Coup Droit wrote:

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I guess the problem, foo, is that she wasn't playing like that before in the match - so it's not really the mentality overall that's the problem.

Before the end of the third set, she was constructing points well, playing good clay court tennis.

I think it was just the tension and stress that got to her.

And that's SO difficult to coach because you can't replicate it for real.

Also, she's a player that relies heavily on her serve (it's about her best shot) - not to win the point as such but to set herself off in the point. And when the serve goes, the rest of her game goes down the tube. (Unlike players with weak serves who know their serve is going to be dodgy). And it's a vicious circle coz it ratttled her and then it got even worse.

So, yes, I think there's coaching to be done, but more on 'what to do when your serve looks like it's deserted you'

She also needs to come in, jsut a little more, IMO. She stood off, and got herself in trouble.

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 Some good points there CD, and true I didn't see all the good play that must have gone on for the score to be 5-2 in the 3rd. As the Bene Gesserit may have said, "Fear is the mind killer", though we are only talking of a 1st Qualifying Round match, not a Main Draw quarter-final or something. Not being able to keep perspective, and control the emotions in such a match, in order to play purposeful tennis until the end - that's a problem that needs to be addressed. Losing a match when playing well, that's ok and plus-points can be carried forward to the next match. There wasn't much that could be taken from the match yesterday, because it's the business end of the match that counts for so much.