There were plenty who were always going to struggle, and all the massive outsiders lost as expected, but great to see Isabelle, Emma, and even Nadia come through with good wins against seeds. Hep vs Emily was close odds-wise, and ended with a tight MTB, but obviously Brit vs Brit, someone progresses, someone crashes out, a Hep win is probably more exciting, but Emily probably needs it more etc.

I guess the only slight disappointment in the realistic contention category was Marni, maybe Danielle as well, although she would have probably found it tough in the FQR, but I'm happy that we are definitely going to have either Emma W or Anna B in the main draw, as well as either Jasmine or Isabelle (I keep thinking her first name is Lacey for some reason). Nadia will probably find it tough, but would be a fab return if Hep could join the other two in the main draw.

 

Coup Droit wrote:

---

Yes, a little bit of me is sad that both Marni and Dani got pipped at the post....

But that seems churlish considering that
Emma beat a player ranked 660 or so,
young Isabelle took out a player ranked 582 (!!!),
even younger Hep beat a player ranked 850....

It's a pretty good show !!!

---

 It's great that they're all pushing each other on. I know they're from different years but it must be encouraging to see your peers doing so well, like Talia last week. 

Hopefully it will inspire the LTA to keep offering more tournaments as it definitely gives the youngsters the chance to play adult players, where they may not yet feel ready to travel overseas to do so. 

Really nice point from Hep, driving KS from side to side, before finishing with a subtle angle near the net, to save bp.

She saves another bp with a decent first serve followed by aggressive forehand.

Turning out to be a long service game. Several game points have come and gone. KS with another bp. Hep whacks a ball into the curtain behind the court after eventually getting broken. 1-2*

Hep breaks back immediately, assisted by several errors from KS straight after her serve, good point from Hep to break. 2-2

Good wide serve then backhand winner from Hep for 30-30 after a crazy previous point, KS rushes to the net to put away a drive volley to earn bp, saved by good play from Hep. Another bp after HO dumps a backhand into the net immediately after her serve, then is broken after she does the same with a forehand. 2-3*

KS holds from 0-30, taking four points in a row. *2-4

These two don't seem to miss their first groundstroke long or wide, it either goes near the top of the net or more often, about half-way up the net. Hep broken again. No idea what happened as my stream was jumping around, missing the actual points. 2-5*

KS wild forehand error wide to get broken *3-5

Hep good service game holds to love, great defence from her in one of the points, 4-5*

Another crazy rally, HO coming out on top for 0-30, followed by one of the worst returns you'll see, sliced into the bottom of the net where it touches the ground, Hep with a forehand drive volley winner to break for 5-5

I appreciate Hep only bouncing the ball 3 times before serving, if only more players did likewise. Hep with a forehand pass winner for 30-30. KS with a forehand drive volley winner for bp, which apparently was saved, Hep forehand wide after a net cord, bp saved with an angled first serve. Now a rare forehand wide from HO for bp. KS with a super backhand down the line then approaches the net to strike a drive volley for the break 5-6*

Hep has the chance to pass down the line but her forehand is just wide. Then another crazy rally ending with Hep unable to get her passing shot over the net, another backhand into the net for 40-0 and it's over 5-7

Generally impressed by Hep. She looked very good at times but her level fluctuated a lot, as did KS's. 

-- Edited by kundalini on Monday 14th of February 2022 03:30:09 PM

I didn't see any of that match. But Hep's score is decent, against a top-1000 player. She lost 4-6 5-7. But got some experience, strung two matches together of a similar ilk. Obviously dug deep and fought well on both occasions.

Hope to watch a bit of Isabelle and Jasmine now (and hoping Nadia can make herself difficult to beat, in nothing else)

Nadia has taken the circa 500 top seed to a MTB, and up an early break. The Czech recently made a W25 SF from quals, with a few good victories en route. Fingers crossed.

Isabelle and Jasmine into a TB.

What a cracker !!!

Little Nadia does exactly what she had to do - battling, using her inside out forehand, distributing well, giving her opponent slightly less pace than she's used to.

Watched most of the second set and all the tie-break

Excellent ! Really pleased for her

Is that Nadia's third counter?