Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open - Main Draw - Melbourne (Hard)

B00thy · Lower Club Player

RE: Weeks 3 & 4 - Australian Open - Main Draw - Melbourne (Hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

To me, Katie has been been having to learn how to be much more positive and be all she can be in her late 20s. There seemed quite a number of rather wasted years and poor messaging under LTA tutelage.

Yes, I really do hope that she can embrace and own her undoubted ability.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Emma went behind against Anisimova and noticeably changed her game to recover and go ahead. If Anisimova gets a chance for a full swing at the ball, on either wing, she can create very powerful shots. After Emma had seen a few whistle past her, she changed her game to restrict Anisimova. Instead of her favoured wide swinging serves or ones down the T, serve after serve went straight for the body cramping her opponents shots. There were still times when Anisimova anticipated the shot, moved across in time to get a full swing at the ball but most of the time Emma was able to contain her. It was a game of cat and mouse, with Emma just able to contain her opponent enough to come out on top.

It will be interesting to see how she plays Iga. Emma says she has nothing to lose so can come out swinging. So maybe with no expectations she can feel free to go for her shots, and maybe recover some of the fluidity and confidence to go for the shots she displayed with such devastating effect in her first year on the WTA circuit. If she can make it competitive, win or lose it could be just what Emma needs to relax her for the rest of the season.

scottie1 · Futures level

Coup Droit wrote:
Var wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
That made me laugh out loud

If that's now fine, what did they do before - walk past each other, snarl and spit ?
I know, right?
She said she wrote him a long message and he responded to say he was disappointed but understood.
I dont see Andy coaching Emma at any time in the near future!

I dont think Emmas has anything to apologise about. We know she is going to be extra cautious with even the slightest twinge and pull out or reduce her matches in a tournament. If it was such a disappointment to Andy at the time he should have picked an experienced doubles player not the headline act.
I still think he should have picked Ella McDonald
A good doubles player
Scottish
And an up-and-coming youngster
It would have been a lovely way of passing on the torch
(And if not, he should have picked Heather - the crowd would have loved it - they'd have had a laugh - and could well have won)
Picking Emma, trying to be headline news, was just plain stupid
(and, yes, Emma - despite all her protestations - was never going to take a risk just for Andy's career swansong)

Although Ella was at Strling Academy for tennis my understanding is that she is not Scottish but from South of the Border Nirthumberland possibly

Lambda · Challenger level

scottie1 wrote:

Coup Droit wrote:
Var wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
That made me laugh out loud

If that's now fine, what did they do before - walk past each other, snarl and spit ?
I know, right?
She said she wrote him a long message and he responded to say he was disappointed but understood.
I dont see Andy coaching Emma at any time in the near future!

I dont think Emmas has anything to apologise about. We know she is going to be extra cautious with even the slightest twinge and pull out or reduce her matches in a tournament. If it was such a disappointment to Andy at the time he should have picked an experienced doubles player not the headline act.
I still think he should have picked Ella McDonald
A good doubles player
Scottish
And an up-and-coming youngster
It would have been a lovely way of passing on the torch
(And if not, he should have picked Heather - the crowd would have loved it - they'd have had a laugh - and could well have won)
Picking Emma, trying to be headline news, was just plain stupid
(and, yes, Emma - despite all her protestations - was never going to take a risk just for Andy's career swansong)
Although Ella was at Strling Academy for tennis my understanding is that she is not Scottish but from South of the Border Nirthumberland possibly

She's from Preston. Dad is a Geordie and former Newcastle Utd footballer.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Fair point - still should have picked her

To any southerner, it'll do

the addict · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
Thanks for the detail Strongbow - hopefully it won't change for the worse over the next week and a bit.

Bencic through after Osaka retires - now up 138 places on live rankings

indiana · Tennis legend

Emma vs Iga is first up on Rod Laver Arena tomorrow, 12.30 am GMT

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well, I've no idea which Emma would prefer - and it doesn't really matter - but I do think it's poor for the organisers to ALWAYS pander to/allow Iga to get her way re scheduling

She's very clear and upfront that she always 'asks' not to have a night match

"I just like to sleep normally" she says in justification

And, quelle surprise, she never gets a night match (not just at the Aussie Open, to be clear)

Var · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
Well, I've no idea which Emma would prefer - and it doesn't really matter - but I do think it's poor for the organisers to ALWAYS pander to/allow Iga to get her way re scheduling

She's very clear and upfront that she always 'asks' not to have a night match

"I just like to sleep normally" she says in justification

And, quelle surprise, she never gets a night match (not just at the Aussie Open, to be clear)

So right CD. Notwithstanding a night match would give more of us in the UK and Europe a better chamce to watch. Anyway, I wonder if Iga wants to dodge the evening crowds?Very vocal and bound to maybe express thoughts on her recent doping incident possibly?

Julia Carrot · All-time great

I'm warming up for Emma's match tonight by currently watching her v Belinda Bencic at US open. She lost the first two games but didn't bat an eyelid and just got better and better. Sadly, it seems to me that at 18 she was a much better player than she is now - I hope to be proved wrong tonight.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Emma has a 3 matches so far and all have been first on.

I suspect both Emma and Iga have been dictated by TV scheduling for the European market.

Lambda · Challenger level

paulisi wrote:
Emma has a 3 matches so far and all have been first on.

I suspect both Emma and Iga have been dictated by TV scheduling for the European market.

When most people in Europe are asleep? That's not very sensible TV scheduling for the European market.

indiana · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
paulisi wrote:
Emma has a 3 matches so far and all have been first on.

I suspect both Emma and Iga have been dictated by TV scheduling for the European market.

When most people in Europe are asleep? That's not very sensible TV scheduling for the European market.

Hmm, day session starts 12.30 am GMT, 1.30 am CET. Night session starts 8 am GMT, 9 am CET.

See CD above re Iga sessions.

miriam abc · Strong Club Player

Emma lost 1st set 6-1.