Week 27/28 - Wimbledon Ladies, Great Britain Grass

Var · Pro player

RE: Week 27/28 - Wimbledon Ladies, Great Britain Grass

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Intersting (to me) that in the last 16, there is only one player from Western Europe

(Using 'old school' East and West Europe divides)

Bencic is the only one

THere are 2 Americans, 11 players from East Europe, 1 from North Africa, 1 from Brazil and 1 from West Europe

None from Asia, or Australia.

Of the 11, four wouldn't have been here last year (2 x Belorussia, 2 x Russia).

markymc1983 · Club Coach

Im quietly warming to Rybakina. Very businesslike and dependable. Its a shame that Katie couldnt bring her game last night but as people are saying, in a years time after playing the best players week after week on the WTA tour Im sure she will be even better next year! And if all goes well with Emma, Wimbledon 2024 could be great for GB tennis. I hope Katie takes nothing but positives from this week, I always worry that a heavy defeat can dent a players appraisal of themselves, hopefully Rybakina will easily beat her next opponent too that should help.

Im now routing for Svitolina, her return to the tour has been so impressive considering she gave birth in October and with everything thats going on the Ukraine. Has always seemed like a very nice, humble person also

-- Edited by markymc1983 on Sunday 9th of July 2023 09:19:17 AM

Var · Pro player

markymc1983 wrote:
Im quietly warming to Rybakina. Very businesslike and dependable. Its a shame that Katie couldnt bring her game last night but as people are saying, in a years time after playing the best players week after week on the WTA tour Im sure she will be even better next year! And if all goes well with Emma, Wimbledon 2024 could be great for GB tennis. I hope Katie takes nothing but positives from this week, I always worry that a heavy defeat can dent a players appraisal of themselves, hopefully Rybakina will easily beat her next opponent too that should help.

Im now routing for Svitolina, her return to the tour has been so impressive considering she gave birth in October and with everything thats going on the Ukraine. Has always seemed like a very nice, humble person also

-- Edited by markymc1983 on Sunday 9th of July 2023 09:19:17 AM

I am watching Mirra - it is a bit disheartening to see a 16-year-old hitting round 4 in a GS when our young women are still are playing juniors. Ons is my fave, though.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Var wrote:
markymc1983 wrote:
Im quietly warming to Rybakina. Very businesslike and dependable. Its a shame that Katie couldnt bring her game last night but as people are saying, in a years time after playing the best players week after week on the WTA tour Im sure she will be even better next year! And if all goes well with Emma, Wimbledon 2024 could be great for GB tennis. I hope Katie takes nothing but positives from this week, I always worry that a heavy defeat can dent a players appraisal of themselves, hopefully Rybakina will easily beat her next opponent too that should help.

Im now routing for Svitolina, her return to the tour has been so impressive considering she gave birth in October and with everything thats going on the Ukraine. Has always seemed like a very nice, humble person also

-- Edited by markymc1983 on Sunday 9th of July 2023 09:19:17 AM
I am watching Mirra - it is a bit disheartening to see a 16-year-old hitting round 4 in a GS when our young women are still are playing juniors. Ons is my fave, though.

Mirra is good to watch, I agree.

Saw her live at Wimbly qualis. And saw her older sister too - can't be easy to be the not-so-talented older sister.... :(

But she's the only one.

I don't think you should judge our players (or the players of the US, France, Japan etc etc etc) against one single Russian prodigy

markymc1983 · Club Coach

I just watched Mirra what an amazing talent and sweet young woman. I will be cheering her on also

markymc1983 · Club Coach

What do people make of Johanna Konta as a pundit? I think she works when shes on a television panel being questioned by Clare for example, but not as a commentator. Shes made repeat jokes about birds and insect buffet on two different matches Ive watched now and it really doesnt hit

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

markymc1983 wrote:
What do people make of Johanna Konta as a pundit? I think she works when shes on a television panel being questioned by Clare for example, but not as a commentator. Shes made repeat jokes about birds and insect buffet on two different matches Ive watched now and it really doesnt hit

She's OK but if you have a top tennis player as a commentator I expect either (a) good technical analysis or (b) good inside gossip/insight (or preferably both)

For me, you don't get either from Johanna. So she's OK but doesn't really bring what she's supposed to bring. After all, if you're not getting either you might as well just have a very good general commentator

Var · Pro player

Coup Droit wrote:
Var wrote:
markymc1983 wrote:
Im quietly warming to Rybakina. Very businesslike and dependable. Its a shame that Katie couldnt bring her game last night but as people are saying, in a years time after playing the best players week after week on the WTA tour Im sure she will be even better next year! And if all goes well with Emma, Wimbledon 2024 could be great for GB tennis. I hope Katie takes nothing but positives from this week, I always worry that a heavy defeat can dent a players appraisal of themselves, hopefully Rybakina will easily beat her next opponent too that should help.

Im now routing for Svitolina, her return to the tour has been so impressive considering she gave birth in October and with everything thats going on the Ukraine. Has always seemed like a very nice, humble person also

-- Edited by markymc1983 on Sunday 9th of July 2023 09:19:17 AM
I am watching Mirra - it is a bit disheartening to see a 16-year-old hitting round 4 in a GS when our young women are still are playing juniors. Ons is my fave, though.
Mirra is good to watch, I agree.
Saw her live at Wimbly qualis. And saw her older sister too - can't be easy to be the not-so-talented older sister.... :(
But she's the only one.
I don't think you should judge our players (or the players of the US, France, Japan etc etc etc) against one single Russian prodigy

Yes, I take your point. I suppose it was aimed rather at when you make the transition from juniors to seniors. I know ranking precludes this and options are limited, but it seems that transition can be problematic for our youngsters. Or perhaps it is part of the game in that only say 5% of juniors will successfully progress to senior level? I don't know, but I am wondering.....

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

Bencic currently locked horns with Swiatec at 1 set all. ... Just saying now that Swan wasn't that far off Bencic's level in R1.

Neil Gee · Club Coach

Swiatek finally gets the break in set 3 but Bencic has given her one hell of a ride.

-- Edited by Neil Gee on Sunday 9th of July 2023 07:17:57 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Swiatak beat Bencic by 6-7(4) 7-6(2) 6-3.

And Svitolina beats Azarenka by 2-6 6-4 7-6 [11-9]. The point she won at *8-8 to bring up her first MP was epic. Finished with an ace.

markymc1983 · Club Coach

What an amazing evening of tennis and delighted for Elina, but why did the crowd boo Azarenka when she walked off court? I thought we were meant to be a more civilised and educated crowd?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

markymc1983 wrote:
What an amazing evening of tennis and delighted for Elina, but why did the crowd boo Azarenka when she walked off court? I thought we were meant to be a more civilised and educated crowd?

More than what?

And as long as Azarenka refuses to condemn the Russian and Belorussian governments, it's not surprising that many people will feel equally entitled to share their opinions, i.e. booing

the addict · Tennis legend

I suspect the uninformed crowd didnt realise that Svitolina wasnt going to shake hands, so when Azarenka (who knew this) didn't even approach the net or offer a handshale they didn't approve. The crowd seemed to be largely behind Svitolona anyway (although I had the sound muted most of the time).