Boys & Girls: J5 Wrexham, GB - hard (Week 21)

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Boys & Girls: J5 Wrexham, GB - hard (Week 21)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

To be honest, Helen, they've only got doubles in the afternoon - which is fine if you particularly like doubles, or want to see the most number of faces, or can't go any other time. But morning would be better if possible, I'd say..... However, whenever you make it, enjoy

www.itftennis.com/en/tournament/j5-wrexham/gbr/2022/j-g5-gbr-03a-2022/order-of-play/

paulisi · Tennis legend

Semi final line up
Ben Hudson v Jack Curtis
Mason Dace v Illias Worthington

Mia Wainwight v Erin Pearce
Alessia Popescu (Rom) v Allegra Korpanec Davies

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

In the girls, Erin continues to intrigue me - a name I'd never seen until this year and then clocking up some very nice runs recently.

She's just beaten Mia, in three sets.

And will play Alessia (ROM) in the final

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The boys' final will be:

Ben Hudson (top seed) v (q) Ilias Hirani Worthington

Ilias is completely unranked and has come through qualis - he beat the second seed (Mason Dace) in two sets today

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I went down there today and watched most of the girl's matches.

I really liked Allegra's attacking style and willingness to go for it. It made it more interesting to watch than the base liners. Shame she made so many UEs, and also some poor shot selection. So setting herself up to be in control of the point, getting to the net and either not putting it away, putting it out or trying an overhead dropshot thing, which just gave her opponent too much time to run in for the kill on the bouncy courts.

Erin's game was more circumspect, she went for a loo break after the first set cussing at herself, but obviously was able to reset. She's more of a base liner (as was Mia) and just ground away at it. Both her and Mia had opportunities to come in, but preferred the baseline game. I'm no expert, so I guess I don't really know what the winning factor was for her although I heard her say to her friend afterwards that Mia really tanked it towards the end, but I was more looking at Allegra's game which was on the next court.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I love these reports - many thanks Helen.

And, as you say, good on Allegra - it's difficult to win a lot of points at the net when you're a young junior - you're not very tall, you're arm span is not that wide - you get lobbed, you get passed. But the practice will be very useful when she's older and has grown more.

Thanks again

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

You're welcome CD. You're such a fountain of knowledge, it's nice to be able to contribute too.

I felt that it wasn't Allegra's size that was losing her the points at the net, more the UEs and shot selection. I don't recall her being lobbed or passed alot, more her beating herself once she'd set herself up in a winning position in the point. I guess that my feeling was that it was good for her to go for her shots and 'go get 'em' game style, but that she needs, in time, to get more of a balance of when to take risks and when to play more percentage shots.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I've seen Allegra play. She is talented, but a little inconsistent and her temperament can be questionable at times.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

paulisi wrote:
I've seen Allegra play. She is talented, but a little inconsistent and her temperament can be questionable at times.

That was my take on her too. She was getting angry with herself, but then all four were. Also her groundies were aggressive, but lacked length, so her opponent could easily get them from the baseline.

I'm not sure how old they are, but Allegra is quite small ATM in comparison with the other three.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

So many of the kids seem to basically enjoy getting angry with themselves - interesting that you say all four were the same.
A harsh Spanish coach would have no truck with any of that - I feel a little is normal but it easily becomes self-indulgent.
Allegra is born in 2007, still 14 at the moment.
So there's a lot of difference in adolescence growth at that age - although, of course, her parents might be slightly-built people too.
Inconsistency is not a 'but' though - it's an integral part - a question of footwork, and fitness, and technique etc.
When people say 'she'd be a really good player if only she could cut down the errors', it's no different from saying 'she'd be a really good player if only she were a better player'. Again, it's a shame that not many of your kids play on clay.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

My intrigue for Erin gets deeper as she takes the title

And congrats to Ben Hudson too

Finals:

Erin Pearce def (3) Alessia Popsecu (ROM) 7-5 6-3

(1) Ben Hudson def (q) Ilias Hirani Worthington 2-6 6-4 6-1

Dubs titles go to:

Joe Mazingham & Mason Dace

Jessica Matthews & Alessia Popescu (ROM)