Jo lost first set 6-4. Ooops. 3 winners and 12 unforced errors- only positive is that Jabeur isnt playing particularly well either...
Well I'd say she's currently playing a lot better than Jo who looks far too passive and frankly is being out thought and largely out played at the moment. Here's hoping for a turn around but I'm not confident.
-- Edited by HarryGem on Tuesday 21st of January 2020 12:35:42 AM
She looked very much like someone who hadn't played much tennis in the last 6 months. I know she's got to manage the knee, but a spot of doubles this week wouldn't have been a bad move.
-- Edited by PaulM on Tuesday 21st of January 2020 12:47:22 AM
It is clear there is now a real dilemma for Jo. Her game simply isn't of a high enough natural ability to just turn up at events and win with any regularity. Yet if her knee condition is so persistant then it is hard to see what else she can do. And she's tried the long lay off treatment really by not playing after the US open.
She hasn't got the variety that other players have and needs on court time to go through the "processess" and the metronomic style of play that serves her best.
One thing is certain though turn up to events playing at the level she did yesterday will result in a lot more losses than wins and if she can't get time on court to get match fit by the clay court season the threat of losing most of her ranking points from last year.
It may be premature but maybe we have seen the best of Jo. Since Wimbledon she has had 4 first round losses and a US Open quarter final. Most players aren't like Serena Williams who can make Grand Slam finals on little match play beforehand. Where she could have got some match practice in Adelaide she pulled out. The writing was probably on the wall when she lost to Strycova in Brisbane because Strycova has hardly won any matches since Wimbledon. She won't be the first player who has had to retire because of knee probems either. Or does she need knee surgery? As for ranking she's high enough for Dubai whereas last year she played Acapulco.Hard to see at the moment where wins are coming from.