Coup Droit wrote:

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Yes, but it's also to do with style of play

If you are trying to play a 'do not miss' style of play, you will have longer, harder matches, that take a harder toll on the body

Katie has talked about training with Alex (who is a bit of a run-around return rabbit himself ) and whether it's just confidence, or whether it's direct adivce, she is playing the style of play that was always going to be more suitable to her rather bambi-like physique

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 For me Coup's point is spot on - Katie is playing really aggressive tennis, where she takes the game to her opponents rather than mostly reacting to what they are doing.

I feel she now has the game to start challenging the top 10 players in the world and she already looks as good as most players outside the top 10. Playing bigger tournaments and playing the top players more regularly is allowing her to develop greater confidence, to iron out weaknesses in her game and to work out what works and what does not against the world's best.

I also think that Katie is a player for the big occasions - give her a big arena and a big crowd and she normally performs better, which is really important for how she fares in the long term. A lot of players aren't able to improve in those situations, but Katie does and I think it will really help with her ranking.

For me the magic of when a player develops - is that until a player is in the top 100 and playing top players regularly, it is actually quite difficult to judge a player's potential - once players get to that level, then the really good ones rapidly improve because they are learning playing a better calibre of opposition and because playing better players helps improve their own game.

Katie's best game for me is on grass, where the speed of the court really helps her aggressive play, and what really excites me right now is that if she is doing this well in San Diego, what will she be like when the grass season comes around. 

I'm so thrilled for her that I had to post something, and like others, hope she can remain injury free or at least that minor niggles are able to managed and that she is able to do really well.

Exciting times ahead - I'd have thought she has a great chance in the Quarter Final, particularly if it is against the veteran, Vekic.

Blue_Belle wrote:

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Katie is the same age as Donna! Do understand the comment about veteran though, she has been around forever!

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 Donna won the $10K tournament at Chiswick back in July 2011. Has played a lot of tournaments in the UK in her time.

GAMEOVER wrote:

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Blue_Belle wrote:

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Katie is the same age as Donna! Do understand the comment about veteran though, she has been around forever!

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 Donna won the $10K tournament at Chiswick back in July 2011. Has played a lot of tournaments in the UK in her time.

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 From the age of 11 to 17 Donna was coached by David Felgate who also coached TIm Henman.