Boys & Girls: J1 Durban, South Africa, hard (Week 31)

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Boys & Girls: J1 Durban, South Africa, hard (Week 31)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes - I was watching a fair bit of that match - as you say, wow and wow again

Heike is 17 and ranked about 100, and 4th seed here

So pleased for Ellie - although I knew her name, of course, I only saw her first time on livestream this year and there's a lot to like (and a lot to improve, which is always quite exciting)

This was a great fought match

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 4th of August 2022 10:28:53 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And a three set win for Ella too

It's a J1 and we have THREE semi-finalists !!!!!!

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

And Ellas just come through 4-6 6-0 6-3.

What a week.

paulisi · Tennis legend

All three are now due ranking improvements.
Ellie should see a huge jump
Hep didn't get any points in the doubles this week, so is still one counter short, so potential to climb even higher.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

She has the potential to climb even higher just on her tennis

Doesn't make much difference whether there's another doubles event in a few weeks time or not

As earlier, I make it that Hep will be about 107 after this event (based on reaching the SF).

DavidC · Tennis legend

Both semis are on at 9am BST tomorrow - the one interloper was last week's beaten finalist.

QF

(1) Ella McDonald d. Diana De Simone (ITA) 4-6 6-0 6-3
Hephzibah Oluwadare d. Elizabeth Iila (EST) 6-1 6-1
(Q) Ellie Blackford d. (4) Heike Janse Van Vuuren (RSA) 7-6(3) 7-5

SF

(1) Ella McDonald v Hephzibah Oluwadare
(Q) Ellie Blackford v Darja Suvirdjonkova (SRB)

Doubles SF

(4) Van Vuuren/Van Zyl (RSA) v (2) McDonald/Paradisi (GBR/ITA)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

DavidC wrote:
Both semis are on at 9am BST tomorrow - the one interloper was last week's beaten finalist.

QF

(1) Ella McDonald d. Diana De Simone (ITA) 4-6 6-0 6-3
Hephzibah Oluwadare d. Elizabeth Iila (EST) 6-1 6-1
(Q) Ellie Blackford d. (4) Heike Janse Van Vuuren (RSA) 7-6(3) 7-5

SF

(1) Ella McDonald v Hephzibah Oluwadare
(Q) Ellie Blackford v Darja Suvirdjonkova (SRB)

Doubles SF

(4) Van Vuuren/Van Zyl (RSA) v (2) McDonald/Paradisi (GBR/ITA)

Marvellous! Ella beat Hep comfortably in Glasgow in January - other results may be available but that was the only one on the itf head to head site.

durban will no doubt be a quicker speed atmosphere

Tennisdad_101 · Lower Club Player

JonH comes home wrote:
DavidC wrote:
Both semis are on at 9am BST tomorrow - the one interloper was last week's beaten finalist.

QF

(1) Ella McDonald d. Diana De Simone (ITA) 4-6 6-0 6-3
Hephzibah Oluwadare d. Elizabeth Iila (EST) 6-1 6-1
(Q) Ellie Blackford d. (4) Heike Janse Van Vuuren (RSA) 7-6(3) 7-5

SF

(1) Ella McDonald v Hephzibah Oluwadare
(Q) Ellie Blackford v Darja Suvirdjonkova (SRB)

Doubles SF

(4) Van Vuuren/Van Zyl (RSA) v (2) McDonald/Paradisi (GBR/ITA)
Marvellous! Ella beat Hep comfortably in Glasgow in January - other results may be available but that was the only one on the itf head to head site.
durban will no doubt be a quicker speed atmosphere

She did but Hephzibah beat Ella in the 18u nationals in April so 1-1. Should be a great match, very different players but both lefties.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Hep has started strongly - leading 4-1 - playing really well (the scoreboard's down but you can just hear the umpire with the score and I've been following this one)

Not sure about the score in Ellie's match (the scoreboard's up but it's behind time, stuck at 0-1, and not following this one so much)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Out of interest, when is the US Open junior ranking cut off ? Presumably it is too late for any of these girls (or any other junior?) to make the right level for cut offs for main draw or qualies??

Nix · Futures level

JonH comes home wrote:
Out of interest, when is the US Open junior ranking cut off ? Presumably it is too late for any of these girls (or any other junior?) to make the right level for cut offs for main draw or qualies??

Rana is in the main draw and Ella is in qualifying. But the nearest alternate for qualies is Isabelle Lacy at number 32. Hep is 47.

https://www.itftennis.com/en/tournament/us-open-junior-championships/usa/2022/j-ga-usa-01a-2022/fact-sheet/

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Nix wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Out of interest, when is the US Open junior ranking cut off ? Presumably it is too late for any of these girls (or any other junior?) to make the right level for cut offs for main draw or qualies??
Rana is in the main draw and Ella is in qualifying. But the nearest alternate for qualies is Isabelle Lacy at number 32. Hep is 47.

https://www.itftennis.com/en/tournament/us-open-junior-championships/usa/2022/j-ga-usa-01a-2022/fact-sheet/

Thanks Nix - I hadnt thought about fact that entry list was already set! I see Will Jansen is the only boy in qualies as well.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Hep won the first set easily, playing strongly.

But Ella picked it up in the second, placing the ball better, and rattling Hep a little, and got to a 5-2 lead.

Was pegged back to 5-4 but then managed to take the next game, and the set, 6-4

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Ella kept the same level, and a cool head, and Hep rather collapsed in the third set - she uses a lot of force on the ball, and when her arm gives way a little, she sort of ends up slapping the ball instead

Ella won 2-6 6-4 6-1

Really great for her, on hard court, before US Open - best of luck in the final - I would certainly make her favourite against the Serbian girl (or Ellie)