Apologies ROSAMUND, just realised I referred to 3 GB players with their first name in that passage, but Jo as 'Konta', which I know you have picked up previously. I don't know why I do that, I think it might be to do with never knowing whether to call her Jo, or Johanna etc. which CD has mentioned before, and Konta just naturally comes - it's also possibly because she's been the most relevant GB WTA for the past few years, and on TF I'll always refer to her as Konta, so probably just follows on from that.
You might have noticed but Johanna Konta always refers to herself as Johanna and never Jo. She said in an interview she will answer to Jo but prefers Johanna. Strangely Jo actually sounds more friendly and less formal.
Another deuce point goes begging after Babos recovers from back to back doubles to serve a bomb. It sort of whimpers out from there.
Lose 6-2 6-0
Despite the scoreline that was better from Em, and she seemed much more sure of herself. Good to see her back with Sofia. They just lacked that extra bit of quality they needed on the deuce points - 1 from 7 to finish the day is a stat to mull over a ****tail on the Dubai beach as the sun sets! She is down for an indoor 25k in Italy next week. If she travels, still a chance to find a win in 2020!!
But goodness, Babos and Mladenovic are quite the pair, Babos in particular was so enjoyable to watch. Great doubles and this won't even have been near their top gear. Not sure they need the points, money or matches though...
Hopefully some more Brits on the stream tomorrow. Hopeful for Jodie with her draw.
-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 7th of December 2020 02:25:31 PM
Apologies ROSAMUND, just realised I referred to 3 GB players with their first name in that passage, but Jo as 'Konta', which I know you have picked up previously. I don't know why I do that, I think it might be to do with never knowing whether to call her Jo, or Johanna etc. which CD has mentioned before, and Konta just naturally comes - it's also possibly because she's been the most relevant GB WTA for the past few years, and on TF I'll always refer to her as Konta, so probably just follows on from that.
You might have noticed but Johanna Konta always refers to herself as Johanna and never Jo. She said in an interview she will answer to Jo but prefers Johanna. Strangely Jo actually sounds more friendly and less formal.
Its funny isnt how players names are treated. I tend to call Jo JoKo - never Jo K, or plain Jo, seldom anything other than JoKo in my head. partly cos I think of Jo as being Jo Durie as well and tend to differeniate. On the mens side, Im always Evo and not Dan, but others like Ryan peniston, would always be Ryan P and never Ryan (it doesnt sound right!) and quite often I would use the first name and initial of surname for many players.
Heather on Court 2, not the premier stream, but streamed at least, and NB 9.30am UK, so much better than 6.30am when play begins. Jodie not on a streamed court. Jodie also NB 9.30am.
I'd have like to have seen Jodie too, but I wasn't expecting it. She's a WC who's never been in the top 200 (even if her path was seriously derailed at Surbiton, and many have hopes she can push towards the top 100) against a 29 year old LL who's been on tour for 10+ years, but has never got higher than 149 - it's not really the most appealing to the non British (or Dutch) neutral.
I'd have also personally rather seen the likes of Juvan vs Ruse, Cristian (vs Kovinic), Cocciaretto, maybe even Dodin, those young (or youngish in Dodin's case) with reasonable potential, over 30 somethings like Voegele vs Flipkens, who we've seen on our screens numerous times over the years, but aren't going to get much better than where they are, although they are bigger names at present, so I can understand why that was selected, but doesn't really do much for me. 19 year old Xiyu Wang is on a streamed court, albeit at 6.30am. I'm off this week, so have even more of an interest in it than I usually would, but 7.30/8am is early enough for me, ha.
Jodie is the betting favourite FWIW, but it's pretty close (4/6 vs 11/10 at PP). Frech is actually the slight favourite against top seed Mladenovic as well, which I was quite surprised about.
R1: BURRAGE, Jodie Anna (GBR) WC 805 (CH=188 2019) v KERKHOVE, Lesley Pattinama (NED) LL 178 (CH=149 2017) R1: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 3 59 (CH=38 2015) v KRUNIC, Aleksandra (SRB) Q 236 (CH=39 2018)
Jodie lost to her opponent in Chiswick 2017. Heather lost to her opponent in Birmingham 2015
I was in the crowd for that one. Heather was up 6-2 4*-1 but lost 6-4 in the 3rd.
Edit: just realised I got mixed up - she did play Krunic at Edgbaston but the one she lost from a set and 4-1 up at Edgbaston was against Alexandra Wozniak
-- Edited by Priesty on Tuesday 8th of December 2020 09:07:41 PM
2 straight set wins on Court 4, as Kovinic beats Cristian, so Jodie will be on court soon. Winner plays Kovinic in round 2.
The match before Heather's is in the early stages of the 1st set, so could be a little while before she gets on. Voegele ended up withdrawing, so Flipkens played another LL (on a different court), and looks well on her way against her 300 odd opponent (6-2 5-2), so very likely the winner of Heather's match will play her in R2.
-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Tuesday 8th of December 2020 10:02:25 AM