And what about her Parents!! I don't think it is fair to blame what are essentially staff for failing to deal with her behaviour, that should be a parental responsibility. If a child of mine behaved like that I would deal with it, not abdicate responsibility to some other poor bugger, at the very least, I would have a conversation with the coach and agree a clear plan to deal with it. Unfortunately I've had a run in with a tennis coaching parent who not only failed to deal with his child's poor behaviour, but actively encouraged it.
I agree !
And, believe me, I dragged one of mine one off the court when his theatricals went over the top, IMO. Little scally was actually getting the other mother to feel sorry for him ! Best thing I ever did
But Jodie's parents weren't at the matches that I saw. And her coaches were.
And she was about 18. Not really a child.
So, I don't care if her parents were utterly delinquent in their parenting - all I do know is that the coaches should have intervened.
OK Jodie is a bit more fiery than most- but I think that is just the way she is. If she curbed it, maybe she would have done better; alternatively, like a certain JM, she may have done worse. It's tough out there and she is getting used to this level - let her be. Anyway good to see Harriet won her first match, she's had a tough time recently. I hope she has a good run.
Up to a point.
And I had a fiver on Jodie at age 17 (18?) to make the top 500/200/100 so I'm a complete believer in her tennis, and character (in general)
But she's not 'fiery' - she self-destruct temper tantrums/histrionics.
And it's not a question of curbing it but why those around her didn't act differently. For their own respect, if nothing else.
It clearly is a bit of a demon for her, and perhaps now she's in the top 100 and has already beaten Linette, she expected more from herself. Ultimately this is a good thing; but she will know more than anyone else how much her temper causes her to self-destruct. I remember seeing an LTA video where Jodie admitted she is far too hard on herself, which in itself probably feels pretty horrible for her. Maybe she can add a few more calm/relaxing techniques (or whatever she feels she needs) into her winter training blocks.
I don't really see it as to do with her expectations now that she is in the top 100 since we have been documenting that it is a long standing issue, though it did seem to have been getting a bit better over the last year or so.
But now that she is in the top 100 and made the WTA tour surely she has to give herself the best possible chance to really make it count. So her and those around her need to look at this more ( having surely done to a fair extent previously ).
I wanted to watch the match before commenting but first well done Harriet. A good win and a more than decent chance to progress.
As to Jodie it is hard to find the words. After winning the tight first set she basically just lost the plot. The tennis in the second set was especially poor and brainless. She then allowed herself to basically lose self control. The constant winging and bickering with the umpire was a less than edifying spectacle.
That was a match she could have won but she let herself down badly. On the second time violation the umpire waited quite a long time before announcing the score and which point the clock would have started. The whole thing with the supervisor was ridiculous and the constant moaning and gesticulating throughout the rest of the match was both childish and frankly embarrassing. Linette won because she played the better tennis and because, for most of the time, she kept her calm and did not allow herself to be distracted by the, frankly, spoilt brat behaviour on the other side of the net.
All players lose it from time to time but Jodie has history with this. She may still be a young woman but she's not a teenager playing her first year on the tour. Somehow she needs to harness her aggression and fiery temperament to her advantage on court whilst tempering and controlling this petulant side.
It wasn't the worst behaviour you can see on a court but she lost control and lost the match because of it.
I wanted to watch the match before commenting but first well done Harriet. A good win and a more than decent chance to progress.
As to Jodie it is hard to find the words. After winning the tight first set she basically just lost the plot. The tennis in the second set was especially poor and brainless. She then allowed herself to basically lose self control. The constant winging and bickering with the umpire was a less than edifying spectacle.
That was a match she could have won but she let herself down badly. On the second time violation the umpire waited quite a long time before announcing the score and which point the clock would have started. The whole thing with the supervisor was ridiculous and the constant moaning and gesticulating throughout the rest of the match was both childish and frankly embarrassing. Linette won because she played the better tennis and because, for most of the time, she kept her calm and did not allow herself to be distracted by the, frankly, spoilt brat behaviour on the other side of the net.
All players lose it from time to time but Jodie has history with this. She may still be a young woman but she's not a teenager playing her first year on the tour. Somehow she needs to harness her aggression and fiery temperament to her advantage on court whilst tempering and controlling this petulant side.
It wasn't the worst behaviour you can see on a court but she lost control and lost the match because of it.
She started to lose it near the end of the first set, almost seemed to regard the foot fault call against her as a personal insult (despite winning the point on second serve regardless).
Very tight and topsy-turvy first set. Harriet is a break down, saves a set point, breaks at 5-5* but is broken. Has two individual set points in the tiebreak, but loses it 9-7.
Argh. Harriet recovers from *0-40 to have game point three times. Misses them, then Minnen breaks at the fifth attempt with Harriet's third double of the game. Think Harriet only made 3 first serves in 16 points.
Oooooh. Well, well, well. A super game from Harriet to break back to 15, then the tiebreak is absolutely nip and tuck. A great return into the feet at 5-5* draws and error and gets Harriet a set point. She sends the second serve out wide and Minnen nets.
Harriet recovers from a break down to force a break point at 4-4* but it's saved with a perfect 1-2 from Minnen who plays another two very solid points to hold on.
Drat. As Emmsie say's it was a terrific battle from both girls. Brutal match, Harriet did so well for so much of it but could never really get any momentum behind her. Minnen was so solid.
Will hurt but more signs Harriet's game is in the right place after such a tough summer.