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

the addict · Tennis legend

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

ROSAMUND · Futures level

flamingowings wrote:
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.

Yes, as Gabi Taylor fell 260 places down the rankings in 2019.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't really believe in 'defending' points. It's obvious that you will, throughout the year, have hard draws, easy draws, ones where all the stars line up for you, ones where the match is moved indoors which you hate, it's really windy which suits the other player, whatever... You'll have it this year, and you had it last year, so the points distribution are not a smooth reflection of anything important in itself.

When a player and trainer does their play list for the year, with key times asterisked, for key peak moments, that won't be based on last year's points.

So I think that's a really good score for Harriet (with a caveat that the match itself might have been dreadful).

And a big bravo to Heather - she had my 10p anyway, based on my view of Fiona above, but always great to take out a player, in two sets, ranked 40 places or so higher.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Yeah, swings and roundabouts really in teems of draws. She made the last 32 of Wimbledon, which is obviously a huge achievement, but she faced 2 outside the top 100, including a LL. Had she drawn Barty in R1 not R3 then it would almost certainly have been 10 points, not 130. Likewise, she did very well to qualify for the Brisbane main draw, but faced a lower ranked MDWC in the main draw R1, so it generally does even itself out.

A significant drop in rankings, but she didn't play for months after that Sharapova defeat in Melbourne, so there will be a good chance for her to climb again IF she can remain fit.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

ROSAMUND wrote:
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!

Is this a genuine question, as in you don't know why she still gets WCs, or was it meant to be rhetorical?

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Main draw is out, and Konta plays her old foe Strycova in R1.

Michael D · All-time great

And Jo's first round match. As noted she has a 0-2 record against Strycova but 3/4 sets went to 7, so time for Jo to reverse the score now, assuming her knee is ok to play now.

R32: Jo KONTA (GBR) [7] 12 vs Barbora STRYCOVA (CZE) 33 (CH:16 Jan 17)

H2H: Konta 0-2
Wimbledon - July 19 - Round: Quarter-final
Barbora Strycova CZE W 7-6(5) 6-1 L Johanna Konta

Tokyo - 18 Sep to 24 Sep 2017 - Hard - Round: 2nd Round
Barbora Strycova CZE W 7-5 7-6(5) L Johanna Konta

the addict · Tennis legend

Just been looking through the draw - impressive entry list with last MD DA at WR33 !

emmsie69 · ATP level

Looks like Harriets match was relatively competitive with 3 breaks to 2 1st set and 2 breaks to 1 2nd set. An improvement in Harriets serve woud reap some major dividends.

the addict · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
Looks like Harriets match was relatively competitive with 3 breaks to 2 1st set and 2 breaks to 1 2nd set. An improvement in Harriets serve woud reap some major dividends.

Looks pretty competitive all round. Harriet had 10 break points in ten return games, Putintseva had 15 in 9 return games, and the points were 62/74 overall. As you say, a small improvement in Harriet's serve could make quite a difference.

Considering the difference in rankings, that's a pretty good scoreline just the same.

Mervatron2 · Futures level

Good start to the year for heather and a good chance for another win.

Tough match for Harriet. Hopefully she. And do better in Aus open quallies

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q2: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 103 lost to SANDERS, Storm (AUS) 378 2-6 6-3 3-6

Michael D · All-time great

And disappointing that for Heather. A let down after her QR1 win

Babfive · Pro player

Michael D wrote:
And disappointing that for Heather. A let down after her QR1 win

Yes, I was expecting Heather to win that one. It's up to Jo now.

HarryGem · Club Coach

Jo lost in 3 fairly tight sets. At times looked like a player who hadn't payed a competitive match for 4 months. Midway through third set she looked frankly shattered. Her serve was inconsistant and too many unforced errors.
Not a bad effort but she will likely be at the Australian Open very short of match fitness.