Week 9 - ITF W25 - Tucuman, Argentina Clay

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 9 - ITF W25 - Tucuman, Argentina Clay

Strongbow · All-time great

Peter too wrote:
R1: JONES, Francesca (GBR) SR UNR (CH=149 2022) v GULIN, Georgia (BRA) 1021 (CH=1020 2023)

Nice to see Fran playing 2 weeks in a row biggrin

paulisi · Tennis legend

Let's hope she has recovered from last week and can pick up more points and get that ranking back.

Lambda · Challenger level

She will get a ranking as long as she plays. Bizarrely, unlike a 32 main draw, in a 48 main draw R1 losers get 1 point. I'm sure there's some logic somewhere in that. confuse

But its academic as she's not going to lose. wink

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Not the best of starts for Fran, going down a double break, although she pulled one back. Engaged in a very tricky service game with multiple deuces and held for 4-5 but Gulin subsequently served out the first set.

Some minor signs of frustration from Gulin, who probably felt she ought to have finished off the set earlier.

For those not in the know, Gulin was a postgrad at Durham uni, where she played no. 2 singles behind Knutson. I watched her play once and wasn't overly impressed, although in fairness she moved around well and was better at exploiting the geometry of the court than her opponent. It seems that unlike Knutson/Stresnakova she has based herself in home country post university, which is probably sensible given clay seems like her fave surface.

EDIT: Fran seems to have taken a toilet break end of the first. Hopefully she'll turn it around now.

-- Edited by Densher on Tuesday 28th of February 2023 06:56:20 PM

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Hang on, it was actually Gulin that did the disappearing act end of set 1. Fran was visibly annoyed with the umpire about the delay and, while difficult to tell from the quality of the feed, seemed to be suggesting a bit of gamesmanship from Gulin. Don't blame her.

Gulin broke Fran start of the second. She was 10.23 in decimal odds pre match, would be an impressive win for her.

EDIT: Fran breaks back. 2-2.

EDIT 2: Gulin broke immediately but gave away a break herself. Fran then held serve to go 4-3 up. Get the sense that for all of her clay court nous, Gulin's serve is a bit of a liability at times and Fran's groundstrokes have been more aggressive this set. Momentum shifting. Fran does in fact break again and is serving for the second set.

-- Edited by Densher on Tuesday 28th of February 2023 07:24:09 PM

-- Edited by Densher on Tuesday 28th of February 2023 07:49:23 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
She will get a ranking as long as she plays. Bizarrely, unlike a 32 main draw, in a 48 main draw R1 losers get 1 point. I'm sure there's some logic somewhere in that.

But its academic as she's not going to lose.

There's often little logic in the WTA ranking points

So if this is the case, just add it to such as the silly W15 / 25 / 40 / 60 points progression, and rebranding to WTA 250s, WTA 500s etc without ever making the fairly minor changes to the title points to fit the tebrand.

It often seems to me that they just don't really care.

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Fran looks to be firmly in control now. Breaks first game of the final set and is 2-0 up. Cleaner ball-striking and able to hit through the stubborn defence of Gulin more often. Gulin, meanwhile, is a bit uncertain and keeps throwing up some fairly desperate moonballs which are landing short and sitting up conveniently for Fran.

Peter too · Tennis legend

I was watching the match but the video packed up. I tried to open it again and it said no valid source.

DF · Tennis legend

Peter too wrote:
I was watching the match but the video packed up. I tried to open it again and it said no valid source.

Same thing happened to me.

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Peter too wrote:
I was watching the match but the video packed up. I tried to open it again and it said no valid source.

I have it back on now but the score counter is frozen. Fran is still ahead I think.

Gulin having some success hitting the ball a bit earlier and on the rise, but Fran doing well to draw Gulin into the net, where the Brazilian looks completely lost. In any case, Fran has the punchier serve and is more assertive in the rallies. She really ought to be taking this.

the addict · Tennis legend

*5-2 on the ITF scoreboard

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Gulin just broke back for 5-3. It was a bit alarming when Fran let the last ball go without chasing. Hopefully there is no physical issue.

-- Edited by Densher on Tuesday 28th of February 2023 08:42:05 PM

Densher · Intermediate Club Player

Nope, that's it. Fran puts away another soft second serve from Gulin to take the match.

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: JONES, Francesca (GBR) SR UNR def GULIN, Georgia (BRA) 1021 4-6 6-3 6-3

R2: JONES, Francesca (GBR) SR UNR (CH=149 2022) v CE, Gabriela (BRA) (3) 244 (CH=221 2019)