Week 5 - WTA250 - Hua Hin, Thailand Hard

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Week 5 - WTA250 - Hua Hin, Thailand Hard

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Oh my goodness, Hev looked absolutely cooked on the the last sit down but she made it through. So pleased for her.

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Thursday 2nd of February 2023 10:17:35 AM

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Thursday 2nd of February 2023 10:19:31 AM

Jan · Hall of fame

Well done Heather!

mbturner · Lower Club Player

Great win but nearly threw it away. Lets go Heather!

the addict · Tennis legend

Typical Heather match. Lots of good work with some poor shots thrown in. Could easily have won that in straight sets. But two wins in a row will build confidence again.

And the 60 points (net 42 I think) will give a nice boost to her ranking, although four other players around that level are still in tournaments so it's hard to tell just where she will finish the week. OER suggests up 15 places to WR145

Crispy · Strong Club Player

Han had an incredibly tricky game (double handed forehand and a lefty?) I thought the way her shots left the frame looked a little unpredictable. I think Heather might enjoy the flatter hitting from Wang and try to redirect the pace

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The curious thing is that Han's forehand nearly always starts off as a two-handed and ends up as a one-hander - she doesn't keep the two hands on the racket like a classic two hander shot (either side) - especially on the crosscourt shots - she even does it a bit on her backhand - which is really weird

the addict · Tennis legend

Heather on Instagram "Wouldn't be me if without a little bit of drama"

PaulM · Tennis legend

Between Han's technique and Zakharova's service motion, it was quite a day.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

I've been a Heather-sceptic but to be fair she saw her chance for points in Hua Hin and (just about) managed to take it unlike Katie and Harriet.

the addict · Tennis legend

Heather is first on court today, so 7am our time. Not sure how much she will have left in the tank after two long matches in the heat.

RainDelay · Pro player

3-3 first set. Hevs got a good record in qfs, Wang doesn't, so fingers crossed.

PaulM · Tennis legend

I'm impressed Hev is still standing after her two matches in these conditions. She's weary but fighting, but there was a grim inevitability that as soon as Wang got in front of was slip away.

Wang took her 3/4th break point at *3-3, then saved a couple herself (Hev didn't have much of a play I don't think), and broke again very easily.

3-6 0-0*

PaulM · Tennis legend

Digging in well. Plays a great game to break, battles through a tough hold including a gorgeous lob, then breaks again with a perfect drop shot.

*3-0

PaulM · Tennis legend

A trade of breaks before Wang holds from 30-15*

*4-3

Heather has a game point but it's saved after a long rally when Wang clips the baseline with a passing shot. Double fault costs her a second chance to escape the game. Break point saved with a gorgeous volley. Wang with a good cross court pass for another break point.

4-4*

Huge power and aggression from Wang there. All the momentum with her.