markymc1983 wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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markymc1983 wrote:

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We do have a problem with closing out sets and matches right now. Its every match Ive seen since the BJK Cup pretty much. To deny it is ignorant. Hopefully we can kick this on into the clay where there is not as much expectation.

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 I've just given plenty of examples where it's the other way round. And 'every match 'pretty much' is highly unspecific - look at the stats for the last year and those of other players to see what the norm is and then tell me if there's a significant difference between our players and others.  

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Give it a rest. Youre a very aggressive poster its exhausting. I know of a few members who have left here due to posters like you. Have you tried posting on TF instead?

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 I'm sorry if you find that aggressive. Genuinely. It doesn't seem so to me. It seems like engaging in a discussion. It seems to me that you just don't like it when people have a different opinion. And like making unsubstantiated claims. Equally genuinely. No, I don't post on TF, if that helps  But I'll let it drop. No problem. 

PaulM wrote:

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Some people just like to say stuff and get rather defensive when anyone doesn't agree. It always feels like our girls have these moments more often simply because we are following them so closely.

But I do think we have a general form problem at the moment among the top girls, not helped by fitness issues. That broader picture is concerning me more than individual set points being missed in a close match where the opponent did well.

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this. yep.

markymc1983 wrote:

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Crispy wrote:

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I joined late in the second set, and I thought Bucsa played really well on those set points...

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 Yes Busca did play well as she took the initiative to play aggressively each point, allowed to by some passive play by Katie. It was disappointing that Katie didnt take the point on during any of the set points - there were at least 3 2nd serves

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 I saw the whole match and I'd say this was something of a lost opportunity for Katie. Busca was decent and played ok but no more than that. Katie was either very positive and aggressive and at those times pretty decent but at other times chucked in some poor unforced errors and played quite passively.

Basically she played how you'd expect a player of her ranking to play. 

I would love to see some of our 100-150 players skip the clay court season, and focus on some hardcourt 40-80Ks. Confidence throughout the game is everything in modern women's tennis, and looking at the likes of Oceane Dodin, Podoroska, Birrell, Errani who have been so successful at the early part of the year by doing so, is really propelling them towards the top 100 - and full of confidence. All very good players, but are now in the position as we approach the mid-season where there are far more tournaments and opportunities to play with a decent ranking. Our players are the same - all can have decent top 100 wins, all are capable of being and staying there - but these monster tournaments like slams and mandatory's means they will always be the weakest in the field

I just forsee another Laura Robson style early retirement to her career, would love to be proved wrong though.

Coup Droit wrote:

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What about when Katie Swan was 3-5 down in the third against McNally and came back to win?
What about when Katie was one set down and nearly out against Sloane Stephens last year in Germany and came back to win in three?
Katie Boulter beat Dolehide 7-6(5) in the third set tiebreak this year at the Australian Open - you don't come any more clutch than that, and in a key tournament
There are tons of examples of excellent finishing from the players, as well as tight misses. (As there are for practically all players)

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Thanks CD. You have certainly developed in your posts what I was thinking when I asked my original question of marky "worse than other nations' players'?", one he has kept bypassing

Because my impression has always been it happens pretty similarly throughout the nations  the comebacks, the comedowns. Women tennis players, eh . 

You have helpfully given counter examples regarding players from other nations and our players being on the comeback side.  There are certainly loads and loads out there. As I indicated it has always been my genuine impression that these pretty much evened out. Unless it is blatantly obvious otherwise, which it clearly isn't, it is an impression I wiill continue to hold unless someone comes back with some real diverging facts over a period re say SPs and MPs not taken

Discussing and seriously challenging points one disagrees with IMO helps make a good forum.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 9th of March 2023 04:10:55 PM

I wonder if the WTA / ITF keeps a detailed, and proprietary database of player's injuries and occurrence, it does seem like they ought to. The way the women's game has changed over the last couple of decades, with player's working on their strength and speed, and bulking up, there must be trends for certain types of injury, at different stages of a player's career. Many sports have been adversely impacted by the extreme fitness effect, from an injury occurrence perspective, and tennis is likely to be the same. I think that tennis at the highest level should be prepared to make radical changes to safeguard the health of it's players. Right now, I don't think the balance is right.