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

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

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

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

She's played 6 ITF events since the tour restarted, all at W15 level (the lowest), all between Nov and Feb, so recent, and this is how she got on:

1) - qualified, lost in R1
2) - lost in Q1
3) - lost in R1
4) - lost in Q1
5) - lost in Q2
6) - lost in FQR

www.tennisexplorer.com/player/maloney-c7ea5/

So that's 6 recent ITF events where she's scoring a grand total of 1 point. She has clearly done a lot better since week 1 where she lost 5 of her 7 matches, and she may not have been the most confident in that period, but half of her wins in the past couple of events have been against the likes of Annali (2), Kim, Tiana, (this version of) Tanysha etc. where you can't really take anything from them, given the opposition level. She has picked up a few good wins recently, Freya (although 'this version of' may apply there, unfortunately), Beth, and Emily, most on MTBs, and she is clearly an admirable battler and fighter, but based on that, and baring in mind she will be back at the lowest echelons of the tour when she does go back to it, I personally think it's too early to say where she can go, but it would be great if she could push her ranking on.

She has lost to Emily twice since week 1, both 3-6 3-6 in the same event, and perception-wise, is still a 9/4 underdog today despite that recent MTB win.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Yeah, some of mine and CDs points crossed there, but ultimately, the level of competition in these UK Pro events isn't great overall, some matches really are completely pointless. It would be better if you reduced the field to 4 or 5 per groups, but got rid of some of the numbers makers, have a rest day or two, which would probably reduce the retirements and walkovers as well, and would just be better generally.

To get an average 5 points from each ITF event going forward would require her to qualify (if needed) and get to the SF, and F most weeks, and she's been a long way off that in her 6 most recent events.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Good feedback ! Ill calm down my excitement !

emmsie69 · Top national player

Ace Ventura wrote:
Yeah, some of mine and CDs points crossed there, but ultimately, the level of competition in these UK Pro events isn't great overall, some matches really are completely pointless. It would be better if you reduced the field to 4 or 5 per groups, but got rid of some of the numbers makers, have a rest day or two, which would probably reduce the retirements and walkovers as well, and would just be better generally.

To get an average 5 points from each ITF event going forward would require her to qualify (if needed) and get to the SF, and F most weeks, and she's been a long way off that in her 6 most recent events.

The problem with some of what you suggest is that it doesn't prepare for a tournament. To get through a 15k you have to be able to play everyday and I assumed this is what these events aim to do Also I know a few people want to see more 15k in this country but the fact is even if we did have them here, players from other countries would see it as easy points as practically all these players would fall at the 1st round, therefore these tournaments restricted to Brits are financially better for the players. They don't get points but I can't see most of these women getting points anyway.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Seems like Kim v Tiana has been cancelled

Don't know if there's a replacement match

Christine · Intermediate Club Player

No live stream for the final?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Christine wrote:
No live stream for the final?

If you click on court 2 option it seems to offer you a stream for either court from what I could see?

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
Yeah, some of mine and CDs points crossed there, but ultimately, the level of competition in these UK Pro events isn't great overall, some matches really are completely pointless. It would be better if you reduced the field to 4 or 5 per groups, but got rid of some of the numbers makers, have a rest day or two, which would probably reduce the retirements and walkovers as well, and would just be better generally.

To get an average 5 points from each ITF event going forward would require her to qualify (if needed) and get to the SF, and F most weeks, and she's been a long way off that in her 6 most recent events.
The problem with some of what you suggest is that it doesn't prepare for a tournament. To get through a 15k you have to be able to play everyday and I assumed this is what these events aim to do Also I know a few people want to see more 15k in this country but the fact is even if we did have them here, players from other countries would see it as easy points as practically all these players would fall at the 1st round, therefore these tournaments restricted to Brits are financially better for the players. They don't get points but I can't see most of these women getting points anyway.

But playing 7 matches in 7 days is pretty rare in ITF events. Unless you're coming back from a layoff, or a talent, then if you enter quals, it's pretty tough going to make the latter stages, and if you're entering in R1, then a Tuesday start and 5 matches in 6 days, or even 5 in 5, if starting on Wed isn't as bad, and in most cases, if you make the SF, and thus only play 4 matches through the week, then that's usually good going.

I'd say the tough schedule is more to do with extracting as much information from matches as they can for the stats companies who put up the money, plus more betting markets, even if a lot of the matches are pointless 1/50, 1/100 types, and even if you're on and off the court within 50 mins, you still have to prepare, physically and mentally, warm up and recover.

It just does nothing for tournament. If someone like say Eliz needed 2 points from the final match of the week to finish either 1st or 2nd, and it was against some of the weaker names already mentioned, then there's absolutely no suspense or tension whatsoever, and it really is just a case of if the weaker player can nick a game or two. It does spoil the event from my POV, but then I guess there's not enough players in this country to put a field together where most matches would at least be somewhat competitive.

I still think the event would improve if you played 5 or 6 matches in 7 days, instead of 7, which would more reflect ITF/WTA events, and get rid of the mismatches, and offer more WCs as a way to improve the field, if necessary.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Christine wrote:
No live stream for the final?

I think when it's exclusively on BT Sport's main channels, as opposed to the red button, then there's no streams for non subscribers. I'm watching the Newcastle match on the TV, unfortunately, but watching the tennis on the BT Sport website isn't as good as you can't rewind the streams back, or pause etc. I turned in late, but can't see how the games went unless I check an external source, whereas normally you can just rewind a YouTube stream to where you want.

Eliz has just taken the first set 6-4.

Edit - wow, that's a surprise 6 mins, the football has suddenly got a little more enjoyable out of absolutely nowhere.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Sunday 11th of April 2021 12:25:53 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

Missed most of the above conversation as I had to go out, and missed the first set too. I generally agree with you all, but still think she is under-ranked and needs to perform like this on tour.

I see from the statistics that Emily only won 6 receiving points out of 24, whilst Eliz won 28 out of 57. So Eliz's serve can't be that weak, unless Emily is way off the form she was in earlier this year.

Spireman · Club Coach

Ace Ventura wrote:
emmsie69 wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
Yeah, some of mine and CDs points crossed there, but ultimately, the level of competition in these UK Pro events isn't great overall, some matches really are completely pointless. It would be better if you reduced the field to 4 or 5 per groups, but got rid of some of the numbers makers, have a rest day or two, which would probably reduce the retirements and walkovers as well, and would just be better generally.

To get an average 5 points from each ITF event going forward would require her to qualify (if needed) and get to the SF, and F most weeks, and she's been a long way off that in her 6 most recent events.
The problem with some of what you suggest is that it doesn't prepare for a tournament. To get through a 15k you have to be able to play everyday and I assumed this is what these events aim to do Also I know a few people want to see more 15k in this country but the fact is even if we did have them here, players from other countries would see it as easy points as practically all these players would fall at the 1st round, therefore these tournaments restricted to Brits are financially better for the players. They don't get points but I can't see most of these women getting points anyway.
But playing 7 matches in 7 days is pretty rare in ITF events. Unless you're coming back from a layoff, or a talent, then if you enter quals, it's pretty tough going to make the latter stages, and if you're entering in R1, then a Tuesday start and 5 matches in 6 days, or even 5 in 5, if starting on Wed isn't as bad, and in most cases, if you make the SF, and thus only play 4 matches through the week, then that's usually good going.
I'd say the tough schedule is more to do with extracting as much information from matches as they can for the stats companies who put up the money, plus more betting markets, even if a lot of the matches are pointless 1/50, 1/100 types, and even if you're on and off the court within 50 mins, you still have to prepare, physically and mentally, warm up and recover.
It just does nothing for tournament. If someone like say Eliz needed 2 points from the final match of the week to finish either 1st or 2nd, and it was against some of the weaker names already mentioned, then there's absolutely no suspense or tension whatsoever, and it really is just a case of if the weaker player can nick a game or two. It does spoil the event from my POV, but then I guess there's not enough players in this country to put a field together where most matches would at least be somewhat competitive.
I still think the event would improve if you played 5 or 6 matches in 7 days, instead of 7, which would more reflect ITF/WTA events, and get rid of the mismatches, and offer more WCs as a way to improve the field, if necessary.

If you only had 4 or 5 in a group and then got withdrawals the number of matches may be a bit low for the sponsors. There are stronger players they could get who wouldn't be losing 0 and 0 or even 1 and 1 to the likes of Nadia and others. But it is more difficult now than last summer because as well as all the american uni players being away, the covid restrictions mean other players have really only just got back to training and there are restrictions on accommodation to factor in. Also I seem to remember last year the sponsors, if its linked to betting, put restrictions on under 18s playing as well. It's different to itf and lta definition of a junior which includes all 2003 born or later, so this pro series I expect can include jan 2003 to current date 2003 born, eg kylie, but those still 17 or younger are restricted (millie bissett, may 2003, I think is only one involved so far?)

And, of course, there are now 15k tournaments taking place which take out some possible players.

-- Edited by Spireman on Sunday 11th of April 2021 12:39:25 PM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

That is a fair point about the withdrawals Spireman - if you had a generally well matched field (with less players) then there's less chance that an equally capable candidate will be waiting in the wings, and if there was a withdrawal, there could either be less matches as we have seen in the past day or two (which could have sponsor implications as you say), or more unfair to some of the group that a player is getting a likely mismatch substitute, as opposed to a competitive match.

And yeah, they are a bit restricted with the pool of players, for a variety of reasons, as you mention, but even the likes of Jizel (apparently had to set off at 2.30am the other day), who is 20 (so no age restrictions), has proven that she is a better addition than some of the bottom end, so should have really been there in the first place. There'll likely be others up and down the country, a bit like Laura D last year, who could come in and be more capable than some we have seen.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Eliz on the verge of the win here in 2 sets !

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Yeah, fair play to Eliz, 6-4 6-3. I was obviously more distracted for the majority of the match, but did see the closing stages. A couple of brave attempts by Emily on MP down, but couldn't fend them all off.

Interesting, and somewhat fitting, that again, the player to go on to win the event has won all 7 matches during the week.