Coup Droit wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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TO be honest, Tessah and the FFT are OK now, I think. And she's not a sob story.
Again, I'm afraid, it's partly the fact that they're from the south (probably way more important than the Madagscan bit).
But they gave her a wildcard and I don't think there's a big issue now
At least, not like Léolia - who gave quite a guarded interview - BUT made it quite clear that she had not forgotten or forgiven.

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 Nonetheless, anyone who makes it from Africa is still a big deal and story these days, sadly. We had a few in the 80's and 90s, post Yannick Noah, when players like Nduka Odizor (Nigeria) and Yaya Doumbia (Senegal), Clement N'Goran (from Cote d'Ivoire) but no women players from Africa (outside of the Arabic nations in the North) so her making it is a big story if she makes it happen!

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 Yes, but Tessah didn't make it from Africa - she was born in Montpellier and came through the French system (well, basically)

And her dad didn't 'make it' from Africa either - he couldn't go pro when he wanted.  

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 ah, ok. Oh well, still v interesting and my Africa point stands in more general terms! 

I think the ATP and WTA should put some money into an official African series of exhibitions of top players - 3 or 4 venues, take 4 men and 4 women players out there and play a series of events to promote the game and interest, put the money into the local infrastructure. But what do I know!

LordBrownof wrote:

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Love these stories, CD. You should be a booker/producer of a tennis podcast!

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 Tx, LordB, and others 

They're just little background tales, in the same way that we know and enjoy little tales about our GB players.

But I hope they give a little colour to proceedings, especially on 'dull' days when there's no GB action  

Wow, the decline is real with poor Ferro. I'm obviously chuffed with the result, but she only won 2 points in the second set and lost 28 of the last 30, and the match only lasted 54 minutes. She looks a shadow of the player who won 2 WTA titles and was quite renowned for being a scrapper.

I was fearing the whole Tsonga situation / atmosphere / environment might have been a factor in the match with this one following it on to Chatrier, but absolutely not.

Take it you found nothing CD? Doesn't look injury related either.

We're getting a lesson in Spanish on Eurosport 1 now with Paula and Alex Corretja 

Julia Carrot wrote:

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Thanks so much for telling Leolias astonishing story CD, I too had not heard of her.

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 Fantastic story. Lovely to have some non-UK players to cheer on as well. Hope she makes it. 

indiana wrote:

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Got there.

And less than a year after playing her first main tour match Emma had now got through at least one MD round of all four Slams. One in particular went especially well 

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I make it that Emma will be one of a dozen players who will have reached at least the singles MD R2 of the last 4 Slams ( or in Emma's case also her first 4 Slams ).

These are Azarenka, Badosa, Cirstea, Collins, Kasatkina, Mertens, Pegula, Radacanu, Rybakina, Sabalenka, Sakkari, Swiatek.

She is currently one of 4 players to have won 12 or more MD matches in these last 4 Slams, with the retired Ash Barty having most wins.

Barty 16 ( 7, 2, 7, 0 )

Sabalenka 14 ( 5, 5, 3, 1 )

Raducanu 12 ( 3, 7, 1, 1 )

Swiatek 12 ( 3, 3, 5, 1 )

indiana wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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Got there.

And less than a year after playing her first main tour match Emma had now got through at least one MD round of all four Slams. One in particular went especially well 

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I make it that Emma will be one of a dozen players who will have reached at least the singles MD R2 of the last 4 Slams ( or in Emma's case also her first 4 Slams ).

These are Azarenka, Badosa, Cirstea, Collins, Kasatkina, Mertens, Pegula, Radacanu, Rybakina, Sabalenka, Sakkari, Swiatek.

She is currently one of 4 players to have won 12 or more MD matches in these last 4 Slams, with the retired Ash Barty having most wins.

Barty 16 ( 7, 2, 7, 0 )

Sabalenka 14 ( 5, 5, 3, 1 )

Raducanu 12 ( 3, 7, 1, 1 )

Swiatek 12 ( 3, 3, 5, 1 )

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Good stats Indy!