Week 25 - WTA125 - GAIBA, Italy Grass

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 25 - WTA125 - GAIBA, Italy Grass

the addict · Tennis legend

The only good thing about that draw is it is on grass and Katie is in good form.

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

the addict wrote:
The only good thing about that draw is it is on grass and Katie is in good form.

Errani got to the final here, last year. Lost to Van Uytvanck the #1 seed who was WR#47 at the time.

32 in the MD, no qualifying. Wickmayer and Maria are in the draw too, but in the other half. Be interesting to see how it plays out.

Shhh · Challenger level

What do you think is Katie's reasoning in playing Grass abroad whilst there is so much going on in the UK? If she didn't fancy her chances at Birmingahm, there the 100K at Ilkley....I just dont get it?

Barefoot · Lower Club Player

Get away from the pressure maybe - or is she still officially resident in the US and its for tax purposes?! (This is based on nothing but I know a few players do it around Wimby)

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

Shhh wrote:
What do you think is Katie's reasoning in playing Grass abroad whilst there is so much going on in the UK? If she didn't fancy her chances at Birmingahm, there the 100K at Ilkley....I just dont get it?

It's only the 2nd grass tournament that Swan has played outside of the UK, after getting a late WC to play qualies in Bad Homburg last year where she put up a good show and eventually went out to Bianca Andreescu in quite a close last 16 match.

I think she's decided to enter fewer, though higher quality tournaments this year, compared to previous years. Hopefully it will work out.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Barefoot wrote:
Get away from the pressure maybe - or is she still officially resident in the US and its for tax purposes?! (This is based on nothing but I know a few players do it around Wimby)

Didn't she move back a couple of years ago?

Lambda · Challenger level

foobarbaz wrote:

Shhh wrote:
What do you think is Katie's reasoning in playing Grass abroad whilst there is so much going on in the UK? If she didn't fancy her chances at Birmingahm, there the 100K at Ilkley....I just dont get it?
It's only the 2nd grass tournament that Swan has played outside of the UK, after getting a late WC to play qualies in Bad Homburg last year where she put up a good show and eventually went out to Bianca Andreescu in quite a close last 16 match.
I think she's decided to enter fewer, though higher quality tournaments this year, compared to previous years. Hopefully it will work out.

I think Katie wants the security of knowing her schedule rather than the hassle and stress of applying for and waiting on WCs. She's also commented that she found playing in Bad Homburg last year relaxing and Im thinking this is part of a schedule to play here and then onto Bad Homburg again. The late qWC there last year was facilitated by Wimbledon after she was unsure she would get a WC into Eastbourne. And if a top player requests a late change of schedule WC to Eastbourne then there won't be enough to go around if all 5 of our ladies are available that week.

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

Swan got a good reception from the spectators in Bad Homburg, the court was quite enclosed and the crowd close to the action. I was impressed by the American chap commentating on the Andreescu match, he seemed quite knowledgable in an understated way, and even though Swan lost, he spoke in glowing terms about her game. I got the impression that the match was going out prime time on the Tennis Channel or something, with Andreescu being a big draw on the tv in the US/Canada. That might be another reason why Swan is looking beyond Ilkley, which I'd imagine would be less watched around the world?