Heather or Laura

Ash_Smith

Legend
Catching up on the Aussie Open from last night and was watching the super Brits Heather Watson's and Laura Robson's matches...

Laura:
Tall, lefty, big serve, big forehand. Improving physical strength and athleticism, but not up there with the best yet, footwork can get a little lazy (by her own admission). Ball striking as good as anybody on tour when in position, but prone to UE's when not. Likes to pound the winners.

Heather:
Shorter, righty, great athlete and very, very strong. Great hands and very good defender from the back of the court. Can move up the court and finish from the mid-court/net well, but indecisive (prefers defending the baseline).

Both 19 (well Laura turns 19 next week), both ranked about 50 in the world, both have career earnings of around $500,000.00.

So, question - who would you rather be? (essentially this is a question of game styles!)

Cheers
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Radwanska in trouble

Catching up on the Aussie Open from last night and was watching the super Brits Heather Watson's and Laura Robson's matches...

Laura:
Tall, lefty, big serve, big forehand. Improving physical strength and athleticism, but not up there with the best yet, footwork can get a little lazy (by her own admission). Ball striking as good as anybody on tour when in position, but prone to UE's when not. Likes to pound the winners.

Heather:
Shorter, righty, great athlete and very, very strong. Great hands and very good defender from the back of the court. Can move up the court and finish from the mid-court/net well, but indecisive (prefers defending the baseline).

Both 19 (well Laura turns 19 next week), both ranked about 50 in the world, both have career earnings of around $500,000.00.

So, question - who would you rather be? (essentially this is a question of game styles!)

Cheers
----->
Watson wants Radwanska revenge
ESPN staff
January 16, 2013 « Chelsea target Aspas to stay in Spain | Man United share increase values club at £1.63 billion »
Heather Watson roars with delight © Getty Images
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News: Watson returns from the precipice to beat Pervak
Profile: Heather Watson

Heather Watson is determined to avenge last year's defeat to Agnieszka Radwanska when she takes on the Pole in the third round of the Australian Open.

Watson was forced to dig deep as she came from behind to secure a 4-6 7-6(7) 6-2 victory over Ksenia Pervak to set up a rematch with the world No. 4.

Radwanska handed Watson a sobering 6-0 6-2 defeat in the third round at Wimbledon last year.

"That killed me," Watson said of her defeat to Radwanska. "I was so upset. I was playing at home in front of everyone and I just got wiped off the court."

Watson, who was not aware of her third-round opponent, claiming she had not looked at the draw, believes she learnt a great deal from that defeat and comes into the match a different player after landing her maiden WTA title at the end of last season.

"Well, she's a very different player to most of the girls," Watson said of her next opponent. "She's consistent, got great feel, so it's going to be another physical match.

"I've played her before, so I've got that feeling. I think the first time I played her I just went guns blazing, didn't know what to do. Just went for way too much. This time I'm coming in a different player, and I'm going to approach it differently."
Read more at http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/188566.html#R6ohgHkicMjwyLTg.99
 
I like robsons game a little more but always when a see a tall, hard hitting woman with limited movement I see firls like hantuchova, ivanovic and to some extend sharapova (when she is not on), i.e tons of UEs.

Often those girls dominate for some time but then opponents figure out how to neutralize that big FH and make them run.

that is not always the case (see davenport) but to be consistenly successfull (not only some fluke tournaments when their big hitting is on fire) she needs to improve her movement. not an easy task if you are 6 and taller as a woman.

but I do think she can do some damage maybe even win a slam.
 

safc_number10

New User
Laura Robson will have the best career IMO. Mainly down to her height, strong serve and that she has already taken top players out in major competition.

I think they both could be in the top 20 soon though.

Would be great for either of them if they could pull off a victory in their next matches (v Kiviota/Radwanska).
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Scheduling of matches

Laura Robson will have the best career IMO. Mainly down to her height, strong serve and that she has already taken top players out in major competition.

I think they both could be in the top 20 soon though.

Would be great for either of them if they could pull off a victory in their next matches (v Kiviota/Radwanska).

Very hard to figure out scheduling of matches-probably NOT today.
The proper spelling is "Kvitova"-not trying to be a smart ass :)
 
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sureshs

Bionic Poster
Did either of them develop through the 10 and under or whatever is the ITF equivalent, or did that happen later?
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Probably not, if Heather was at IMG. I remember even when the 10 and under was introduced, Nick went on record opposing it, and then did a 180 degree turnaround.
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
She went to IMG at 12, she would have been well out of 10u tennis systems by then. Whether she did anything within a mini tennis system before then I don't know. She's quite busy in Oz at the moment too, so I can't ask her!
 

rkelley

Hall of Fame
Catching up on the Aussie Open from last night and was watching the super Brits Heather Watson's and Laura Robson's matches...

Laura:
Tall, lefty, big serve, big forehand. Improving physical strength and athleticism, but not up there with the best yet, footwork can get a little lazy (by her own admission). Ball striking as good as anybody on tour when in position, but prone to UE's when not. Likes to pound the winners.

Heather:
Shorter, righty, great athlete and very, very strong. Great hands and very good defender from the back of the court. Can move up the court and finish from the mid-court/net well, but indecisive (prefers defending the baseline).

Both 19 (well Laura turns 19 next week), both ranked about 50 in the world, both have career earnings of around $500,000.00.

So, question - who would you rather be? (essentially this is a question of game styles!)

Cheers

I'll play.

So knowing nothing about either woman other than what you wrote, I'd pick Laura Robson.

Robson's tall and a lefty. You can't teach either of those things (let's just forget Nadal and the lefty thing). Her height will allow her to have a big serve, and lefty factor will just add to its effectiveness if she learns to use it to its best advantage. You say she's got the hands and eyes to hit big if she keeps her feet moving - well footwork is something you can teach, work on, and fix. At the very top you have to be able to hit winners on some kind of regular basis and she's apparently doing that. It can't all be just about great defense, though that's super important in today's game.

Heather sounds like she could be a really good player. I don't know how tall she is, but at some point it's really hard to have a world class serve if you don't have the height. Weak serves get pounded on the WTA, and there are too many weak serves. Fast and strong are always good (speed never has a slump), but to get to the top you have to be able to produce winners, not just defend and grind.

Maybe I'll watch them hit and totally change my mind.
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Fyi

^^^not sure actually, Heather started playing at about 7 and went to IMG at 12 and Laura I don't know.

I put a seperate thread entitled "For Ash" in the instruction section
Sorry for an awkward way way of communicating.
I do NOT do Facebook and Twitt
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
Well, I think height and weapons are winning the day over athleticism and grit at the moment.

*SPOILER - maybe*

Laura did show some real guts and determination against Kvitova! Hope Heather can get the W over A.Rad tonight
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
baffling isn't it!

I don't really know laura very well, but on the odd occasion I have spoken to her she has been very pleasant and speaks very well. Heather I know better and she is lovely!

Hoping they push each other all the way!
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
^^^Not seen loads of her play, but seems to have a lot going for her.

Forehand looks good, but she pulls off it a little too often for my liking.

Serve looks tidy too, ball toss is on the high side so I wonder whether she is losing some potential momentum, but the timing seems to work for her, so no worries at the moment.

Backhand is a bit short (lacks extension) and punchy, which is a worry for me as she does't seem to move well laterally (especially to that backhand side) so she could often leave the ball short off that wing. Left hand looks very strong through contact, which would suggest she may struggle on the DTL backhand (pretty essential in the womens game).

Havent seen enough to know if she can get up the court, but is she's got a drive volley (very essential in the womens game) then she should do fine.

Cheers
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Guardian online

baffling isn't it!

I don't really know laura very well, but on the odd occasion I have spoken to her she has been very pleasant and speaks very well. Heather I know better and she is lovely!

Hoping they push each other all the way!

There is an article of Guardian online about Radwanska vs Watson.
Did you read the article?
If yes do you agree with the article?
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Please see my post #25

Just noticed 5263 got banned, along with JY yet sureshs survives and keeps going.

I like Laura's game, she seems like a nice girl as well. Haven't really seen Heather play so can't comment. Crazy times in tennis, the Brits have a Grand Slam champion, 2 bright up and coming ladies, and a Canadian is the highest ranked North American.
Please see my post #25
 

Avles

Hall of Fame
Heather I know better and she is lovely!

Good to know-- her on-court persona seems very positive but it's nice to get confirmation from someone who knows her.

Hope she keeps progressing! Her game is definitely fun to watch.
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
There is an article of Guardian online about Radwanska vs Watson.
Did you read the article?
If yes do you agree with the article?

I'm not usually a big Guardian reader Julian! Have just looked at the article though and yeah, I would say it's pretty fair and balanced. My analysis of the match beforehand was (and still is afterwards) that Radwanska is essentially Heather but four years further down the road (although I actually believe H is a better athlete), more experience, more matches at this level under her belt and H will be right up there i'm sure. When they played at Wimby and Radwanska double bagled her, Heather (by her own admission) went for too much too early in the rally. This time she looked to be more patient, maybe too patient as Radwanska is an expert at controlling the point.

Cheers
 
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LeeD

Bionic Poster
Kinda like Goolagong vs Everts.
For true artists, maybe Watson.
For technicians, Robson.
For technicians who wish they were artists, a little; of both.
For artists who wish they were technicians.......
KISS works for tiny brained players like myself, as too many options only confuse the overall goal.
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Courts in England?

I'm not usually a big Guardian reader Julian! Have just looked at the article though and yeah, I would say it's pretty fair and balanced. My analysis of the match beforehand was (and still is afterwards) that Radwanska is essentially Heather but four years further down the road (although I actually believe H is a better athlete), more experience, more matches at this level under her belt and H will be right up there i'm sure. When they played at Wimby and Radwanska double bagled her, Heather (by her own admission) went for too much too early in the rally. This time she looked to be more patient, maybe too patient as Radwanska is an expert at controlling the point.

Cheers
Is Any surface/courts in England which can be used to prepare well for Australian Open?
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
^^^Julian - yes many indoor facilities in the UK (and quite a few outdoor) use an acrylic surface like Plexicushion, Rebound Ace, GreenSet or similar. A lot of the commercial tennis/leisure clubs still have carpet indoors sadly - although a few are installing acrylic options for their members!

At the National Tennis Centre (where Heather, Laura, Jo Konta and the juniors trained for the Aussie we have GreenSet Grand Prix with under-floor heating (which gets turned way up through december to help with acclimatisation - nightmare for the coaches and other players not going to Oz!).

So yeah, plenty of good prep available now!
 
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julian

Hall of Fame
So you are ahead of Poland

^^^Julian - yes many indoor facilities in the UK (and some outdoor) use an acrylic surface like Rebound Ace or similar.

At the National Tennis Centre (where Heather, Laura, Jo Konta and the juniors trained for the Aussie we have GreenSet Grand Prix with under-floor heating (which gets turned way up through december to help with acclimatisation - nightmare for the coaches and other players not going to Oz!).

So yeah, plenty of good prep available now!
So you are ahead of Poland-good for you
Does one teach how to slide on Rebound Ace?
PS There is one facility with Rebound Ace 20 miles away from me
 
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Ash_Smith

Legend
Ahead of Poland?

Teach to slide on acrylic - as a general rule I wouldn't, purely because the paint has the sand in to create the grain and control the speed. The friction is pretty high, so unless it was a really, really slick, quick acrylic court I wouldn't teach to slide from a player safety perspective (although my guys do sometimes get wheelspin!)
 

julian

Hall of Fame
I meant facilitywise

Ahead of Poland?

Teach to slide on acrylic - as a general rule I wouldn't, purely because the paint has the sand in to create the grain and control the speed. The friction is pretty high, so unless it was a really, really slick, quick acrylic court I wouldn't teach to slide from a player safety perspective (although my guys do sometimes get wheelspin!)

I meant facilitywise
 

Ash_Smith

Legend
sorry, Julian you'll have to remind me? I'm due to be flying out to France tomorrow for Junior World champs and we've got some bad ass weather going and flights are getting cancelled all over the place, so i'm trying to sort out flights and stuff so my head is all over the shop! So, which posts about footwork?
 

julian

Hall of Fame
Lluis Bruguera

Greetings,
tennis icoach put a paper by Luis Bruguera
I am wondering whether you have any comments
I will try to ask some specific questions 2morrow
regards,
Julian
PS I cannot put a link
but I assume you got a title in your E-mail from tennisicoach
The title
"Long-term Development of High Performance Players P1"
PS I mistyped the first name in the title-sorry
 
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