Week 17 - UKPro League - Week 4, Loughborough (Indoor Hard)

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Week 17 - UKPro League - Week 4, Loughborough (Indoor Hard)

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Ace Ventura wrote:
To be honest Jon, I was very much the same for weeks 1 and 2, mainly just checking scores (and pre match odds). Watched a bit more of week 3, but I have watched a fair bit of this week, especially in the mornings as I tend to start work (still from home) a little later at the moment. I guess it also helps this week that there have been no WTA matches on Amazon, as the Madrid main draw hasn't started yet.

I have BT Sport, but still just tend to watch more on YouTube, and the views are never great, you're talking like 30-50 at a given time, which seems really disappointing. For an event that's been on for nearly a year, and regularly retweeted by Lee's Telly account (thus reaching a large UK tennis audience), they don't have too much social media activity. I don't know how it measures up relatively to what they were expecting / hoping, but to me, it certainly doesn't seem to have captured the imagination.

Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of US company putting up the money behind the scenes? Pretty sure it wouldn't be commercially viable otherwise.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

dodrade wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
To be honest Jon, I was very much the same for weeks 1 and 2, mainly just checking scores (and pre match odds). Watched a bit more of week 3, but I have watched a fair bit of this week, especially in the mornings as I tend to start work (still from home) a little later at the moment. I guess it also helps this week that there have been no WTA matches on Amazon, as the Madrid main draw hasn't started yet.

I have BT Sport, but still just tend to watch more on YouTube, and the views are never great, you're talking like 30-50 at a given time, which seems really disappointing. For an event that's been on for nearly a year, and regularly retweeted by Lee's Telly account (thus reaching a large UK tennis audience), they don't have too much social media activity. I don't know how it measures up relatively to what they were expecting / hoping, but to me, it certainly doesn't seem to have captured the imagination.
Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of US company putting up the money behind the scenes? Pretty sure it wouldn't be commercially viable otherwise.

I think so. I think it was some kind of US data / stats company involved, or that might have been the BOTB, but they certainly need it from somewhere as there is very generous prize money on offer for the typical calibre of player.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Katarina won 7-6(6) 7-5 in around 2 hrs 30 mins (can't see an official time, but going off when the match started), so is now in a great position to qualify, despite playing one match fewer. Shame for Freya going that long, and not even taking a point - she'll need some big wins in her final 2 to have a chance, especially after dropping that set to Jizel yesterday.

Enjoyed that match.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Ace Ventura wrote:
dodrade wrote:
Ace Ventura wrote:
To be honest Jon, I was very much the same for weeks 1 and 2, mainly just checking scores (and pre match odds). Watched a bit more of week 3, but I have watched a fair bit of this week, especially in the mornings as I tend to start work (still from home) a little later at the moment. I guess it also helps this week that there have been no WTA matches on Amazon, as the Madrid main draw hasn't started yet.

I have BT Sport, but still just tend to watch more on YouTube, and the views are never great, you're talking like 30-50 at a given time, which seems really disappointing. For an event that's been on for nearly a year, and regularly retweeted by Lee's Telly account (thus reaching a large UK tennis audience), they don't have too much social media activity. I don't know how it measures up relatively to what they were expecting / hoping, but to me, it certainly doesn't seem to have captured the imagination.
Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of US company putting up the money behind the scenes? Pretty sure it wouldn't be commercially viable otherwise.
I think so. I think it was some kind of US data / stats company involved, or that might have been the BOTB, but they certainly need it from somewhere as there is very generous prize money on offer for the typical calibre of player.

Isn't that why there are so many matches compared to a typical ITF tournament? (BOTB also had a very crowded schedule). Still not sure why they would be so interested in lower ranked British tennis players though.

-- Edited by dodrade on Wednesday 28th of April 2021 11:53:09 AM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I was just looking at Bet365 odds and Sofia Johnson has come in for Lissey, and Abigail J confirmed that pretty much simultaneously during this Emily match. I've mentioned her a few times this series as someone who would be a decent addition, so while sorry for Lissey, I will be interested to see how she gets on. Should be on Court 1 as well, probably.

the addict · Tennis legend

I see Sofia won her match 1 & 1. Probably not the best match to be on the main court !

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

No, it probably was a bit more competitive than the score suggested, but never in doubt. Angelina is pretty fiery - she got a warning late on.

Emily Ap back on co-comms duty for that match, but it wasn't on BT Sport, and only had the one fixed (Court 2 style) camera for some reason.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Wednesday 28th of April 2021 05:23:33 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

Reslts - Wednesday 28th April

Womens Pool A

Eliz Maloney def Alice Gillan 3-6 6-1 10-5
Katarina Stresnakova def Freya Christie 7-6(6) 7-5
Katherine Barnes def Jizel Fernandes 7-5 6-2

Womens Pool B
Emily Appleton def Nadia Rawson 6-1 6-0
Sofia Johnson def Angelina Graovac 6-1 6-1
Emma Wilson def Danielle Daley 6-4 6-2

the addict · Tennis legend

Weds Womens Table.JPG

-- Edited by the addict on Wednesday 28th of April 2021 08:37:55 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

ORDER OF PLAY
Thursday 29th April

Womens Pool A
Court 1 - Not before 12:30
Alice Gillan v Freya Christie

Court 1 - Not before 15:30
Eliz Maloney v Jizel Fernandes

Court 2 - Not before 15:30
Katarina Stresnakova v Katherine Barnes

Womens Pool B
Court 1 - 10:00
Sofia Johnson v Emily Appleton

Court 2 - 10:00
Emma Wilson v Angelina Graovac

Court 2 - Not before 12:30
Nadia Rawson v Danielle Daley

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Sofia finding it very tough today, not on the board yet. She got 5 games in one set last September when she last faced Emily at the British Tour. Emily is obviously playing better this year, but then Sofia, still 16, is 7 months on in her development, so disappointing that it looks like she'll be double bageled.

Emma just as comfortable against Angelina (who has just had an MTO), and looks pretty good for a top 2 finish.

The other group is where it's generally a bit more interesting with 3 or 4 with genuine top 2 hopes. I forgot that Eliz played Millie (Katarina), so that should mean Katarina has Katherine and Jizel in her final 2 matches, and not Eliz, and thus, should be pretty likely to claim one of those spots. Freya still has to play Eliz and Alice.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Thursday 29th of April 2021 09:54:26 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Sofia is young, as you say.

But she's had pretty awful junior results this year - she's played quite a few events, mainly at J5 level, and lost in the first or second round. It's true that, paradoxically, she had a slightly better run in the J3, but for a 16 year-old, not getting past the first or second round in a J5, doesn't bode well for being able to play adult tennis here. (And the little but I saw yesterday was about that level).

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Emily 6-0 6-0

Emma 6-1 6-2. I don't think Angelina is particularly enjoying her UKPL experience thus far. A couple of MTOs here, a warning yesterday, complained on MP today, and no racket tap at the end.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Sofia is young, as you say.

But she's had pretty awful junior results this year - she's played quite a few events, mainly at J5 level, and lost in the first or second round. It's true that, paradoxically, she had a slightly better run in the J3, but for a 16 year-old, not getting past the first or second round in a J5, doesn't bode well for being able to play adult tennis here. (And the little but I saw yesterday was about that level).

I did notice some those Jr results in passing, but she was competitive in her streamed BT defeats last year - 5-7 4-6 vs Millie, 4-6 4-6 vs Emma W, 5-7 1-6 vs Emily Ap, 3-6 4-6 vs Eliz etc.

I wasn't expecting her to be a contender or anything, but I was kind of hoping she would have those type of results if she did end up playing here, i.e. beat the no hopers, and at least push the top 3 in a given group, but she's basically got the result I was hoping would be eliminated by championing her to play in the first place biggrin