Samsonova the first name to fall, which opens that section up for Parks I think. Plenty of very competitive matches going on today, and I think this drubbing scoreline is a little unfair on Zhu who is actually giving Swiatek a good match.
iPlayer matches all working for me now on my phone.
-- Edited by PaulM on Monday 3rd of July 2023 01:10:20 PM
I do but then I started today with no doubt about Harriet given how she's been playing last couple of weeks. The sort of level she played in her loss to Ostapenko she'd have blitzed today. But not to be, and at least she's not Rakhimova who lost 7 points in a row to lose a final set breaker from *9-5 up...
That's two matches in a row lost from match point up by Rakhimova, who missed a match point against Burrage in Eastbourne qualies.
I do but then I started today with no doubt about Harriet given how she's been playing last couple of weeks. The sort of level she played in her loss to Ostapenko she'd have blitzed today. But not to be, and at least she's not Rakhimova who lost 7 points in a row to lose a final set breaker from *9-5 up...
But that's the problem, isn't it? Ostapenko hits a very hard, heavy ball, so Harriet can use all the pace and re-direct. Parry hits so much slice that Harriet has to generate all her own. It's a completely different match. Mind you, Harriet would have known that before. Again, my issue is she never goes to the net of floaty balls and take the ball out of the air. I know it was windy today but she sets up a lot of opportunities and never does it. And - again - the end of the second set would have been the ideal time to chance it a bit, just to get your eye in, to have it for the third set.
Parry the right winner for me, it saddens me to say. This despite an Anglicised name for a French being rather distasteful. Parry was far more enterprising and you want to see that rewarded.
-- Edited by Jeff Stelling on Monday 3rd of July 2023 01:31:30 PM
This feels like a fraught, quite tense grass court season for Harriet. Hoping for her she rests, and picks up some wins at 60-100Ks on the hardcourts away from the UK, and away from focus, and sneaks her way back into the top 100.
McNally quite clearly hampered by her leg and in some discomfort. Can't really run or push off the serve. Jodie has to stay calm, focused and not let what's happening with the American distract her.
Jodie takes the first set 6-1. Even allowing for a player struggling she's really showcasing her game well. Nice serving, working hard, striking the ball with venom but also clarity.