Katie always had the class to win this, it was just a question of whether lack of match play would be too much to overcome. Luckily she nabbed that 2nd set and settled.

The only thing I do think is though that it does bring into question whether she should have had a wildcard into the main draw and not had to go through this. If she succumbs to Rodionova tomorrow, it will look increasingly like a poor decision. Rodionova is a decent player, but I do fancy Katie S to win and qualify.

I know Katie S hasn't been playing for a while, but even so...

The reason I particularly question her not getting a wildcard into the main draw was that both Sam and Jodie got main draw wildcards. No disrespect meant to Sam, but she is very much in the autumn of her career and has hardly been playing at all, and I fully expect her to retire either after the tournament, or in the next year or so. Jodie is a good player, but not in the class of Katie S and is on a serious losing streak at the moment - all in all it looks harsh that Katie S didn't get a main draw wildcard, when Sam and Jodie did. On the other hand, I suppose if she does qualify, she will go into the tournament on a fine run of form and full of confidence.

Coup Droit wrote:

---

It's a good question, Andy.

But let's say she loses tomorrow (well possible)
And let's say if she'd got a MD wildcard, she lost too (far more likely)

Wouldn't it be better to have two good wins under her belt, to feel she's come through tight matches playing well, than just have a R1 loss and disappointment at Wimbledon mains?

---

Completely agree, CD. Even if Katie loses tomorrow, she walks away with 7-8 sets of good tennis, at least two wins, and full of confidence. Many more positives to take away than losing in the first round at Wimbledon (and possibly even the second round). 

This is a great platform for the rest of the year on hard courts. 

Great to see Katie's wins here and show her form. But I did think het not getting a MD WC was very understandable, rather than a poor ddcision, wirh her absence for a while and being outside an automatic qualifyibg place.

From earlier discussions it seemed to me that the forum was fairly split on her getting a MD WC or Q WC. I find it very difficult to retrospectively change my view from probable Q WC to MD WC ibased on her performances now.

Katie has generally been very well treated by the LTA/AELTC over the years. And while yes an argument was there for a MD WC it was far from very clear.

All the best to her. 30 ranking points so far. Now go make the MD!

When a player hasn't been able to compete in grass court warm up events (especially the shortened season including the loss of the extra ITF event because of the FO) It's impossible for selectors to judge form/assess injuries. I'm happy for her - she's earnt her QWC, she's justified it, she's built confidence and shown that she's a quality player - for the rest of the year, that's way more important. Good luck to her, and whatever the result tomorrow, she should be proud of her achievements and feel good about her tennis.

Andy Parker wrote:

---

Maybe Coup and everyone else is right - she will have gained form, confidence and ranking points from the qualifying wins this week, whereas I suppose if she drew one of the big seeds in the first round, she would have probably gone out and gained little. I suppose as someone who really wants her to do well, I am getting pre-match nerves before the big test she faces against Rodionova.

Rodionova played OK today, but definitely looked beatable, and it was a long match, so relieved that Katie S wasn't the only one having to play for ages out there.

---

 We all are but a competitive Katie over the next few years will be wonderful. Keep the faith, she has every chance of making it through qualifying. I'm pretty certain Rodionova would have rather faced Mcnally