Week 23 - WTA 250 - Viking Open, Nottingham (grass)

indiana · Tennis legend

Week 23 - WTA 250 - Viking Open, Nottingham (grass)

PaulM · Tennis legend

Beth recovers from an initial break down to lead 3-2*

PaulM · Tennis legend

Beth serving well and the forehand looking very nice today. Whipping it cross court to do a lot of damage, staying nice and low.

She's up 5-2*

PaulM · Tennis legend

First set Beth 6-3. Pretty comfortable after a tricky start. Em's level isn't great so far to be honest.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Beth saves 3 break points and now looks to be heading home with this one, up 4-2* in the second.

PaulM · Tennis legend

That all got a bit frantic. Beth lost out in a long exchange at 5-3* 30-30 and started to rush. Emily broke back and went up 6-5, Beth looked to have steady the ship at 40-15 only for Em to take the next four points and win the set. Not the best tennis was certainly good drama!

Em leads 2-1* final set.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Em broke to lead 4-1* but Beth seems to be channelling her frustration now and finding some lovely winners. Back on serve.

Beth *3-4

indiana · Tennis legend

A further break apiece ( to 15 and 0 ) then Beth wins her service game, saving a MP on the way, and it's 5-5

PaulM · Tennis legend

Beth did well on that match point, skimmed the baseline then brave putaway the drive volley. She's just broken to 15 and looks strong.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Beth wins 7-5 in the third. Devestated for Em, she was millimetres away on match point but Beth did really well to pick herself up after failing to put away the match in two. I've got a soft spot for her and pleased she's got this opportunity.

the addict · Tennis legend

Well done Beth, that was a close match, and Em's variety caused no end of problems. I must admit also having a soft spot for Beth, as someone I've watched live a number of times over the last five years.

Big hug between the two of them at the end, nice to see.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. Very pleased. Beth has always slightly underperformed, never been high profile, under the radar (and rightly so, given ger results) and yet she's got a nice game, and works hard, and good skills. Upward potential. As you say, paul, lovely that shes earned herself the opportunity.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Big thing about the grass events, in any year, as the Brits get so
Many opportunities for main draw slam, wta or high level itf action, someone could make their season and even career right here. A good week or a few good weeks and it really could be career changing.

Sadly it never seems to happen- I cant recall outside Dino at queens where someone made a real defining statement. Maybe on the womens side.

But it could happen and that makes it fun!

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I am quite pleased with the respective all GB winners going through, and to get Tara through as well is a pretty decent day.

Kung is on a 9 match losing streak, so she might be a decent option for one to draw, Inglis not the worst, and then there is of course that Q vs Q spot, which in this case, I think would be very nice if 2 of our players landed there.

Edit - although I forgot Kung is a fairly recent Wimbledon Jr finalist (losing to Iga), so maybe a change of surface is just what she needs.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Saturday 5th of June 2021 04:38:00 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

I imagine that the French Open being pushed back a week has really signficantly weakened the Nottingham draws, creating more opportunities for the Brits.

We can't often have had 10 in a tour MD. Go girls !