Week 2 - Australian Open - women's qualifying (hard) (in Dubai)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Week 2 - Australian Open - women's qualifying (hard) (in Dubai)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

ausopen.com/schedule

PockyTastic · Futures level

Naiktha plays Tessah andrianjafitrimo on Sunday. Fran gets Niculescu whilst Harriet draws Grace Min.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Katie Swan is 1st alternate now, I think, so keeping my fingers crossed that someone withdraws.

Does anyone know if there is TV coverage of the qualies - would like to catch a bit on the odd occasions that I am not working.

flamingowings · All-time great

Andy Parker wrote:
Katie Swan is 1st alternate now, I think, so keeping my fingers crossed that someone withdraws.

Does anyone know if there is TV coverage of the qualies - would like to catch a bit on the odd occasions that I am not working.

Quals are on the AO website. Eurosport for the main event.

the addict · Tennis legend

AO website appears to be the only way. I was going to post the link, but having problems posting

Andy Parker · Club Coach

It will be interesting if the AO site lets us watch the qualies - last year when I attempted to look at them, it said that I was for a region that did not have broadcasting rights.

I am hoping some of our Brits can make it through to Tuesday and Wednesday, when I am working less hours and can see some of the matches.

Re- the draw, I thought Fran got unlucky drawing Nicolescu, but Fran does appear to be on an upward trajectory and it will be very interesting to see how she performs against a seasoned player who was once in the top 32, but at 33 years old is now very much in the autumn of her career. Even if Naiktha comes through her first round, she probably has the equally experienced Timea Babos waiting in Round 2, I am much more positive about Harriet's draw - I can't see why she can't win her first 2 matches, but if it is Govortsova in the last round (or Krunic) that could be tough.

Re- Katie Swan; from what I have heard, because Yastremska is appealing against her doping violation ban, she is still on the main draw list, and Katie S is definitely first alternate now.

Andrianjafritimo who was one ahead of Katie S is now in the qualifying draw, and is of course playing Naiktha tomorrow; the French player of Madagascan descent is an interesting one - Madagascar has almost no sports players, but there has recently been an upsurge of sporting success, not least with their football team making the last African Nations Cup final tournament, after years of them finishing bottom of every qualifying group. Andrianjaftrimo, if she keeps improving, could become probably the first person of Madagascan heritage to achieve sporting success, though it will be under the French flag - and Madagascar is of course a former French colony.

Maia is 5th alternate, so I assume she will miss out, but with all the Covid testing you never know I guess. Anyway, a nervous wait for Katie S, fingers crossed for all our Brits.

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Sunday 10th of January 2021 01:02:31 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Andy Parker wrote:
It will be interesting if the AO site lets us watch the qualies - last year when I attempted to look at them, it said that I was for a region that did not have broadcasting rights.

I am hoping some of our Brits can make it through to Tuesday and Wednesday, when I am working less hours and can see some of the matches.

Re- the draw, I thought Fran got unlucky drawing Nicolescu, but Fran does appear to be on an upward trajectory and it will be very interesting to see how she performs against a seasoned player who was once in the top 32, but at 33 years old is now very much in the autumn of her career. Even if Naiktha comes through her first round, she probably has the equally experienced Timea Babos waiting in Round 2, I am much more positive about Harriet's draw - I can't see why she can't win her first 2 matches, but if it is Govortsova in the last round (or Krunic) that could be tough.

Re- Katie Swan; from what I have heard, because Yastremska is appealing against her doping violation ban, she is still on the main draw list, and Katie S is definitely first alternate now.

Andrianjafritimo who was one ahead of Katie S is now in the qualifying draw, and is of course playing Naiktha tomorrow; the French player of Madagascan descent is an interesting one - Madagascar has almost no sports players, but there has recently been an upsurge of sporting success, not least with their football team making the last African Nations Cup final tournament, after years of them finishing bottom of every qualifying group. Andrianjaftrimo, if she keeps improving, could become probably the first person of Madagascan heritage to achieve sporting success, though it will be under the French flag - and Madagascar is of course a former French colony.

Maia is 5th alternate, so I assume she will miss out, but with all the Covid testing you never know I guess. Anyway, a nervous wait for Katie S, fingers crossed for all our Brits.

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Sunday 10th of January 2021 01:02:31 AM

Was it Randrianteffy who was the other top madagascan a few years back?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Naiktha lost the opening set 6-1.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Silly me - it was Radiantefy and she is definitely 100% Madagascan. How could I have forgotten her - an age related mistake I think.

No live action that I can see - but I am off to work in 10 minutes time anyway. Shame for the next few days, if that is the case.

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Sunday 10th of January 2021 08:24:35 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Andy Parker wrote:
Silly me - it was Radiantefy and she is definitely 100% Madagascan. How could I have forgotten her - an age related mistake I think.

At least you spelt her name correctly !

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Fran and Harriet both on court at 6am Our time on Monday.

PaulM · Tennis legend

This was not a great performance. Out 6-1 6-2.

Had nothing in her armourery today. Good draw too.

-- Edited by PaulM on Sunday 10th of January 2021 09:10:00 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

PaulM wrote:
This was bit a great performance. Out 6-1 6-2.

Had nothing in her armourery today. Good draw too.

Disappointing start to the event.

flamingowings · All-time great

PaulM wrote:
This was not a great performance. Out 6-1 6-2.

Had nothing in her armourery today. Good draw too.

-- Edited by PaulM on Sunday 10th of January 2021 09:10:00 AM

Does she have much in her armourery usually? I don't know anything about her really performance wise and since she has played for GB has done little of note to make me aware of her.