Weeks 27-28 - The Championships, Wimbledon (grass)

Peter too · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 27-28 - The Championships, Wimbledon (grass)

steven · Tennis legend

steven wrote:
jb288 wrote:
Yes, so good to see hear roaring after each good point. And there were lots of them. Three women in the third round!
Yes, with tomorrow's guaranteed win, there will be 3 British women in the last 32 for the first time in 40 years.
Back then, in 1984, no fewer than 5 made it (it was also the last time we had more than 5 in R2) - no. 10 seed Jo Durie, who went on to make the QFs, Anne Hobbs, who made it to the last 16, Virginia Wade, Annabel Croft and (WC) Julie Salmon.
It's also the first time for a quarter of a century that a British qualifier has made it to the last 32 in either of the main singles draws here - (Q) Danny Sapsford made it to R3 in 1999, where he lost to top seed and defending champion Pete Sampras, and (as has been more widely reported) 27 years since a British woman last made R3 after qualifying - (Q) Karen Cross made it to R3 in 1999, where she lost to no. 4 seed Iva Majoli, who had just won Roland-Garros. Just like Karen and Danny, Sonay will also face a top 4 seed and reigning slam champion in R3!

In addition, a very good start to R2:

76% Boulter - all-GB match

71% Draper - all-GB match

63% Raducanu - WON

57% Kartal - WON

29% Norrie - all-GB match

24% Dart - all-GB match

10% Miyazaki

5% Fearnley

E(GB R2 wins) = 3.35, now up to 4.14 (and guaranteed to be at least 4!) after today's wins.

the addict · Tennis legend

Lily is first on court 18 tomorrow
Katie v Harriet first on court 1

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

The draw has opened up for Emma, beat Sakkari and the last 16 looks a welcome set of players she could face. Tennis abstract rates her a 40% chance of reaching the last 8.

Mervatron2 · Futures level

Based on todays play shell bea SakKari whos not great on grass and not done much fo worth for a while.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

There were at least 5 points that could have come straight out of the highlights from the Cirstea match at Wimbledon shortly after Emma finished her A levels. I don't recall another match which has resembled her performance against Cirstea. Quite often she will miss passing shots and lobs that don't appear that difficult for someone capable of the ridiculous shots she landed against Sorana.

Since winning the US Open, there have been very few matches that made me think Emma was likely to win another Slam - Kostyuk in Madrid, Sloane Stephens at Aus Open, Haddad Maia in Indian Wells, Azarenka in Cincinnati; add Mertens at Wimbledon to that list.

Nix · Futures level

kundalini wrote:
There were at least 5 points that could have come straight out of the highlights from the Cirstea match at Wimbledon shortly after Emma finished her A levels. I don't recall another match which has resembled her performance against Cirstea. Quite often she will miss passing shots and lobs that don't appear that difficult for someone capable of the ridiculous shots she landed against Sorana.

Since winning the US Open, there have been very few matches that made me think Emma was likely to win another Slam - Kostyuk in Madrid, Sloane Stephens at Aus Open, Haddad Maia in Indian Wells, Azarenka in Cincinnati; add Mertens at Wimbledon to that list.

I think it's only recently that she's starting to trust her body and her tennis again. She had physical issues almost straight after her US Open win mixed with having to play WTA tournaments where it's difficult to gain momentum if you're not playing at your top form because you lose in the first or second round.

More recently she had the operations, recovery and easing herself back into playing. It may take the US swing to really get her back to top form but she's looking better than she has for a long time. I do think she's right though to not force hersefl too hard physically and mentally. Only she knows how she's doing and for instance missing out on the French Open looks like a good decision now. She looks like she's really enjoying her tennis again and playing with more freedom. She's only 21 still and as players are competitive into their late 20s and early 30s it seems a bit premature to think she's unlikely to win another slam.

indiana · Tennis legend

I agree Nix in that I have always thought Emma could win another Slam, however she was playing. I always, and said so back in late 2021 and 2022, was giving her a kind of free pass for a year or so to get over the momentous events of the US Open, and I wasn't going to read very much into results and indeed certain performances. To me. what she had done before, she could do again when also more experienced and probably fitter and stronger. I just could never reallty see the alternative voices, often seemingly based on to me irrelevant / tangential supposed reasons.

With on top of that then the various injury issues and that period extended and no great worry in that, being still so young as you say. As long as she got back fit and well and with desire. Oh, and sorted out her coaching situation for at least a semi prolonged period, and she seems in a good place just now with Nick C.

Having seen what we had all seen before, how anyone could write her off from winning more Slams just defeated and still defeats me.

Anyway, maybe she will, maybe she won't. I'd say the odds are she won't though I do think she will at least probably seriously challenge again at the business end of Slams and maybe ...

Nix · Futures level

Yes, it's not so much that I'm convinced she will, but more that I can't understand being so convinced she won't, if you see what I mean.

Whatever, she's providing great entertainment and a smile as big as the Pacific, so that's good enough for me at the moment.

dodrade · Satellite level

indiana wrote:
Emma likes #1 court, keep her there for now.

And thanks bet365 for generous set 2 odds. I think they had been asleep during set 1

I certainly hope so, it seems to suit her game more especially with CC playing slow this year.

Peter too · Tennis legend

I got the impression that Emma made very few unforced errors against Mertens. Considering how hard she was hitting the ball and how close to the lines showed amazing accuracy and control. She even played two lobs over Mertens head that almost landed on the line. That was the best performance I have seen from Emma since 2021, which suggests she is still improving. If that rate of improvement continues she could be quite formidable by the start of the US Open.

Dannythomas · Lower Club Player

What a huge difference from Emmas nervy win in R1 to yesterday ! On Monday she was having real trouble with her opponents slice and drop shots . Yesterday against a better player she not only got there in good time but dealt with them convincingly. Great match from start to finish.

Sonays biggest asset is her mental strength. I think there is a lot she can improve on. Her ground strokes are solid but Id love to see her move away from her abbreviated service action into a full motion as she cant generate enough power with it . And her net play needs to get better. But she is achieving great things even with these limitations so her ceiling can be very high .

Crispy · Strong Club Player

So impressed, but it all feels a bit Emma fever pitch again. I'd rather her win another round or two, maybe snatch a hardcourt title this year, and build her ranking, take some more top 10 scalps etc before we start thinking of her as a slam contender again. But the ballstriking, the energy, the fact that she looked like she was actually enjoying her tennis again was so positive, and lets just hope her body gives her a chance to fulfil her potential.

I think Sonay should be so proud of herself. An equally amazing performance for entirely different reasons. The extra aggression (I'm not saying she's Sabalenka) is paying dividends, she looks so, so solid, her game doesn't look like it will break down easily.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Sonay will be taking something like £150k from this weeks work so far; that will be a massive deal for her and well deserved!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Always been an Emma believer

But didn't see much of her match

Saw a lot of Sonay's though

And didn't she do amazing well to get over the disappointment of the second set.....most people probably thought, that was your chance Sonay, now you've blown it. As I did, overall - although I also had faith that Burel's game can break down at any moment

A really really impressive third set in particular - so much pressure on that set