Week 17 - ITF (W60) Charlottesville, USA Clay

Barefoot · Lower Club Player

RE: Week 17 - ITF (W60) Charlottesville, USA Clay

Samson · Lower Club Player

When was the last time Katie B had to play 6 matches in a row? Surely that would take a lot out of anyone, especially if you havent had to do that kind of run for a while. I hope it isnt anything too serious and its just the increased match time that has caught up to her this week.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Maybe Katie is trying to be careful to build her match fitness steadily and had already got further than she expected in this tournament.

indiana · Tennis legend

The look of that first set scoring is that it was more just what took place during that set. At best her matches suddenly catching up with her. If in fact injury related I do hope it is fairly minor.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Poor Katie - things were going so well for her this week. I was watching the snooker, so didn't catch the match, but there was no hint of injury on her previous match. Like others have said, she has played quite a few matches back to back - fingers crossed she gets back soon. I would still give her a wildcard for Wimbledon, because when fit, she is good enough to be on the top 100 - on the other hand, 'when fit' seems to still be the major issue for her.

flamingowings · All-time great

Andy Parker wrote:
Poor Katie - things were going so well for her this week. I was watching the snooker, so didn't catch the match, but there was no hint of injury on her previous match. Like others have said, she has played quite a few matches back to back - fingers crossed she gets back soon. I would still give her a wildcard for Wimbledon, because when fit, she is good enough to be on the top 100 - on the other hand, 'when fit' seems to still be the major issue for her.

No point in giving her a qWC if she can't play several matches in a row.

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

Katie retired due to a right arm injury that been bothering her all week according to a local press report

emmsie69 · Top national player

Samson wrote:
When was the last time Katie B had to play 6 matches in a row? Surely that would take a lot out of anyone, especially if you havent had to do that kind of run for a while. I hope it isnt anything too serious and its just the increased match time that has caught up to her this week.

She played back to back tournaments in Sharm end of October and guess what, in the 1st round of the 2nd week (6th match) she retired. She has had 3 retirements or W/O in her last 10 tournaments.

To clarify, I'm not having a go at the players, with all the women having issues with recurrent injuries I'm pointing the finger firmly at the LTA. Something is wrong with the training/physio for this to be such a constant issue with so many of our players.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
Samson wrote:
When was the last time Katie B had to play 6 matches in a row? Surely that would take a lot out of anyone, especially if you havent had to do that kind of run for a while. I hope it isnt anything too serious and its just the increased match time that has caught up to her this week.
She played back to back tournaments in Sharm end of October and guess what, in the 1st round of the 2nd week (6th match) she retired. She has had 3 retirements or W/O in her last 10 tournaments.
To clarify, I'm not having a go at the players, with all the women having issues with recurrent injuries I'm pointing the finger firmly at the LTA. Something is wrong with the training/physio for this to be such a constant issue with so many of our players.

but...and i dont know... is it the lta or do the players at this level have their own coaches and look after their own fitness? Ie is the lta responsible for a Katie b or a harriet d, or a Katie s?

they may be, I dont know, but Id have thought there was some personal responsibility here as a pro?

emmsie69 · Top national player

JonH comes home wrote:
emmsie69 wrote:
Samson wrote:
When was the last time Katie B had to play 6 matches in a row? Surely that would take a lot out of anyone, especially if you havent had to do that kind of run for a while. I hope it isnt anything too serious and its just the increased match time that has caught up to her this week.
She played back to back tournaments in Sharm end of October and guess what, in the 1st round of the 2nd week (6th match) she retired. She has had 3 retirements or W/O in her last 10 tournaments.
To clarify, I'm not having a go at the players, with all the women having issues with recurrent injuries I'm pointing the finger firmly at the LTA. Something is wrong with the training/physio for this to be such a constant issue with so many of our players.
but...and i dont know... is it the lta or do the players at this level have their own coaches and look after their own fitness? Ie is the lta responsible for a Katie b or a harriet d, or a Katie s?

they may be, I dont know, but Id have thought there was some personal responsibility here as a pro?

I thin it was Heather that spoke about the work being done within the LTA re the female athletes menstruation cycles and the impact it has on the body, so I'm pretty confident that there is some overseeing done.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49426349

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/48243310

ETA Doesn't look like it was Heather maybe it's something the LTA aren't doing behind the scenes and should be. I know from running that there is a point in my cycle when my knees feel 'loose' not as stable as usual. I also had a lot of knee problems going through puberty that have resurfaced during menopause.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 07:28:07 AM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Liu ended up taking the title here, winning a very streaky match 4-1 RET in the decider, to take her biggest title to date. She fell from 137 in Jan 2019 to 400 odd in Sept of that year, so seems to be getting back on track.

HarryGem · Club Coach

emmsie69 wrote:
Samson wrote:
When was the last time Katie B had to play 6 matches in a row? Surely that would take a lot out of anyone, especially if you havent had to do that kind of run for a while. I hope it isnt anything too serious and its just the increased match time that has caught up to her this week.
She played back to back tournaments in Sharm end of October and guess what, in the 1st round of the 2nd week (6th match) she retired. She has had 3 retirements or W/O in her last 10 tournaments.
To clarify, I'm not having a go at the players, with all the women having issues with recurrent injuries I'm pointing the finger firmly at the LTA. Something is wrong with the training/physio for this to be such a constant issue with so many of our players.

I agree though I do think players at the pro level should be able to maintain fitness etc on their own. However, I've long questioned the overall fitness, both physical and mental, of the British women players in general.

I'm not sure how much of a role the LTA has in it at an individual level if any. Perhaps someone better informed than I am would be able to say.

I have to question though why on earth Katie B is planning on playing another tournament just a few days after withdrawing from another. Is this the best way to manage her injuries and fitness? Obviously you would hope she is being properly advised and monitored but of the injury was bad enough to withdraw how quickly will it heal properly playing again so soon?

HarryGem · Club Coach

flamingowings wrote:
Andy Parker wrote:
Poor Katie - things were going so well for her this week. I was watching the snooker, so didn't catch the match, but there was no hint of injury on her previous match. Like others have said, she has played quite a few matches back to back - fingers crossed she gets back soon. I would still give her a wildcard for Wimbledon, because when fit, she is good enough to be on the top 100 - on the other hand, 'when fit' seems to still be the major issue for her.
No point in giving her a qWC if she can't play several matches in a row.

Completely agree. Utter waste of a wildcard and not fair to other players who may benefit. Right now I wouldn't give a single Wimbledon wildcard to any British woman player. They need to start earning them a bit more. They have chances in the next few weeks to change this.

SuperT · Futures level

HarryGem wrote:
flamingowings wrote:
Andy Parker wrote:
Poor Katie - things were going so well for her this week. I was watching the snooker, so didn't catch the match, but there was no hint of injury on her previous match. Like others have said, she has played quite a few matches back to back - fingers crossed she gets back soon. I would still give her a wildcard for Wimbledon, because when fit, she is good enough to be on the top 100 - on the other hand, 'when fit' seems to still be the major issue for her.
No point in giving her a qWC if she can't play several matches in a row.
Completely agree. Utter waste of a wildcard and not fair to other players who may benefit. Right now I wouldn't give a single Wimbledon wildcard to any British woman player. They need to start earning them a bit more. They have chances in the next few weeks to change this.

Not even Fran?

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

HarryGem wrote:

I have to question though why on earth Katie B is planning on playing another tournament just a few days after withdrawing from another. Is this the best way to manage her injuries and fitness? Obviously you would hope she is being properly advised and monitored but of the injury was bad enough to withdraw how quickly will it heal properly playing again so soon?

She may have pulled out. We won't know until the draw comes out.