Week 14 - UKPro League - Week 3, Loughborough (Indoor Hard)

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Week 14 - UKPro League - Week 3, Loughborough (Indoor Hard)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

So, we've lost Beth and Kylie, and got Millie and Sonay?

That doesn't seem too bad, in terms of quality. (Beth is obviously far higher ranked than any of the others and we're net down in terms of WTA points, but in terms of absolute tennis quality, I'd reckon we're not far off flat).

And - for general interest (although not knocking the slightly older ones trying to earn a living !) - at least we've got youngsters as replacements.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Yes, I fully agree CD. Beth was always going to be away this week, and there are others I'd rather have lost before Kylie, but for me, the two replacements does make it more of an interesting field. Sonay and Millie have been two names brought up in previous edition threads as those who could boost the line up, so great that they are both here this week.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Eliz 6-3 6-2 over Millie, so possibly one foot in the SFs already, especially with it being straight sets.

Bagel · Lower Club Player

Ace Ventura wrote:
sliced backhand wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
I think they look pretty well matched in terms of group strength, which isn't always a case in these events. Good that they have split some of them up this week.
Sorry but I really don't agree. Second group looks way stronger imho
1- Appleton significantly better than Christie
2- Maloney better than Gillan
3-Bissett better than Kartal
4- Nicholls significantly better than Daley
6-Olivelle slightly better than Mpukusa
Only win for first group is Rawson slightly better than Dissanayake.
All about opinions I guess, but what's your 1, 2, 3 criteria out of curiosity? How you would personally rank them within their group (or is it how they are actually officially ranked in the group)? Sonay won one of these events last year, and also won a British Tour title (beating Emily Ap in the final, even if Emily is better this year) and went 18-6 on the GB scene in 2020 (defeats included Harriet and Eden), so I'd personally say she was better than Amelia B (at the moment).
It's kind of like splitting hairs with some towards the far bottom end, but if I was ranking the more top end, I'd say something like:
Emily, Sonay, Freya, Eliz, Amelia, Alice, Nadia, Olivia
So in my opinion, you've got 1, 4, 5, 8 in one group, 2, 3, 6, 7 in another, which is pretty even. It will be Sonay's first event of the year, so there could be questions regarding her fitness, and where she is at, but if she shows a similar level to last season, then she'll be one of the better players in the field IMO.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Sunday 4th of April 2021 10:14:22 PM

Guess last night I would have gone Emily, Freya, Eliz, Alice, Amelie, Sonay, Olivia. Danielle. Must admit to having forgotten Sonay's good run last year so now would move her up to 4.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I can see that at your top end. Freya really should be number 2, and I was going to actually say in brackets after her name 'should be number 2, but...'.

I'd personally still put Sonay ahead of Eliz, given she won those 2 big events last year, and beat Eliz, as the pre match betting favourite, so no shock 'upset' if you like (www.betexplorer.com/tennis/exhibition-women/uk-pro-series-4/maloney-eliz-kartal-sonay/f9zotifk/), plus Eliz's stock may have gone down a little bit with her modest W15 performances at the start of the year, and wasn't particularly great in week 1 here, losing 5 of her 7 matches across the week, but she did obviously have a very good week last time out, and that will stick out more in minds, so I could see why people would have her 3rd, but even in your new revised scenario, you would then have 3 of your top 5 in the supposed weaker group.

Quite surprised you would have Danielle over Nadia though. They have played 4 times since July 30th, Nadia won all 4 matches, hasn't dropped a set (3 of them were 6-3 6-3), and was the pre match favourite in every match, although they will obviously get another go in the group stage this week.

the addict · Tennis legend

Early results

Eliz Maloney def Amelia Bissett 6-3 6-2
Emily Appleton def Olivia Nicholls 6-2 retired
Tanysha Dissanayake v Annali Olivelle 6-1 6-3

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Just watching that stream back, and sounds like illness for Olivia. Hopefully she will be OK for the rest of the week.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I'm tempted to go back and edit everything that I have posted in the past 24 hours biggrin

Danielle 6-2 over Sonay in the first set. The bookies clearly don't rate DD, as CD has noticed in recent weeks, but Bet365 had this 1/25 vs 8/1, and 10bet had Sonay 1/50 to win.

the addict · Tennis legend

Alice Gillan def Nadia Rawson 6-0 6-2
Freya Christie def Kimberly Mpukusa 6-2 6-1

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Better set from Sonay, she's improving, and a lot more errors from Danielle, 6-1, but the lottery of the MTB. Think Danieele will be more pleased with the format in this instance. She's just gone off for a break.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Danielle badly missed a drive volley with an open court after a brilliantly aggressive point early in the MTB which would have recovered an early mini break, and fell away after that. But a good effort.

the addict · Tennis legend

Sonay Kartal def Danielle Daley 2-6 6-1 10-5

Yes, Dani was pretty aggressive in the MTB,and should have won a few more points. She certainly seems to be improving since week one, even if the results aren't quite coming yet.
Sonay looking solid and steady, have to see how she gets on againt Nadia tomorrow.

I'll post the order of play shortly - the format on the website isn't the friendliest to copy and paste

the addict · Tennis legend

ORDER OF PLAY
Tuesday 6th April

Women Pool A
Alice Gillan v Kimberly Mpukusa
Freya Christie v Danielle Daley
Sonay Kartal v Nadia Rawson

Women Pool B
Emily Appleton v Eliz Maloney
Tanysha Dissanayake v Olivia Nicholls
Amelia Bissett v Annali Olivelle

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Ace Ventura wrote:
I'm tempted to go back and edit everything that I have posted in the past 24 hours
Danielle 6-2 over Sonay in the first set. The bookies clearly don't rate DD, as CD has noticed in recent weeks, but Bet365 had this 1/25 vs 8/1, and 10bet had Sonay 1/50 to win.

Yeah. Bizarre. I had 10p on Dani - the odds were SO wide.

Didn't see any of the match and am glad, overall, that Sonay won but I hope Dani gets some wins this week - she deserves it