Week 40 - WTA1000 Indian Wells, USA Hard

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Week 40 - WTA1000 Indian Wells, USA Hard

DF · Tennis legend

Heather playing Sloane tonight. It is the second match on the Stadium court so about half past eight.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

At least Heather is on at a decent time for those wanting to watch, but I was looking at the overall schedule today and 7 of the 16 women's matches are NB 6pm local, which is 2am here, whereas on the first Wednesday in 2019, only 1 WTA match was scheduled with NB 6pm local, and the vast majority were bundled on early (1st or 2nd on) as is so often the case with women's matches in these big events, but of the very few times you would actually want that, typically they put half of them at a time when the majority here will be in bed. I wonder if that's a thing going forward this event, or just now that the ATP main draw hasn't officially started (although I assume it also hadn't started on the first Weds in 2019)?

I doubt we'll see Emma much before 2/3am UK for as long as she is in the event, although it would be nice if they did put her R2 match around 11am local, which would be prime time here on Friday night. A potential R3 match with Halep has evening session written all over it though, and rightly so.

Steve J · Lower Club Player

dodrade wrote:
Surprised after everything that's happened how negative people still are about Emma's prospects going forward.

As has already been pointed out, she has yet to play somebody ranked in the top 10.

It will be interesting to see how she gets on against Halep, Kvitova and Svitolina if she ends up playing them.

the addict · Tennis legend

Doubles - a tough one for Heather - might have to settle for the 10 points and $16,870 (per pair) !!

R1 (L32):- Alexa Guarachi (CHI) / Desirae Krawczyk (USA) CR29 (12+17) [4] v Heather Watson (GBR) / Saisai Zheng (CHN) CR 167 (113+54) [SR]

Peter too · Tennis legend

Emma does seem to be a momentum player. Looking back to her results post Wimbledon:-
Lots of hype going into the WTA500 at San Jose with a WC - lost in R1
Moved down to a W100 at Landisville got though qualifying and retired in the QF
One step up to the WTA125 in Chicago - lost in the F.
US Open Qualified and won the F.

If history repeats itself Emma is likely to lose early in this event but do better in her next few events.

indiana · Tennis legend

Pancho P wrote:
dodrade wrote:
Surprised after everything that's happened how negative people still are about Emma's prospects going forward. I don't expect her to win every tournament but I don't see now why she should fear anyone and I don't think she does either.
Good points, maybe its the British caution, ha.

I haven't really seen much at all of what I would call negativity, just an element of caution with to me not unreasonable reasons not to expect too much in the short term at least. I don't know if that's a particularly British caution.

Of course great if she gets on a roll again and even more so if she beats a top 10 player or two.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Heather and Sloane about to start. My money is on Hev.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Couple of nice aces but broken on a double.

0-1*

PaulM · Tennis legend

Stephens went walkabouts letting Heather go up 2-1*. She had a break point, but Sloane strung a few points together to hold.

Another ace to hold from 15-30.

3-2*

PaulM · Tennis legend

Breaks but a couple of weak backhands hand it back.

4-3*

PaulM · Tennis legend

Heather gets very tight at *4-4 sadly. Can't land a first serve and easily broken courtesy of two doubles.

But to her credit she steps up a little and Sloane's confidence also evaporates. Back level.

*5-5

Miriambee · Futures level

The winner will make less errors, very few winning shots.

Pancho P · Lower Club Player

Quite entertaining... but for the wrong reasons !

HarryGem · Club Coach

Heather the better player so far but the quality is terrible. How many unforced errors? Seems like one after another. Sloane looks like she'd rather be anywhere but on the court. Hard to think she won the US Open.