Week 1 - WTA Premier ($1.5 mill) - Brisbane, Australia - Hard

Michael D · All-time great

Week 1 - WTA Premier ($1.5 mill) - Brisbane, Australia - Hard

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:

As flamingowings notes in the entries section, lousy q draws for both Brit women, especially Harriet, who is defending points here. Last year she reached the R16.
QR1: Harriet DART (GBR) 142 vs Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) [q1] 34
QR1: Heather WATSON (GBR) 103 vs Fiona FERRO (FRA) [q6] 63

I know nothing at all about Ferro, her name a complete blank with me and yet 63 in world. Any info?

Barefoot · Lower Club Player

That's an ok draw for Heather (assuming she's not really rusty...), Ferro has been knocking around 100 for a while - jumped up in points from reaching a clay final over summer but didn't win a match after the US Open.

Michael D · All-time great

JonH comes home wrote:
Michael D wrote:

As flamingowings notes in the entries section, lousy q draws for both Brit women, especially Harriet, who is defending points here. Last year she reached the R16.
QR1: Harriet DART (GBR) 142 vs Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) [q1] 34
QR1: Heather WATSON (GBR) 103 vs Fiona FERRO (FRA) [q6] 63
I know nothing at all about Ferro, her name a complete blank with me and yet 63 in world. Any info?

She's 22 yrs of age, reached the R32 US Open, but is basically a good clay court player. Won the Gstaad WTA International last year, reached the SF of the Lugano equivalent and the QF in Strasbourg and Palermo. Her hard court points are more limited, but apart from the US Open reached the R16 of the Zhengzhou Premier, the Bronx International and the SF of the Guadalajara 125k.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Michael D wrote:

As flamingowings notes in the entries section, lousy q draws for both Brit women, especially Harriet, who is defending points here. Last year she reached the R16.
QR1: Harriet DART (GBR) 142 vs Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) [q1] 34
QR1: Heather WATSON (GBR) 103 vs Fiona FERRO (FRA) [q6] 63
I know nothing at all about Ferro, her name a complete blank with me and yet 63 in world. Any info?
She's 22 yrs of age, reached the R32 US Open, but is basically a good clay court player. Won the Gstaad WTA International last year, reached the SF of the Lugano equivalent and the QF in Strasbourg and Palermo. Her hard court points are more limited, but apart from the US Open reached the R16 of the Zhengzhou Premier, the Bronx International and the SF of the Guadalajara 125k.

Thanks Michael - so , it will be tough then!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Michael D wrote:

As flamingowings notes in the entries section, lousy q draws for both Brit women, especially Harriet, who is defending points here. Last year she reached the R16.
QR1: Harriet DART (GBR) 142 vs Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) [q1] 34
QR1: Heather WATSON (GBR) 103 vs Fiona FERRO (FRA) [q6] 63
I know nothing at all about Ferro, her name a complete blank with me and yet 63 in world. Any info?
She's 22 yrs of age, reached the R32 US Open, but is basically a good clay court player. Won the Gstaad WTA International last year, reached the SF of the Lugano equivalent and the QF in Strasbourg and Palermo. Her hard court points are more limited, but apart from the US Open reached the R16 of the Zhengzhou Premier, the Bronx International and the SF of the Guadalajara 125k.

Ferro was the absolute golden girl of French tennis as a teenager (she happens to be blonde too).

She was the most promising junior, national champion of France several times, REALLY heavily touted by the FFT, always got WCs into everything (think she's had 4 main draw Roland Garros WCs, even when practically unranked) ....

But she hit a bit of a brickwall at about WTA 250, no one really knows why (as far as I know). I don't think she had major injury problems. Anyway, she was always the 'disappointment'....

But recently she's changed team, coach etc. and everything seems to be in a far better place.

(However, saw her play once in 2019 and wasn't majorly impressed......)

flamingowings · All-time great

Heather wins in 2. Nice one!

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Jo has got Strycova in the 1st round in a Wimbledon quarter final repeat. Jo has yet to get a set off her in their 2 meetings.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Harriet loses 6-4 6-3. A big fall down the rankings.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Harriet will drop to about 175. Won't make it feel any better but that looks a decent showing against a top 40 player.

Well done Hev.

emmsie69 · Top national player

Shows how hard it is to maintain, 1 unlucky draw and you're buggered but not a bad effort.

Michael D · All-time great

emmsie69 wrote:
Shows how hard it is to maintain, 1 unlucky draw and you're buggered but not a bad effort.

Haha yeah, about what I was thinking too biggrin

Michael D · All-time great

There are three q rounds. Heather won't mind that 2nd round draw.

QR1: Harriet DART (GBR) 142 lost to Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) [q1] 34 4-6 3-6
QR1: Heather WATSON (GBR) 103 def Fiona FERRO (FRA) [q6] 63 6-2 7-6(4)

QR2: Heather WATSON (GBR) 103 vs Storm SANDERS (AUS) 378 (CH:202 Feb 14)

flamingowings · All-time great

emmsie69 wrote:
Shows how hard it is to maintain, 1 unlucky draw and you're buggered but not a bad effort.

I see what you mean but I think it's much better (where possible and relies on being injury free) to not have one or two big points counters and to have a steady points balance throughout the year. Otherwise this happens. Anyway, dropping to the mid 170s isn't that far to fall from where she currently is. Definitely seen worse falls.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Why is Maria Sharapova given a wild card when there are many players ranked above her who have to qualify? She may have won Brisbane but that was 5 years ago!