Week 10/11 - WTA1000 - Indian Wells, USA Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

RE: Week 10/11 - WTA1000 - Indian Wells, USA Hard

Neil Gee · Club Coach

What was heartening for me was Emma's confidence, her willingness to back herself, to go toe to toe with Sabalenka and try to find gaps in the Sabalenka armoury and to keep at it no matter what was coming back at her.

Self belief like that is priceless especially in a sport like tennis.

LordBrownof · Futures level

Emma was excellent. I was very encouraged. Sabs power and that kick second serve are worthy of all her accolades but Emma was right in there throughout the match. She needs to nail that first serve - needs improvement and consistency on it - but that was top 50 easily, maybe top 30 tennis imo. Definitely bodes well. Nothing but optimism from that performance for me.

brittak · Satellite level

Saw the second set of Emmas match - Id certainly endorse the comments above.

She played some good tennis and took Sabalenka on who is not the easiest to play against as she hits a barrage of hard and good shots and then has a run of points where she just cant get a ball in.

I thought Emma looked really motivated and was enjoying herself. Perhaps the pressure was off slightly and nobody truly expected her to win but that was a hugely better and more encouraging performance than from a few weeks back.

Ranking wise she is as low as she is going to be now so onwards and upwards.

Tanaqui · Club Coach

Thanks for the report, Brittak. That does indeed sound very encouraging from Emma!

Nix · Futures level

paulisi wrote:
the addict wrote:
I can't even find the red button either on TV or tablet. So Bet365 on laptop for me.
You need a sky Q box - doesn't work on sky plus

Ah, that explains why I have the red button. I have Sky Q.

Really enjoyed Emma's match, she's really not far behind this level and actually had Sabalenka rattled enough at one point that she got a code violation - the umpire obviously knows some Russian swear words!

I'm sure her team will be delighted with her progress since her return.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Nix wrote:
paulisi wrote:
the addict wrote:
I can't even find the red button either on TV or tablet. So Bet365 on laptop for me.
You need a sky Q box - doesn't work on sky plus
Ah, that explains why I have the red button. I have Sky Q.
Really enjoyed Emma's match, she's really not far behind this level and actually had Sabalenka rattled enough at one point that she got a code violation - the umpire obviously knows some Russian swear words!
I'm sure her team will be delighted with her progress since her return.

Or Belarussian - but I'm guessing they're pretty similar smile

I agree, Nix, I thought that was a very encouraging match

Emma looked sharper than before, and very close to the level

Var · Pro player

Coup Droit wrote:
Nix wrote:
paulisi wrote:
the addict wrote:
I can't even find the red button either on TV or tablet. So Bet365 on laptop for me.
You need a sky Q box - doesn't work on sky plus
Ah, that explains why I have the red button. I have Sky Q.
Really enjoyed Emma's match, she's really not far behind this level and actually had Sabalenka rattled enough at one point that she got a code violation - the umpire obviously knows some Russian swear words!
I'm sure her team will be delighted with her progress since her return.
Or Belarussian - but I'm guessing they're pretty similar
I agree, Nix, I thought that was a very encouraging match
Emma looked sharper than before, and very close to the level

Looking forward to Miami. Only has 10 points to defend there so opportunity to start the climb back up the rankings. On another point, Sky sent me an offer but it was on Niw and it was £21 per month, but it didnt seem to stream to our Panasonic to so I didnt take it.

Rich2310 · County player

I did not expect Emma to win that match against Sabalenka. But at the same time I was not expecting her to play as well as she did. Like others have said on here there is lots to be positive about in her game. She was really getting stuck in. It already shows from this event that she is right in the mix with players ranked from say 50 downward. She just needs more wins, get that ranking back up into the top 100 and if she stays fit and healthy with a good team around her then no reason at all why she can't get back in the top 30, 20 or higher. She just needs time now to build that game back up. And as for the haters (not on here) who call her a one slam wonder, well so what. She won one and that's something many players never get close to. But last night was a joy to watch Emma.

Peter too · Tennis legend

If Emma continues collecting ranking points at her present rate she will be top 100 well before the year end. She has 235 points from 5 tournaments. 18 tournaments at that rate would be 846 points which would give her a ranking of 84 in the live rankings sometime in October. The odds are that so long as she stays fit she should improve and score points faster as the year progresses getting her back in the top 100 well before October.

-- Edited by Peter too on Tuesday 12th of March 2024 01:01:39 PM

Deucebag · Intermediate Club Player

Just watched the highlights of Emmas match.
She still has a lot of strides to make in her comeback but already showing she can deal with a lot that the biggest hitter in womens tennis can give.
If Emma stays fit she will be right up there again and challenging for the Grandslams again.
Roll on Wimbledon!

Spireman · Club Coach

Emma a break up in third set against Sabalenka.

But different Emma......Navarro.

Spireman · Club Coach

And Emma wins 6-2 in the third....Navarro.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Im sorry - I missed this. Sabalenka is only 20?! Where have I been

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/68560407

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Just joking - bbc reports she was 20 today!