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

Julia Carrot · All-time great

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

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

At least Vekic who beat Harriet and Kudermatova who beat Katie are still in the competion,

indiana · Tennis legend

GAMEOVER wrote:
At least Vekic who beat Harriet and Kudermatova who beat Katie are still in the competion,

I think Kudermetova's 6-4 6-2 win over Haddad Maia may be further indication of how beatable (15) Haddad Maia is just now and what a good draw Katie had and great opportunity to reach the L16.

9vicman · Satellite level

GAMEOVER wrote:
At least Vekic who beat Harriet and Kudermatova who beat Katie are still in the competion,

I always prefer it when the players who beat Brits go on to lose. For me, less of a what might have been. Appreciate all match-ups are different.

9vicman · Satellite level

Var wrote:
Yes agree a bit worse than expected TA. However she hasnt really played that well and I think was lucky to get through the first two rounds with the issues she has had with her serve. Hopefully this sends a strong message, needs a lot more match practice.Have to say I am not an Iga fan since her doling incident and fell I have lost trust in her. Tips for the title, I have been impressed wit( Rybakina.

Even if the manner of victories weren't pretty, wins over Alexandrova and Anisimova at a Slam are not to be sneezed at in a first event of the season post injury.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

9vicman wrote:
Var wrote:
Yes agree a bit worse than expected TA. However she hasnt really played that well and I think was lucky to get through the first two rounds with the issues she has had with her serve. Hopefully this sends a strong message, needs a lot more match practice.Have to say I am not an Iga fan since her doling incident and fell I have lost trust in her. Tips for the title, I have been impressed wit( Rybakina.
Even if the manner of victories weren't pretty, wins over Alexandrova and Anisimova at a Slam are not to be sneezed at in a first event of the season post injury.

Rybakina says her back is killing her so we'll see where she is

And I agree, 9vicman, Emma is a success story for GB in this event - she got through three matches without quitting, or hobbling too obviously, and got two very decent wins. Given how little the woman is ever on court, it's a good showing. And rather backs up her stance of only playing high profile events.

the addict · Tennis legend

Emma is up 60 points from last year - and provisionally 5 places to WR56

Sheddie · administrator

indiana wrote:
GAMEOVER wrote:
At least Vekic who beat Harriet and Kudermatova who beat Katie are still in the competion,
I think Kudermetova's 6-4 6-2 win over Haddad Maia may be further indication of how beatable (15) Haddad Maia is just now and what a good draw Katie had and great opportunity to reach the L16.

Kudermetova is a former Aussie Open semifinalist and has been top 10. She was a tough second round draw for Katie.

Sheddie · administrator

I also think we're being a bit harsh on Emma.

I watched most of the match and Iga came knowing that she needed to produce a high level, played absolutely lights out from start to finish. Emma didn't serve as well as she did in the Fed Cup or at times in the first couple of rounds, and maybe first ever match on Rod Laver Arena was a little different to being on the outside courts.

I think she's made huge strides in her level in the last couple of years, and do firmly believe that if she can get more physically robust, Emma will become a fixture in the top 20 and likely the top 10, based on her trajectory over the last year. She's got the higher ceiling than Katie, and I think she'd beat Jodie, Harriet and Sonay fairly comfortably right now.

Like everyone, I've found Emma a bit frustrating and at times hard to root for - the carousel of coaches, the odd scheduling, the refusal to play qualies in Masters/slams, and general stand-offish approach with the media (all of which have shown major signs of improvement). But watching her since last April, I've been repeatedly impressed by how her game is developing.

She's such a good returner - she's really developed the ability to put a lot of pressure on the server, which played a big role in her first and second round wins here. And while her own serve is still a bit inconsistent, it's showing signs of becoming a real weapon at times. In particular, she's developing an almost 'Nadal-like' steeliness on break points - she unerringly manages to either find a big serve or play a great point from the back of the court at those moments - that really got into the head of both Anisimova and Alexandrova. They were both getting exceedingly frustrated at how hard it was to convert break points.

None of this was as evident in round 3, largely because Iga played so damn well, but also because - maybe due to the back issue or something else - Emma wasn't quite at her A game.

But add to that the fact that she's such a good mover now, and a growing weight of shot off the forehand, she's one of the most dangerous counter-punchers on the tour. With Cavaday, she's also clearly been working on adding a little bit of variety - she threw in a couple of excellent dropshots, and probably should have used that more against Iga. Plus she's a decent volleyer, and that side of her game is only going to get better as well.

So if she plays a full tour, I think she'll definitely be back in the top 15, and making the second week of a few more majors. Remains to be seen whether she can really challenge the likes of Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka, right at the very pinnacle, but I think she's going places again.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

I think it was the younger Kudermetova we were expecting to do well. not the older one.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

We forget that Emma was the first British woman to reach the 3rd round of the AO since Jo Konta in 2017.

RJH1962 · Intermediate Club Player

Sheddie wrote:
I also think we're being a bit harsh on Emma.

I watched most of the match and Iga came knowing that she needed to produce a high level, played absolutely lights out from start to finish. Emma didn't serve as well as she did in the Fed Cup or at times in the first couple of rounds, and maybe first ever match on Rod Laver Arena was a little different to being on the outside courts.

I think she's made huge strides in her level in the last couple of years, and do firmly believe that if she can get more physically robust, Emma will become a fixture in the top 20 and likely the top 10, based on her trajectory over the last year. She's got the higher ceiling than Katie, and I think she'd beat Jodie, Harriet and Sonay fairly comfortably right now.

Like everyone, I've found Emma a bit frustrating and at times hard to root for - the carousel of coaches, the odd scheduling, the refusal to play qualies in Masters/slams, and general stand-offish approach with the media (all of which have shown major signs of improvement). But watching her since last April, I've been repeatedly impressed by how her game is developing.

She's such a good returner - she's really developed the ability to put a lot of pressure on the server, which played a big role in her first and second round wins here. And while her own serve is still a bit inconsistent, it's showing signs of becoming a real weapon at times. In particular, she's developing an almost 'Nadal-like' steeliness on break points - she unerringly manages to either find a big serve or play a great point from the back of the court at those moments - that really got into the head of both Anisimova and Alexandrova. They were both getting exceedingly frustrated at how hard it was to convert break points.

None of this was as evident in round 3, largely because Iga played so damn well, but also because - maybe due to the back issue or something else - Emma wasn't quite at her A game.

But add to that the fact that she's such a good mover now, and a growing weight of shot off the forehand, she's one of the most dangerous counter-punchers on the tour. With Cavaday, she's also clearly been working on adding a little bit of variety - she threw in a couple of excellent dropshots, and probably should have used that more against Iga. Plus she's a decent volleyer, and that side of her game is only going to get better as well.

So if she plays a full tour, I think she'll definitely be back in the top 15, and making the second week of a few more majors. Remains to be seen whether she can really challenge the likes of Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka, right at the very pinnacle, but I think she's going places again.

Not sure she would easily beat any of the 3 other brits you mentioned. I would think they would all be close and Id fancy at least 1 to beat her.

indiana · Tennis legend

I do think it may still take a fair bit of time to get consistently close to where she wants to be. But unless having a real off day yes I do think Emma would comfortably beat each of Jodie, Harriet and Sonay even now. And I mean off as against her current general level rather than her potential level which is on another scale to these players, much as I support them.

Over the next couple of years, fit and well, with her underlying talent and with the better focus signs I have been seeing recently, I do think she can at least be an established top 20 player and serial contender.

She is certainly our best prospect ( Katie included ) of getting near the very top of the women's game, and a fair bit stronger than she was during that glorious US Open 2021.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 18th of January 2025 08:59:16 PM

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

RJH1962 wrote:
Sheddie wrote:
I also think we're being a bit harsh on Emma.

I watched most of the match and Iga came knowing that she needed to produce a high level, played absolutely lights out from start to finish. Emma didn't serve as well as she did in the Fed Cup or at times in the first couple of rounds, and maybe first ever match on Rod Laver Arena was a little different to being on the outside courts.

I think she's made huge strides in her level in the last couple of years, and do firmly believe that if she can get more physically robust, Emma will become a fixture in the top 20 and likely the top 10, based on her trajectory over the last year. She's got the higher ceiling than Katie, and I think she'd beat Jodie, Harriet and Sonay fairly comfortably right now.

Like everyone, I've found Emma a bit frustrating and at times hard to root for - the carousel of coaches, the odd scheduling, the refusal to play qualies in Masters/slams, and general stand-offish approach with the media (all of which have shown major signs of improvement). But watching her since last April, I've been repeatedly impressed by how her game is developing.

She's such a good returner - she's really developed the ability to put a lot of pressure on the server, which played a big role in her first and second round wins here. And while her own serve is still a bit inconsistent, it's showing signs of becoming a real weapon at times. In particular, she's developing an almost 'Nadal-like' steeliness on break points - she unerringly manages to either find a big serve or play a great point from the back of the court at those moments - that really got into the head of both Anisimova and Alexandrova. They were both getting exceedingly frustrated at how hard it was to convert break points.

None of this was as evident in round 3, largely because Iga played so damn well, but also because - maybe due to the back issue or something else - Emma wasn't quite at her A game.

But add to that the fact that she's such a good mover now, and a growing weight of shot off the forehand, she's one of the most dangerous counter-punchers on the tour. With Cavaday, she's also clearly been working on adding a little bit of variety - she threw in a couple of excellent dropshots, and probably should have used that more against Iga. Plus she's a decent volleyer, and that side of her game is only going to get better as well.

So if she plays a full tour, I think she'll definitely be back in the top 15, and making the second week of a few more majors. Remains to be seen whether she can really challenge the likes of Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka, right at the very pinnacle, but I think she's going places again.
Not sure she would easily beat any of the 3 other brits you mentioned. I would think they would all be close and Id fancy at least 1 to beat her.

Sometimes the pressure of playing another Brit can get to a player such as Katie with Harriet at Wimbledon.