Statement of intent from Katie in that opening game.

*1-0

PaulM wrote:

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Gosh this court is really slow. Katie is having to absolutely throttle the ball and still not easy to get it away, but a nice return down the line for a *4-1 lead.

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 Presumably Anne also chooses the court type and speed with the LTA? Knowing our players prefer fast courts, why would they choose a slow surface? 

Jodie's post match comments

"I was so concerned about going out there and getting a good start so that I could settle a little bit, but the absolute opposite happened. It's still pretty fresh so I need a little bit of time to figure out what did happen.

"I'm very proud to represent my country. I'm very disappointed that I didn't get everyone a win today. That is going to stick with me for a while. It's tough. It's tough to take.

"I have not felt like this and even the nerves before have not felt like this. Ever. Even stepping out on to Centre Court doesn't even compare to this.

"There's a lot of emotion, a lot of energy expenditure out there. Every single point you're shouting 'Come on'. If you win it, if you lose it, it's like double what it is to lose a normal point."

I've just spoken to a few of the girls there and they said they've all been through this. It's just a tough one to take.

"I've not felt like this in anything that I've played this year, and this year, I've had so many firsts and I've played in front of big crowds.

"I don't necessarily think it was the crowd that made me nervous. I think it's so different when you're playing for yourself, and when you're playing for a team. It's not just me out there. I'm playing for other people and that type of pressure I have never really understood before and I don't think you ever do until you do it.

"That's why it hurts even more, because I'm hurting for other people."

PaulM wrote:

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Good comments that make sense. Those feelings are all understandable but (a) it makes Annie's failure as a captain during the match even worse, and (b) Jodie couldn't have had a softer debut opportunity outside of a dead rubber (which may not have helped).

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Exactly.

There is nothing in what Jodie says that is unexpected. In fact, quite the opposite. Very predictable. She says so herself - the other girls all said it was like that.

So, as you say, it makes the captaincy failure even worse. And Jodie's too.

Professional and clean. Well done Katie. She starts play tomorrow which is a good thing I think. I'd like to think Jodie might have settled down a little better if she'd been on second today, but probably not.

-- Edited by PaulM on Saturday 11th of November 2023 05:40:01 PM

Katie Boulter WR58 def Caijsa Hennemann WR532 6-2 6-1

Well done Katie, Hennemann didn't get a look in really once Katie got going.