Week 7 - WTA 1000 - Doha, Qatar Hard

Spireman · Club Coach

Week 7 - WTA 1000 - Doha, Qatar Hard

Peter too · Tennis legend

Emma saved two match points on her opponents serve, now into a tie break.

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: RADUCANU, Emma (GBR) 262 (CH=10 2022) lost to KALININA, Anhelina (UKR) 30 (CH=25 2023) 0-6 6-7(6)
Not to be this time Emma had a set point but missed it.

-- Edited by Peter too on Monday 12th of February 2024 11:37:51 PM

RJH1962 · Intermediate Club Player

Watched most of the second set. Some decent play from Emma but an awful lot of errors in there as well

seagull · Hall of fame

For someone who has been out of the game for so long I thought she would be ultra enthusiastic and up for these matches. Just the opposite a really lacklustre no energy performance.

Var · Pro player

seagull wrote:
For someone who has been out of the game for so long I thought she would be ultra enthusiastic and up for these matches. Just the opposite a really lacklustre no energy performance.

Well still got 10 points takes Emma up to around 250. Now I think its the time to drop down to a lower event so she can build a stronger foundation.

indiana · Tennis legend

Var wrote:
seagull wrote:
For someone who has been out of the game for so long I thought she would be ultra enthusiastic and up for these matches. Just the opposite a really lacklustre no energy performance.
Well still got 10 points takes Emma up to around 250. Now I think its the time to drop down to a lower event so she can build a stronger foundation.

I tennd to agree. I was interested to see the level she came back at this year. Some of it has been pretty encouraging but one or two matches each time is not that helpful. And in the last couple of weeks she has looked less enthused by the whole thing. But in the short term will she get WCs into Indian Wells and Miami?

She doesn't exactly need the money and she does need matches to really help her get back into the swing of things.

korriban · Challenger level

Watched the second set - which by all accounts was immeasurably better than the first - and it was hit and miss to say the least. A few screaming winners, particularly on the forehand today - but many many more unforced errors of all shapes and varieties. Quite a few weak backhands where Emma appeared to be too close to the ball, which meant she netted each time. It was windy and lots of shadows on the court, but I dont think thats a fair excuse as the other player appeared to be fine.

Her post match analysis/presser was somewhat concerning as she said she was struggling on her serve, return, forehand and backhand! And that playing outdoors was quite a challenge, as was playing back to back tournaments! Not sure what you can say to that, as thats a description of playing on the professional womens tennis tour, really.

You only have to look back on her US Open run to see that for those 3 weeks, her tennis was almost unplayable - power, precision, aggression, minimal unforced errors and an unerring match temperament. Im fairly certain on that form and for those 3 weeks she would have beaten ANY opponent put in front of her. So the secret ingredients are all there that very few other players on the tour have, or ever will have. What I now see is unrecognisable compared to that. How to rediscover that magic? I have no idea really - just hope she stumbles across the right catalyst one day - because at the moment it seems a lifetime away. Fingers crossed!!

indiana · Tennis legend

Spireman wrote:
Mervatron2 wrote:
Id say thats a good draw.

Hopefully Emm can take advantage.
Ah the idea of a good draw! A good draw is a good draw for the winner and that's it. If players thought 'this is a good (or bad) draw' it would do them no good at all.

Philosophical twaddle IMHO

One can argue whether specific players are good or bad draws. I.e.comparatively how strong are they likely to be right here, right now.

But to my mind some draws are most definitely better than others, though yes it is then up to the player to take advantage of a "good draw".

Spireman · Club Coach

indiana wrote:
Spireman wrote:
Mervatron2 wrote:
Id say thats a good draw.

Hopefully Emm can take advantage.
Ah the idea of a good draw! A good draw is a good draw for the winner and that's it. If players thought 'this is a good (or bad) draw' it would do them no good at all.
Philosophical twaddle IMHO
One can argue whether specific players are good or bad draws. I.e.comparatively how strong are they likely to be right here, right now.
But to my mind some draws are most definitely better than others, though yes it is then up to the player to take advantage of a "good draw".

I agree it's philosophical. I suppose what I meant is that for players themselves any thoughts about the match being one they 'should' win may well get in the way of the actual process of winning it point by point. Tennis is so much in the head, and I'm sure once players get to pro they should be good at that side of things (but it may still be difficult).

For posters on here I can appreciate what we mean by a good or bad draw in a particular tournament so take your point.

Var · Pro player

indiana wrote:
Var wrote:
seagull wrote:
For someone who has been out of the game for so long I thought she would be ultra enthusiastic and up for these matches. Just the opposite a really lacklustre no energy performance.
Well still got 10 points takes Emma up to around 250. Now I think its the time to drop down to a lower event so she can build a stronger foundation.
I tennd to agree. I was interested to see the level she came back at this year. Some of it has been pretty encouraging but one or two matches each time is not that helpful. And in the last couple of weeks she has looked less enthused by the whole thing. But in the short term will she get WCs into Indian Wells and Miami?
She doesn't exactly need the money and she does need matches to really help her get back into the swing of things.

Looks like from Emmas latest press conference she is on her way home and not even trying for a WC for Dubai. Also some mention of needing more matches under her belt, so maybe she was listening To us?

Rich2310 · County player

I remember Emma saying some time back that she would start at the bottom again if she had to and claw her way back up.
She's shown she can still play well and at a good level. But time to drop down a level and play some of the bigger itf's
Nothing better than winning matches, getting on a run and maybe a title or two.

Peter too · Tennis legend

There are some WTA125s coming up in Mexico and USA which might suit her.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Peter too wrote:
There are some WTA125s coming up in Mexico and USA which might suit her.

I hope I'm wrong, but I can't see her 'dropping' to that level.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

korriban wrote:
Watched the second set - which by all accounts was immeasurably better than the first - and it was hit and miss to say the least. A few screaming winners, particularly on the forehand today - but many many more unforced errors of all shapes and varieties. Quite a few weak backhands where Emma appeared to be too close to the ball, which meant she netted each time. It was windy and lots of shadows on the court, but I dont think thats a fair excuse as the other player appeared to be fine.

Her post match analysis/presser was somewhat concerning as she said she was struggling on her serve, return, forehand and backhand! And that playing outdoors was quite a challenge, as was playing back to back tournaments! Not sure what you can say to that, as thats a description of playing on the professional womens tennis tour, really.

You only have to look back on her US Open run to see that for those 3 weeks, her tennis was almost unplayable - power, precision, aggression, minimal unforced errors and an unerring match temperament. Im fairly certain on that form and for those 3 weeks she would have beaten ANY opponent put in front of her. So the secret ingredients are all there that very few other players on the tour have, or ever will have. What I now see is unrecognisable compared to that. How to rediscover that magic? I have no idea really - just hope she stumbles across the right catalyst one day - because at the moment it seems a lifetime away. Fingers crossed!!

Thanks for the set report. I don't often get to watch her matches, so am always grateful for reports.

It sounds like her love of the game and the fact that to climb the rankings you have to be consistent have escaped her. I only hope that she gets into a consistent schedule so she can climb up again.

She's still young, but I can't help wondering if she'll go the way of Robbo.