Well given there was some doubt about her playing at all, although the loss is disappointing, at least she played two matches and didn't have to retire injured.

I agree about the lack of depth, as Peter said

To me, I don't understand why she's hitting all her forehands with such topspin and not flattening them out as she used to

If her coach has told her to, he/she's an idiot

As it looks very deliberate

And all this kneeling right down to absorb the pace, even on shots that aren't actually that pacey, is ridiculous - it leaves her very exposed for the next shot as she basically has to get up and then do her 'positioning' jump, before pushing off, and there's no way she's got the time, so she's late

It could obviously be injury related (as in not much practice time) but it doesn't look like directly injury-related for the shots (i.e. there's no reason your movement would be off AND your forehand would be off from the same injury)

It looks to me more coach related - someone's told her to go for more margin over the net (presumably because she was missing some)

It's ruined her return of serve (on the forehand side)

Anyway, who knows....... certainly, if she's still recovering, then let's hope she gets some solid practice time

And gets rid of Jane Donoghue (never rated her) and finds someone who can look at the positives of her game and work on those

Gutted with Emma's loss and overall standard of play. The main take for me was that she just had insufficient internal force or Xi (chi) so the shots that were previously winners for her just didn't make it this time. Of course the wind was a factor I know which I imagine was not a factor at all at the US, but still what used to really impress in her play just isn't there any more. Her energy was relatively dull and so sad to see, Of course could have been time of the month as well, who knows.

nicofrance wrote:

---

Caroline Garcia on grass when shes playing well is a tough proposition so this loss isnt a surprise .

So the draw was a little unkind given who Emma might have got as a second round opponent .

I think the juries out on Emma in terms of consistent results and she really has to get properly fit and see if the hard courts can help bring her level up.

---

Though folks said it was a good draw for the Brits, it wasn't a kind draw for our younger women players. For Miyazaki, Swan, Raducanu to be all cooped up with Zhang, Kostyuk, AvU, and Garcia, wow what a mountain to climb.

When I saw the patty-cake tennis from Centre Court last evening, and then compared that to the energy and flat hitting from the match between Kostyuk vs. Swan earlier in the day, it just seemed like a different competition.

Zhang today against Kostyuk, some ferocious pace in her shots, the youngster just couldn't handle, and Garcia (with the win in Bad Homberg in her pocket) with so much power especially on the backhand.

The draw is really important, to get a toehold in the competition. Last year, Swan battled through qualifying, only to be pitched against the monster serve of Keys.

indiana wrote:

---

Some relatively good grass players there, but not a section that stood out to me as some 'mountain to climb'. To me, it was and remains a perfectly OK section.

Emma is where Emma is at the moment so not able to take advantage. And it wasn't so bad for the WCs Lily and Katie.who played pretty well and found themselves not that far away.

---

 
This x 100. No point turning up to any Slams if youre going to cower trembling under your bed over the likes of Caroline Garcia and Marta Kostyuk.

Jeff Stelling wrote:

---

indiana wrote:

---

Some relatively good grass players there, but not a section that stood out to me as some 'mountain to climb'. To me, it was and remains a perfectly OK section.

Emma is where Emma is at the moment so not able to take advantage. And it wasn't so bad for the WCs Lily and Katie.who played pretty well and found themselves not that far away.

---

 
This x 100. No point turning up to any Slams if youre going to cower trembling under your bed over the likes of Caroline Garcia and Marta Kostyuk.

---

It didn't appear to me that our players were overawed by their opponents, both Miyazaki and Swan showed that their WC's were well deserved. Their matches were considerably more difficult to negotiate, than other matches I've seen this last couple of days, do you not agree? Garcia, dispatched Andreescu in a tight match to win in Germany. Swan had the bottle to play in that competition, and gave Andreescu a good run for her money, after beating Stevens in the previous round.

We'll see how either Zhang and Garcia does as the tournament progresses, I believe they are due to meet in the next round.

-- Edited by foobarbaz on Wednesday 29th of June 2022 06:52:35 PM