Looking forward to catching a local player (well, she's from Newcastle but same difference) Teodora Prisadnikova in the doubles on stream later. Haven't seen footage of her before and she has just the 1 match at junior ITF level and one of the first results when you search her name is an unsuccessful fundraiser from a couple of years back, so presumably doesn't get tons of support from the LTA. Her partner is Fran Simpson of Teeside.
Decimal odds on them to pull off the win are a very long 9.81. Good luck girls.
Playing really well now and signs of frustration from Kraus. Takes the first set 6-4.
Without wanting to sound harsh, I do think this is a make or break year for Silva. She's 26, turning 27 in March and still hasn't made top 300 (although she could do that this week) and doesn't have the excuse of having spent 3/4 years at university.
Playing really well now and signs of frustration from Kraus. Takes the first set 6-4.
Without wanting to sound harsh, I do think this is a make or break year for Silva. She's 26, turning 27 in March and still hasn't made top 300 (although she could do that this week) and doesn't have the excuse of having spent 3/4 years at university.
Silva is now cruising 4-1 up in the second set. Kraus doesn't seem to have mentally recovered from dropping the first set, though she didn't really bottle it, Silva just elevated her level.
Her young opponent (only 20) certainly shot herself in the foot a little, but that's only because she was exasperated that she couldn't impose her game on Eden
There was definitely a point, too, at 4-1, then 4-2, then a good chance for the Austrian to be 4-3..... where (knowing Eden over the years) you feared, oh Lord, here we go....
But our player held her nerve, stayed on the front foot, hitting the ball nice and cleanly.
Playing really well now and signs of frustration from Kraus. Takes the first set 6-4.
Without wanting to sound harsh, I do think this is a make or break year for Silva. She's 26, turning 27 in March and still hasn't made top 300 (although she could do that this week) and doesn't have the excuse of having spent 3/4 years at university.
I actually think it is a bit harsh in that having indeed not followed up on the early expectations about her and for whatever reasons plateauing in the rankings for a number of years, she made significant rankings progress last year.
Before last year Eden 'hadn't even made the top 400 with her CH being 408. Last year was certainly more encouraging and she is currently WR 309 (CH 305) and now live 300.
A very decent first few weeks of this year so far and hopefully she can continue to progress. .
I think Eden suffered last year from poor tournament choices post Wimbledon; she could very likely have made AO qualies if she'd stuck at the UK 25k circuit.