Gutted for Katie after playing so well in the United Cup but it seems almost impossible for her to stay fully fit for any length of time.

Katie Boulter 6-2 3-6

Comfortable opening set according to the stats. High first serve percentage, losing few points on either first or second. Took 2 out of 3 bps. Had 2 bps early in 2nd set before I started watching. KB then had another bp that I missed and got broken while I wasn't watching. Official website indicates Katie had game point then made a couple of forehand unforced errors, Caroline winner for the break. Rejoined to see a few comfortable holds. Much lower Boulter 1st serve percentage in the 2nd set and struggled to win points behind her 2nd.

Boulter forehand ue into the net 0-15, 1st serve unret 15-15, Katie does just enough with a volley 30-15 after aggressive play, KB inside out forehand winner after serve 40-15, Caroline punishes a 2nd serve with a huge return winner 40-30, KB's 1st serve bounces before it reaches the net, CD forehand error long 1-0*

Caroline defends well with a subtle passing shot, KB unable to control her volley, 2nd serve unret 30-0, 1st unret 40-0, KB fairly aggressive return off 2nd serve 40-15, KB aggressive forehand 40-30, good backhand down the line after her serve from CD 1-1

Careless forehand ue long after serve 0-15, Caroline dominates, finishing with a smash winner 0-30, good play from KB creates space for f winner 15-30, unret 2nd 30-30. KB f after her serve is just wide 30-40, saves bp with unret 1st 40-40, KB aggressive, CD backhand wide A-, careless smash wide from Caroline in total control, terrible miss 2-1*

Unret 1st 15-0, unret 30-0, KB deep return, Dolehide forehand into the net, unret 40-15, df, Katie stood almost 6 ft behind baseline to return 2nd, miraculous running forehand passing shot winner down the line from Caroline 2-2

KB aggressive 15-0, CD wild return off a 2nd serve 30-0, KB wins forehand battle as Caroline's lands in the net 40-0, decent wide serve creates opening for easy f winner 3-2*

CD forehand winner crosscourt 15-0, Caroline backhand winner 30-0, easy hold 3-3

KB careless forehand error long after her serve 0-15, long rally ends with CD error 15-15, df 15-30, super play from KB finishing with f winner 30-30, similar 40-30, Caroline dominates a 2nd serve point, forehand winner into the space 40-40, CD slice backhand causes KB trouble 40-A, careless forehand error long from Caroline after a 2nd serve 40-40, long rally, CD defends well then lands a deep f that KB can't deal with 40-A, Boulter 2nd serve wild return long 40-40, KB in total control nets a backhand drive volley 40-A, good wide 1st serve unret 40-40, KB aggressive finishing with f winner A-, decent wide serve unret - Katie a bit fortunate to hold that game 4-3*

CD smash 15-0, KB backhand into the net 30-0, Caroline forehand winner after her serve 40-0, CD tries to serve and volley but creates trouble for herself 40-15, unret 1st 4-4

KB careless f error long 0-15, KB wins volley battle having done the Raducanu thing of hitting the ball straight back to opponent instead of into open space 15-15, KB overly ambitious with a forehand after her 2nd serve 15-30, 2nd serve gets a wild return long 30-30, repeat 40-30, similar but this time into the net 5-4*

KB just wide with return 15-0, ugly return into net off a 2nd 30-0, huge backhand down the line winner from KB after aggressive return 30-15, unret 1st 40-15, surprising slice backhand error from CD 40-30, Katie runs around her backhand to create space for big forehand return, only to get a poor connection, easy for CD to hit winner 5-5

KB forehand winner after good wide serve 15-0, good play from KB finishing with huge forehand winner 30-0, unret 1st 40-0, repeat 6-5*

Unret 1st 15-0, CD f winner 30-0, unret 1st 40-0, df 40-15, unret 2nd 6-6

KB careless f long 0-1*, KB f wide 0-2*, CD backhand long after serve *1-2, KB attacks the net to volley winner *2-2, CD backhand error long 3-2*, KB inside out f into the net 3-3, again CD's defensive backhand slice causes KB more trouble than expected *3-4, KB aggressive finishing with f winner *4-4, unret 1st 5-4* decent wide serve unret 5-5*, CD f unforced error into the net *6-5, CD keeps getting the ball back but eventually Katie f winner *7-5, wide 1st serve unret 8-5*, wild forehand long after her serve from Caroline 9-5*, deep return from Katie after a 1st serve for the win 10-5

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I thought Caroline looked the better player in the 3rd set until 6-6 but made more errors than expected in the tiebreak. Katie's returning position is so deep that she has to hit a brilliant shot to cause the server any trouble. 

-- Edited by kundalini on Tuesday 10th of January 2023 07:38:18 AM

From the highlights, Barbara Palicova's backhand looks terrifying. 18 winners to 19 unforced on her backhand, compared to 11 winners to 21 unforced on her forehand. Hope Jodie doesn't go anywhere near Barbara's backhand.

Disappointed for Katie, had high hopes but she just can't seem to get a clear run. Great job from the other girls, and well done Katie B grinding that out.

Linda Noskova lost in 3 sets to Sebov in the first round of qualifying, after reaching the final in Adelaide after beating Kalinskaya, Potapova, Kasatkina, Liu, Azarenka and Jabeur.

kundalini wrote:

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Linda Noskova lost in 3 sets to Sebov in the first round of qualifying, after reaching the final in Adelaide after beating Kalinskaya, Potapova, Kasatkina, Liu, Azarenka and Jabeur.

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 I think it was a bit much for Noskova who had also  to go through qualifying in Adelaide to have to play another 3 matches so soon after just to get to the main draw in Melbourne. But such is her ranking now that this will be the last time she will be in qualifying for the foreseeable future.  

Q1: SWAN, Katie (GBR) 145 lost to PONCHET, Jessika (FRA) 165 4-6 3-6
Q1: KARTAL, Sonay (GBR) 207 lost to MANDLIK, Elizabeth (USA) (21) 126 4-6 6-3 1-6
Q1: MIYAZAKI, Yuriko Lily (GBR) 186 def BAPTISTE, Hailey (USA) 166 6-4 7-5
Q1: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 139 lost to BOLSOVA, Aliona (ESP) 141 6-7(4) 3-6
Q1: BURRAGE, Jodie (GBR) (26) 131def BOLTON, Elysia (AUS) 681 6-2 6-4
Q1: BOULTER, Katie (GBR) 136 def DOLEHIDE, Caroline (USA) 150 6-2 3-6 7(10)-6(5)

Q2: MIYAZAKI, Yuriko Lily (GBR) 186 =CH v SU-JEONG, Jang 144 (CH=114 2022)
Q2: BURRAGE, Jodie (GBR) (26) 131(CH=126 2022) v PALICOVA, Barbora (CZE) 206 (CH=200 2022) {18yo JCH=21}
Q2: BOULTER, Katie (GBR) (30) 136 (CH=82 2019) v KUDERMETOVA, Polina ( ) 185 (CH=180 2022)

-- Edited by Peter too on Wednesday 11th of January 2023 09:23:45 AM