to get a few ranking points - hopefully now that she is back in the top 100, she will feel it is time once again to take on better players. At 28 the time is ticking, but you are right Ace to say that she is someone who I have followed for many years - I would always say that my favourite players are Brits, but she and Sharapova would be my favourite overseas players.

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Sunday 15th of September 2019 10:36:14 PM