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

paulisi · Tennis legend

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

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, I agree with paulisi and emmsie - Sonay's ranking is not a 'confirmed' one - it's like Walton today in the men, whose top-100 ranking is basically based on challengers.
Barring Wimbledon, I think she has only two wins against top-100 players. It's nothing at all against her, in fact, quite the opposite, she's always been a fave, from back when she was 18 or 19.
And everyone who gets into the top-100 for the first time will be on a slightly flimsy footing - after all, if they'd been beating top-100 players regularly, they'd already have been top-100 months before ! But it needs a few events/a bit of time to bed it in.

Peter too · Tennis legend

I think the first thing many players aim for is to get into the top 100. It's an achievement on its own and looks good on a CV for their career after tennis. Several players have reached that elite group by concentrating on high level ITF events. Once having crossed that line they can start adjusting to the new level of play and then attempt to establish themselves as far inside the top 100 as they can.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Coup Droit wrote:
This problem of playing away from home is one we've mentioned several times a year, for a while now

Although it sounds a bit harsh, I'd hoped she'd 'grown out of it' by now

She always hated travelling, played way more events in the UK than any other GB player, barely went abroad. Then went to Turkey a little (I believe she has some family there, although could be mistaken). And then - little by little - she seemed to be spreading her wings slightly, and also had some good success.

But she's never played in Asia, or South America, I don't think, and barely in the US etc

It's obvious it's a struggle for her

But that's a fundamental part of the career - and Australia is a far 'easier' country for a Brit to adapt to than a whole host of others

She's entered Singapore so will be away for a few more weeks yet. Maybe she would have lost anyway but not to play a warm up tournament when seemingly fit was a strange decision.

verveandsolley · Junior player

Harriets in and playing quite soon, match 2 on C12. Playing qualifier Jana Fett

verveandsolley · Junior player

Was Vondrousova as Markymc suggested

LordBrownof · Futures level

Harriet in as a LL? Fabulous!

So far, Jodie is playing well. Entirely on her racquet. She looks confident, focused, and aggressive *he touches wood*.

Jodie is up 6-2, 2-0.

B00thy · Lower Club Player

she wins, 6-4 in the 2nd

LordBrownof · Futures level

Jodie wins! 6-2, 6-4. Played great. Some wayward forehands at the end, but she played pretty well throughout. Looked dialed in.

Very emotional after match point. Well deserved!

miriam abc · Strong Club Player

Opponent had no break points, so must be good service games/serving by Jodie.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Jodie starts with good play setting up a f cc winner 0-15, then Leolia df 0-30, b winner from LJ after 1st 15-30, poor 2nd return error from Jodie 30-30, awful f error long after 1st from Jeanjean 30-40, bp saved by Leolia with a f cc winner after dominating the short rally 40-40, Jodie deep approach, LJ attempted lob miles long 40-A, Jodie crushes a f return winner off a 2nd for the break *1-0

Leolia volley error wide 15-0, Jodie f winner after good T 30-0, Burrage agg f after good play 40-0, good wide 1st unreturned 2-0*

unreturned 1st 15-0, Jodie agg f cc 15-15, good T 1st 30-15, JB agg return off a 1st 30-30, superb half-volley from LJ off aggressive return from Jodie 40-30, LJ b cc error wide 40-40, Jodie reaches Leolia's drop shot but can only steer her pass dtl wide A-, LJ f winner after 1st *2-1

good b cc winner from Leolia 0-15, LJ attacks the net after 2nd serve return but turns Jodie's b into a decent pass that she is unable to control on the half-volley 15-15, Burrage good f winner after 2nd 30-15, ace out wide 40-15,, ace T 3-1*

Jodie b dtl error net 15-0 unreturned 1st 30-0, good T unreturned 40-0, deep 2nd unreturned *3-2

Jodie agg f after 1st 15-0, df 15-15, JB agg b cc 30-15, awful f error long from Jodie, ran around b to attempt huge f but fired it miles long 30-30, Jodie f winner after good play 40-30, Jodie reaches LJ's drop shot and hit stunning f cc pass winner 4-2*

Jodie agg return off a 2nd 0-15, Burrage deep b 0-30, awful return error off a 2nd from Jodie 15-30, Burrage good agg b cc 15-40, super return winner off a 2nd for the break *5-2

Jodie f winner after good wide 1st 15-0 poor f error long from Burrage 15-15, unreturned 2nd just 30-15, ace think it was a 2nd serve 40-15, Jodie b error wide 40-30, good T unreturned 6-2

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If it was there to be hit, Jodie went for it. Most of the time her execution was impressive, with just the occasional horror shot.

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Jodie f error long 15-0, LJ lucky drop shot clipped the net 30-0, Leolia b winner after good wide 1st 40-0, aggressive return from Jodie 40-15, deep f cc from Jodie 40-30, Jodie pass after Jeanjean drop shot 40-40, good return off a 2nd 40-A, awful b error long from Leolia for the break *1-0

Jeanjean deep return 0-15, good f winner from Jodie 15-15, another good f winner this time after her serve 30-15, ace T 40-15, ace T 2-0*

Leolia b winner 15-0, unreturned 30-0, LJ deep b after 1st 40-0, Burrage drop shot 40-15, Leolia f winner after good wide 1st *2-1

unreturned 2nd 15-0, Jodie deep f 30-0, good wide 1st 40-0, df 40-15, Jodie f pass after a Burrage drop shot 3-1*

rushed Jeanjean b error after 1st 0-15, Burrage f winner 0-30, Leolia agg b dtl 15-30, brilliant lob winner from Jodie 15-40, ace T 30-40, poor 2nd serve return into the net 40-40, Leolia lucky net cord b winner after 2nd A-, Jodie goes for f dtl but fires it into the net *3-2

Leolia goes for b dtl but wide 15-0, Jodie good aggressive f after 1st 30-0, Leolia volley Jodie lob long 30-15, rushed Jodie f error net after 2nd 30-30, good Burrage b winner after 1st 40-30, unreturned 1st 4-2*

Unreturned 1st 15-0, Jodie b error net 30-0, Jodie wastes chance allowing Leolia f pass winner 40-0, poor return error off a 2nd *4-3

Jeanjean pass winner 0-15, awful return error off a 2nd 15-15, Jeanjean f error long 30-15, Jeanjean volley winner after deep return off a good T 1st 30-30, good T 2nd unreturned 40-30, awful return error off a 2nd 5-3*

super return winner from Jodie 0-15, poor f error long from Jodie 15-15, Jodie attacks a 2nd but can't land it in court 30-15, Burrage f cc error wide 40-15, Burrage f error long *5-4

Poor f dtl error from Leolia 15-0, good wide 1st unreturned 30-0, Jodie f winner after good T 2nd 40-0, lucky net cord f winner from Jodie 6-4

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A bit untidy though good enough to take the 2nd set. Returning 2nd serves is still a big issue; looks great when she fires a clean winner but so many straight in the net. Fortunately for Jodie, Leolia was also struggling to keep 2nd serve returns inside the court; Jodie won 71% of her 2nd serve points, Leolia 57%.

-- Edited by kundalini on Monday 13th of January 2025 02:43:30 AM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Harriet begins with a df 0-15, Fett super f dtl winner 0-30, Jana b drive volley winner after aggressive return off a 2nd 0-40, Harriet stunning b winner after good return from Jana 15-40, unreturned 1st 30-40, deep f from Harriet 40-40, ace out wide A-, Dart agg f 1-0*

Fett b just out after serve 0-15, Jana agg f after 1st 15-15, unreturned 30-15, Fett b error long 30-30, unreturned 1st 40-30, Fett f error long after 1st 40-40, brilliant f dtl winner from Harriet 40-A, good rally ultimately won by Jana deep b 40-40, Dart agg return (I think) 40-A, poor b dtl error wide from Harriet 40-40, df 40-A, Jana goes for f after serve but lands long for the break *2-0

ace 15-0, super f winner from JF 15-15, Harriet b error just long after 1st 15-30, Harriet sets up f but fires long 15-40, ace 30-40, Jana super f cc that Harriet can't control for the break 2-1*

Fett stunning attacking play finishing with f drive volley winner 15-0, unreturned 1st 30-0, df 30-15, high quality ball striking from Harriet using her opponent's pace then firing f winner 30-30, Jana b error net after 1st 30-40, Jana b error long for the break *3-1

Jana b dtl winner after super return 0-15, Harriet f winner after 1st 15-15, Harriet attempts f dtl but fires long 15-30, agg f dtl from Dart 30-30, decent return forces Harriet wide Dart f error net 30-40, Dart f cc error wide for the break 3-2*

Fett deep b after rally 15-0, Fett defends then lands deep b 30-0 - long delay as Harriet wants to see replay, Fett agg f 40-0, Jana good f winner after 1st 3-3

good T 1st 15-0, unreturned 2nd 30-0, Harriet fails to deal with blocked return that lands short 30-15, aggressive f cc from Jana 30-30 - Harriet disputing calls again, deep b from Jana 30-40, brilliant return winner off a 1st for the break 3-4*

Missed it 15-0, Jana f error long after Harriet's blocked return 15-15, Harriet gains the advantage in the rally, runs around b then fires f wide 30-15, Dart f error long 40-15, Fett super f winner *3-5

Missed it 15-0, unreturned 1st 30-0, good T 1st 40-0, repeat 4-5*

Unreturned 2nd 15-0, horror f drive volley error long from Jana 15-15, Jana goes for b cc after rally but lands wide 15-30, Jana b error long 15-40, Harriet subtle b cc pass from defensive position that Jana attempts stop volley but gets it all wrong, for the break - that was generous in the extreme 5-5

Unreturned 2nd 15-0, agg f from Jana 15-15, careless f error long from Fett 30-15, long rally ends with Fett f winner 30-30, super b dtl winner from Harriet 40-30, unreturned 1st 6-5*

Harriet f dtl winner after rally 0-15, Fett f winner after 1st 15-15, Dart defends then Fett b cc error wide 15-30, careless f error long from Harriet when in control 30-30, Fett volley winner 40-30, df 40-40, Jana f error net 40-A, Harriet has a slight chance after Jana drop shot but her f cc is just wide (difficult shot) 40-40, Jana f cc error wide 40-A, decent T 1st unreturned just 40-40, df 40-A, Jana f cc error wide 7-5

--

So Harriet wins a very strange opening set. Standard of play was all over the place, from sensational to garbage. Dreadful forehand drive volley error long from Jana when serving for the set seemed to be the crucial point. Harriet's boyfriend massaging her arms in between the sets, while Jana took a lengthy break off court.

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df 0-15, Jana deep f causes Harriet's f error just long 0-30, hopeless attempt at a 2nd serve lands in the net for a df 0-40, Jana rubbish return error long 15-40, a bit of a rally than awful Fett f error long 30-40, Jana defends then super lob sets up f dtl winner for the break 0-1*

df 0-15, Fett f winner after Harriet's blocked return 15-15, Jana f error long after 2nd 15-30, Jana f winner after good T 30-30, Fett drop shot sets up b pass winner - delightful play 40-30, unreturned 1st ? *0-2

Jana's attempt at an aggressive return off a 2nd lands long 15-0, Jana f cc error long 30-0, Jana f dtl winner 30-15, Fett agg return off a 2nd 30-30, Jana punishes a 2nd 30-40, a deeper 2nd is unreturned 40-40, Jana agg play sets up b dtl winner 40-A, Jana b error net after long rally 40-40, Jana return winner cc off a 2nd 40-A, unreturned 1st 40-40, Jana takes aim at another 2nd serve but her return lands just wide, agg f from Harriet 1-2*

Harriet poor shot selection gets b dtl all wrong 15-0, Harriet deep f 15-15, Jana hits routine b long after serve 15-30, Jana sets up f dtl only to fire it wide 15-40, good f dtl from Harriet after rally, for the break 2-2

decent T unreturned 15-0, Harriet b dtl just wide after 1st 15-15, good f cc from Dart 30-15, super play from Harriet finishing with f cc winner 40-15, Jana f dtl winner 40-30, deep f from Jana causes Harriet f error long 40-40, Jana attacks Harriet defends well but her lob is just long 40-A, this time Harriet attacks but her f is just wide, for the break 2-3*

Neither player's winners to unforced errors ratio looks good right now. Long delay for some reason. Didn't hear what umpire said. Physio appears and talks with Harriet. Strapping applied just below her knee.

Fairly aggressive return off a 2nd 0-15, Jana f winner after Harriet's blocked return 15-15, Jana f drive volley winner 30-15, Jana drop shot 40-15, Harriet f cc winner after good return 40-30, unreturned 1st *2-4

Woeful f error net after 2nd from Harriet 0-15, Harriet goes for ambitious f dtl after decent return but misses 0-30, Harriet b error long after 1st 0-40, Jana deep f produces f error long from Harriet, for the break 2-5*

Harriet punishes a 2nd 0-15, Jana f winner after good 1st 15-15, df 15-30, Jana agg f cc after rally 30-30, Harriet f error long 40-30, Harriet super return off a 1st 40-40, Harriet agg f cc 40-A, Jana agg f cc after Harriet's return clips the net 40-40, super f dtl winner after 1st A-, good wide 1st unreturned 2-6

--

Not sure if Harriet's injury is forcing her to change her game. Jana dominating most of the points.

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Harriet f winner after good T 15-0, Jana tame f error net 30-0, decent wide 1st unreturned (just) 40-0, unremarkable wide 1st unreturned 1-0*

For once, Harriet runs around her b and actually lands the f winner 0-15, Jana delightful drop shot winner after 1st 15-15, Harriet gets to Jana's drop shot but Jana gets to her cc drop shot too, Fett f pass winner into open space, nice rally 30-15, Harriet f wide 40-15, Dart poor f cc error net 1-1

Slow 2nd serve lands midway inside box useless return into net 15-0, ace out wide 30-0, Harriet agg f, Jana b pass just wide 40-0, ace out wide - this really is a strange match 2-1*

Fett f error wide 0-15, Fett f error long 0-30, df 0-40, good f dtl from Jana 15-40, Jana aggressive again, finishing with f winner 30-40, rubbish return into net off ordinary serve 40-40, Harriet b dtl winner after her lucky net cord set up chance 40-A, Jana f winner after rally 40-40, Fett b error wide after 2nd 40-A, Jana f winner 40-40, Jana f error net after Dart blocked return 40-A, Fett b error net, for the break *3-1

Unreturned 1st 15-0, huge return off a 2nd 15-15, repeat though this time a return winner 15-30, Dart f error long after good baseline rally 15-40, Harriet f pass winner after bizarre rally 30-40, Jana b dtl winner, for the break 3-2*

Dart b error miles long 15-0, Fett f cc error just wide after rally 15-15, Fett f error net after fairly agg f cc from Dart 15-30, Harriet attempts agg f but sticks it in the net 30-30, Jana f pass winner after lucky net cord 40-30, unreturned 1st 3-3

Harriet b error net after 2nd 0-15, Harriet wins astonishing rally after some stunning attacking tennis 15-15, Fett rubbish return error net off a 2nd 30-15, Harriet super f winner after good wide 1st 40-15, good return off a 1st 40-30, poor b error long from Dart 40-40, ace out wide A-, delightful drop shot winner from Jana after rally 40-40, agg return off a 2nd 40-A, Harriet aggressive, eventually forces error 40-40, Fett good return 40-A, Fett defends impressively then Harriet f error net, for the break 3-4*

Dart agg f 0-15, Fett f error long 0-30, Harriet horrible f drive volley error long 15-30, Harriet attacks, Jana lob just long 15-40, Jana big f winner after Harriet refused to attack ordinary 2nd serve 30-40, Fett drop shot into the net, for the break *4-4

Jana f dtl winner after rally 0-15, Fett blasts 2nd serve return long 15-15, decent wide 1st unreturned 30-15, brilliant f dtl winner from Jana 30-30, Dart f dtl error wide after 2nd 30-40, Dart b error long after 2nd, for the break 4-5*

Fett b error long 0-15, ace T 15-15, careless f error long from Jana 15-30, repeat 15-40, good T 2nd unreturned 30-40, df for the break 5-5

Someone has to win this match.

Harriet follows a good f dtl with a f into the net 0-15, super f cc winner from Harriet 15-15, good f cc on the run from Jana 15-30, Jana dominates finishing with b winner 15-40, Jana f winner for the break 5-6*

Jana f error long 0-15, Harriet b dtl error net 15-15, unreturned 1st 30-15, Harriet deep return forces error just wide 30-30, Harriet dominates but fails to get f cc over the net 40-30, vaguely aggressive shot from Harriet forces error from Jana 40-40, Fett super b winner after 1st A-, df 40-40, Jana f just wide after 1st 40-A, Harriet agg f dtl, for the break 6-6

unreturned 2nd 1-0*, Fett f error long after serve 2-0*, Fett f dtl error net *3-0, Unreturned 1st (just) *4-0, Jana f error long 5-0*, Dart agg b cc 6-0*, Jana agg f *6-1, Jana f cc error wide *7-1, Harriet poor f error net 7-2*, Harriet f error net 7-3*, long rally ends with Dart b dtl winner *8-3, Dart f dtl error long *8-4, Jana good b cc winner 8-5*, super f cc pass winner from Harriet 9-5*, Jana dominates *9-6, chance for Harriet but her f is wide after 1st *9-7, Jana f cc just wide 10-7

--

I regret watching this match. Hope Harriet enjoys her win and Jana doesn't feel too awful about how she threw it away, due to, i suspect, nerves overcoming her.

-- Edited by kundalini on Monday 13th of January 2025 01:01:14 PM

Crispy · Strong Club Player

Well done Jodie!!! What a start to your comeback.
And Harriet gets in as a LL and wins 7-6 in the third! What a morning.

Peter too · Tennis legend

There were lots of unforced errors and few service holds. Both seemed determined to lose the match. In the end Fett proved the more determined.

the addict · Tennis legend

Great news to wake up to !

R1:- Jodie Burrage (GBR) SR86 WR173 def Leolia Jeanjean (FRA) WR149 [Q] 6-2 6-4

R1:- Harriet Dart WR112 [LL] def Hana Fett (CRO) WR133 [Q] 7-5 2-6 7-6(7)

*****

R2:- Jodie Burrage (GBR) SR86 WR173 v Coco Gauff (USA) WR3 [3]

They have played once before - at Eastbourne in 2023 with Coco winning 1 & 1

R2:- Harriet Dart WR112 [LL] v Donna Vekic (CRO) WR19 [18]

They have met once before with Harriet winning 4 & 3 in Nottingham in 2022

-- Edited by the addict on Monday 13th of January 2025 08:00:14 AM