British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

the addict · Tennis legend

Week 46 - ITF W50 Brisbane, Australia - Hard

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Some good Aussies in this field - Inglis, Jones, Carbrera, Aiava and Preston - all will be looking to boost their Aussie Open hopes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Katie is over her injuries - a sign of the quality of the field is that she is unseeded here and it will be real challenge for her I think. One plus note is that Brisbane tends to not be overly hot (by Aussie standards), so after the tropics of Darwin, that should be much better conditions for Katie to play in.

B00thy · County player

It's been illness rather than injury that Katie has been suffering from isn't?

My view is that this the kind of field that is almost perfect for Katie for where she is right now. A match or two she should win and a few in the field that will be a challenge for her in view of the kind of opposition she's been up against as Katie 2.0.

Illness or injury notwithstanding it will show her where she is right now as she starts thinking about her goals for 2026

Andy Parker · Club Coach

It was an injury took her out of Darwin and she was really struggling. She has had quite a lot of minor niggles this season with her back - lots of stretching down to her feet between points in some tournaments. I wasn't aware of illness - please tell me more. She is starting play in a few minutes, so hoping to find it live, but it is always a bit hit and miss.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

First set to Katie 6-3. She lost her serve in the opening game, but then raced to a 4-1 lead and after that it went with serve. She looks the better player here and is moving Barry around the court, but not exactly a vintage performance as yet.

-- Edited by Andy Parker on Wednesday 12th of November 2025 01:22:26 AM

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Katie won 6-3 6-1 - Barry took the opening game of the second set, but after losing her next service game had excellent chances to break back - but Katie held on to take a 3-1 lead and after that it was all plain sailing. A good performance, but a tougher test in Round 2 if Cabrera comes through.

B00thy · County player

She mentioned in an instagram post that she had suffered from heat illness whilst in Australia.

the addict · Tennis legend

R1:- Katie Swan (GBR) WR317 def Monique Barry (NZL) WR644 [Q4] 6-1 6-3

*****

L16:- Katie Swan (GBR) WR317 v Lizette Cabrera (AUS) WR229 [6]

B00thy · County player

Andy Parker wrote:
It was an injury took her out of Darwin and she was really struggling. She has had quite a lot of minor niggles this season with her back - lots of stretching down to her feet between points in some tournaments. I wasn't aware of illness - please tell me more. She is starting play in a few minutes, so hoping to find it live, but it is always a bit hit and miss.

I watched her closely when she was playing in at least one match when she was doubling over .. but she was not stretching, just feeling terrible

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I had been under the impression that it was a heat issue in Darwin, though I didn't see her matches.

indiana · Tennis legend

Anyway, nice win there though now a fair step up in R2.

RJH1962 · Strong Club Player

indiana wrote:
Anyway, nice win there though now a fair step up in R2.

It will give a good indication as to where her game is right now

Andy Parker · Club Coach

B00thy wrote:
She mentioned in an instagram post that she had suffered from heat illness whilst in Australia.

Anyone playing any strenuous sport in Darwin is likely to feel the heat. The humidity is extreme. As someone who has travelled to more than 90 countries in the world and many with higher temperatures than Darwin, all I can say is that it seems to have a particular humidity that saps the body of all energy in a very quick time period. I would say heat illness is what nearly all of us would feel if we attempted to play sport out there - fatigue, stomach cramps and diarrhoea unbelievable amount of sweating - the tropics there are extreme.

Was Darwin an ill advised choice of tournament - it was certainly a bold decision to go there, and one that didn't pay off - but the main thing is she is back now, and no hints of illness or injury last night.

Next up - Cabrera at 1.30 am UK time, the temperature yesterday was a pleasant 25 degrees where she was playing - in the south of Brisbane, down by the river.

foobarbaz · Club Coach

Comfortable win for Swan 6-2 6-4 in just 1hr 25m. Katie striking the ball with consistency and venom, and the serve was very effective also.

RJH1962 · Strong Club Player

RJH1962 wrote:
indiana wrote:
Anyway, nice win there though now a fair step up in R2.
It will give a good indication as to where her game is right now

It seems her game is in a very good place