I've just checked the rankings and Nikola is live ranked 63, so given how close this match was it suggests that Mika must be not far top 100 level. I thought she handled the match really well and it's such a shame she couldn't quite get over the winning line.
Mika had set points in the second set breaker at 6-5, 7-6.8-7, and finally 9-8...
One set all.
Intriguing contest between a better athlete and tennis shotmaker (Mika) and a better tactician (miss B).
I don't think Mika is a better athlete - Nikola is very light on her feet, very agile, Mika is strong - they're different athletic qualities
But it's certainly an intriguing contest :)
Mika's saved a MP, or - more precisely - Nikola blew it when she went for too much on the backhand return
But still *5-6
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 5th of June 2026 04:15:01 PM
Hi CD,
I suppose what i mean by "better athlete" is mainly - much taller - but also amazingly fast across the court, considering her height.
She cerainly reached - just-- some drop shots that I thought were clear winners. These she often managed to return for winners of her own.
Badly executed dropshots that she reached when they were at waist height - not so much - they were more likely to be slapped into the net, pr wide.
I had the distinct impression that the match was on Mika's racquet, but that too often, after establishing a dominant position on the court, she managed to turn what should have then been the coup-de-grace easy winner into an UE.
Mika had set points in the second set breaker at 6-5, 7-6.8-7, and finally 9-8...
One set all.
Intriguing contest between a better athlete and tennis shotmaker (Mika) and a better tactician (miss B).
I don't think Mika is a better athlete - Nikola is very light on her feet, very agile, Mika is strong - they're different athletic qualities
But it's certainly an intriguing contest :)
Mika's saved a MP, or - more precisely - Nikola blew it when she went for too much on the backhand return
But still *5-6
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 5th of June 2026 04:15:01 PM
Hi CD,
I suppose what i mean by "better athlete" is mainly - much taller - but also amazingly fast across the court, considering her height.
She cerainly reached - just-- some drop shots that I thought were clear winners. These she often managed to return for winners of her own.
Badly executed dropshots that she reached when they were at waist height - not so much - they were more likely to be slapped into the net, pr wide.
I had the distinct impression that the match was on Mika's racquet, but that too often, after establishing a dominant position on the court, she managed to turn what should have then been the coup-de-grace easy winner into an UE.
Absolutely - Mika is miles speedier than she used to be, especially coming forward - the progress she made at Loughborough in terms of physique and athleticism was just brilliant
Add that to her power and long levers, which have just got better as she gets older and grown, and it's 100% moving in an exciting direction