Week 9 - WTA 250 - ATX Open - Austin, TX, USA (outdoor hard)

PaulM · Tennis legend

Week 9 - WTA 250 - ATX Open - Austin, TX, USA (outdoor hard)

PaulM · Tennis legend

Forehand error. *0-15

Double fault. *0-30

Return error. *15-30

Andreeva error long after some good hitting from Harriet. *30-30

Huge return and volley putaway off a terrible second serve. *30-40

Atrocious backhand 3 feet wide.

5-5*

She's absolutely lost the plot since that forehand miss. All over the place.

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Arghhh! Harriet!

PaulM · Tennis legend

Harriet gets 30-15* and then a really nice rally with the forehand into the space for break point. Andreeva grabs the line with her backhand to save it, brave stuff. Screamer of a forehand cross from Harriet to save game point. Andreeva gets her feet in a muddle and fluffs the volley and it's a second break point. Big serve and putaway to save it. Really big hitting from Harriet saves another game point, but she nets the return off a second serve and Andreeva holds.

*5-6

Russian leads for the first time. Harriet looks absolutely frazzled.

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Oh god, big test of composure for Harriet now...

PaulM · Tennis legend

That was probably her best service game of the match...

Final set breaker. Yuk.

PaulM · Tennis legend

3hr 30 in brutal heat ends in heartbreak. Harriet still just the one win this year, and with big points to defend that was a particularly bad one to let slip. Andreeva plays some good tennis, she was very steady in defence, really moved well and then does something with the ball when she gets there.

Harriet needs a cold shower and very big hug. That forehand on the second match point will be giving her nightmares, no excuse for that error.

7-6(4) 3-6 7-6(3)

-- Edited by PaulM on Tuesday 28th of February 2023 08:14:02 PM

Priesty · Challenger level

Loses the final set breaker 7-3.

A real chance missed, and with big IW points from last year about to come off I don't think we'll see a double digit ranking next to Harriet's name again any time soon.....if ever.

markymc1983 · Club Coach

Since the BJK Cup finals the British women have largely been atrocious. Exhausting to watch

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Harriet will be so annoyed about that missed forehand on match point...

emmsie69 · ATP level

Priesty wrote:
Loses the final set breaker 7-3.

A real chance missed, and with big IW points from last year about to come off I don't think we'll see a double digit ranking next to Harriet's name again any time soon.....if ever.

It might take a while but her ranking was based on playing strong tournaments and winning, not cheeky scheduling in weak tournaments to maximise points so I see no reason why she won't get back into the top 100

PaulM · Tennis legend

I'm scrabbling for positives, and the only thing I can think of is that she has so few decent counters that any win, any where will help. Spending the post IW/Miami swing (where she is unfortunately likely to end up down about 150 short of a miracle run) playing some bigger ITFs wouldn't be a bad move, although actually the options in April are pretty slim...

Crispy · Intermediate Club Player

I think Harriet should drop to 60Ks. She competes so well when she is confident. Would like to see her avoid the clay and play some hardcourt eventsanywhere really. Those Nottingham 25Ks even.

HarryGem · Club Coach

Well it was a good idea to get all the top GB women together but has somewhat backfired.

Pretty gutting defeats for Katie and now Harriet and a disappointing if perhaps expected loss of Jodie.

Heather looking the best of the GB women at the moment.

Not really sure where Katie B's game is headed. She had so much potential but doesn't really seem to be kicking on at this point in her career. Harriet looks shot of confidence and with 150 points to defend soon is looking like a slight fall in the ranking.

The top of the GB women's game looks a bit of a concern right now. Players can't stay healthy or fit and though there is undoubted talent and potential it doesn't seem to be being fulfilled at the moment for whatever reason. Hopefully they will get some good luck later in the season.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Crispy wrote:
I think Harriet should drop to 60Ks. She competes so well when she is confident. Would like to see her avoid the clay and play some hardcourt eventsanywhere really. Those Nottingham 25Ks even.

She might have to if she cannot defend her big point haul from Indian Wells(?)