British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

indiana · Tennis legend

Week 30 - WTA500 - Washington, USA - Hard

HarryGem · Club Coach

indiana wrote:
Var wrote:
MrTSymonds wrote:
Live ranked 32.
If it wasn't for the weird schedule of the next two tournaments, she'd have been seeded, but I think she might need one more win to be seeded for the Cincinnati.

She just mentioned being wobbly at the end of that game. I think she's going to withdraw from the doubles.
Rybakina isnt even on court yet. Her singles match isnt scheduled until 21.00. It wouldnt be fair to then ask her to play doubles immediately afterwards. I think they may reschedule anyway.

-- Edited by Var on Friday 25th of July 2025 06:36:52 PM
I doubt that they will reschedule. They would presumably give Elena some rest and it isn't going to be late locally, particularly as Medvedev has motored through the first set vs Moutet.
So I think it will be purely up to Emma & Elena as to whether they want to play tonight.

Medvedev currently in third set which could go all the way. Schedule currently shows Rybakina estimated 10.15pm start UK time and doubles scheduled for 10.30pm UK time.

Townsend has also just played 2 hours 20 minutes in singles. Something will have to give or the doubles match will have to be rescheduled for the night session. Depends on Rybakina's singles match which could last 2 hours though. Think they are likely to pull out unless the match is rescheduled for late tomorrow.

Jan · Hall of fame

Good news to come home to! Well done Emma!

miriam abc · Club Coach

They retired at 4-1 down in the doubles.

Peter too · Tennis legend

QF: Emma Raducanu (GBR) WR46 def Maria Sakkari (GRE) WR90 6-4 7-5

SF: Emma Raducanu (GBR) WR46 v Anna Kalinskaya (***) WR48

Peter too · Tennis legend

It would be better for Emma is Leylah beat Elena in the other SF. Emma beat Leylah in Junior Wimbledon and the USA Open final. Emma lost 0 & 1 to Elena when she played her in 2022. Of course Emma has to get past Anna before that becomes relevant.

Mervatron2 · Challenger level

Great to see Emma in a semi again. Tough but winnable SF too.

indiana · Tennis legend

miriam abc wrote:
They retired at 4-1 down in the doubles.

Hmm, play it or don't play it rather than start it and decide "this isn't going well and we've got our singies, so thanks for coming along, opposition and crowd, but we're done".

... if that was the scenario, and hopefully they are fit and well.

FWIW the drawsheet says "Raducanu - Headache"

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of July 2025 08:40:08 AM

Julia Carrot · All-time great

indiana wrote:
miriam abc wrote:
They retired at 4-1 down in the doubles.
Hmm, play it or don't play it rather than start it and decide "this isn't going well and we've got our singies, so thanks for coming along, opposition and crowd, but we're done".
... if that was the scenario, and hopefully they are fit and well.
FWIW the drawsheet says "Raducanu - Headache"

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of July 2025 08:40:08 AM

Thank you. I was wondering . Oh well, that seems quite plausible, heat related headache (not nice) and will pass. So glad not back spasms or anything else physical.

wimbledont · Intermediate Club Player

Headache in conditions of extreme heat can be one symptom of a very serious medical condition. I forget whether its heat exhaustion. hyperthermia or heat stroke - anyway, medical advice would be to stop playing immediately, seek shade and try to reduce body temperature, by rehydrating and using icepacks.

(Or just a feeble excuse to skive off early and prioritise singles.) Who knows? certainly not me. I'm not a doctor, and my first aid is well out of date, so please nobody follow the advice above, which is rusty. But certainly headache when exercising in hot conditions can be non-trivial - and it is possible that Emma was not given the option to continue, if she reported a headache to the tournament medicos. Compulsory doctor's orders to retire from the match...

B00thy · Club Coach

Headaches in extreme heat can indicate reduced blood flow to the brain which is highly dangerous. With pretty much all players needing ice packs, double fans, increased electrolytes etc the tournament doctor will have taken that very seriously you'd think

Var · Futures qualifying

Julia Carrot wrote:
indiana wrote:
miriam abc wrote:
They retired at 4-1 down in the doubles.
Hmm, play it or don't play it rather than start it and decide "this isn't going well and we've got our singies, so thanks for coming along, opposition and crowd, but we're done".
... if that was the scenario, and hopefully they are fit and well.
FWIW the drawsheet says "Raducanu - Headache"

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of July 2025 08:40:08 AM
Thank you. I was wondering . Oh well, that seems quite plausible, heat related headache (not nice) and will pass. So glad not back spasms or anything else physical.

It also makes you start to understand why doubles is not as popular with the top players as it was a few years ago. To start a match again so soon after Rybakina came off court seems bizarre especially in the conditions. They definitely made the right call. It makes you wonder if they should have mixed doubles for example and womens and mens doubles as separate events, pre or post main competitions. Otherwise you just wonder if they will start to fade away from tour events. Sad really.

Brendan F · Intermediate Club Player

Var wrote:
Julia Carrot wrote:
indiana wrote:
miriam abc wrote:
They retired at 4-1 down in the doubles.
Hmm, play it or don't play it rather than start it and decide "this isn't going well and we've got our singies, so thanks for coming along, opposition and crowd, but we're done".
... if that was the scenario, and hopefully they are fit and well.
FWIW the drawsheet says "Raducanu - Headache"

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of July 2025 08:40:08 AM
Thank you. I was wondering . Oh well, that seems quite plausible, heat related headache (not nice) and will pass. So glad not back spasms or anything else physical.
It also makes you start to understand why doubles is not as popular with the top players as it was a few years ago. To start a match again so soon after Rybakina came off court seems bizarre especially in the conditions. They definitely made the right call. It makes you wonder if they should have mixed doubles for example and womens and mens doubles as separate events, pre or post main competitions. Otherwise you just wonder if they will start to fade away from tour events. Sad really.

Which is why it's a dumb idea to have singles players playing doubles. There are enough doubles specialists for the 2 events to continue alongside each other. I don't think it's necessary even at lower levels either. The players should know if it's something they can do well in or not, and if not just concentrate on singles.

Var · Futures qualifying

Brendan F wrote:
Var wrote:
Julia Carrot wrote:
indiana wrote:
miriam abc wrote:
They retired at 4-1 down in the doubles.
Hmm, play it or don't play it rather than start it and decide "this isn't going well and we've got our singies, so thanks for coming along, opposition and crowd, but we're done".
... if that was the scenario, and hopefully they are fit and well.
FWIW the drawsheet says "Raducanu - Headache"

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 26th of July 2025 08:40:08 AM
Thank you. I was wondering . Oh well, that seems quite plausible, heat related headache (not nice) and will pass. So glad not back spasms or anything else physical.
It also makes you start to understand why doubles is not as popular with the top players as it was a few years ago. To start a match again so soon after Rybakina came off court seems bizarre especially in the conditions. They definitely made the right call. It makes you wonder if they should have mixed doubles for example and womens and mens doubles as separate events, pre or post main competitions. Otherwise you just wonder if they will start to fade away from tour events. Sad really.
Which is why it's a dumb idea to have singles players playing doubles. There are enough doubles specialists for the 2 events to continue alongside each other. I don't think it's necessary even at lower levels either. The players should know if it's something they can do well in or not, and if not just concentrate on singles.

Yeah but it isnt what it was. I doubt it is commercially viable moving forward. Also a lot of singles specialists may benefit from playing doubles. Coco played doubles until recently , the Williams sisters. It isnt a question of being a dumb idea to let singles player enter doubles competitions but recognising the likes of Raducanu and Rybakina are a much bigger draw to audiences and may represent a way to allow doubles to resurge in popularity, as well as adding to a single specialists game.

-- Edited by Var on Saturday 26th of July 2025 01:37:12 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, they may never be going to be great at doubles but a lot of singles players, particuiarly younger players can benefit their singles by playing doubles alongside singies, particularly around the net.

There will be many posts over the years on the forum encouraging players to enter doubles for just these reasons.