WTA week of 2/5; Abu Dhabi 500 & Transylvania 250
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Wander
Hall of Fame
The problem is not that she played the wrong tournaments. The problem is that she played on while plagued by injuries, unable to even train properly. The end of 2022 and the entire 2023 was a "waste" because of this, but that's not really something we can blame on Emma for "skipping" lower level tournaments or anything like that since she would've been playing hobbled and below par anyway.
Now, 2022 was clearly a disappointing season after the promise of her 2021 debut, and if you want to say she should've played different tournaments to make that year a less of a "waste", fair enough but even then that is one year "wasted", not three.
coolcamden
Hall of Fame
Emma is not doing bad against Ons. OJ is playing the most inspired tennis since the last 2 years, as an Arab woman in the Middle East. Emma is working hard. Keeping each game to many deuces.
PSNELKE
Legend
She's terrible lol Only points she wins are Ons' errors
coolcamden
Hall of Fame
Dude, ons is playing lights out. If she could have played like this the last 3 slam finals, she would have won all 3. If you don’t see it, you are blind.
coolcamden
Hall of Fame
PSNELKE
Legend
My guy, Raducanu is f'ing terrible which makes Jabeur look like Steffi Graf. Ons is getting smacked the very next round by Beatriz
JJGUY
Hall of Fame
Stop finding excuses for her, even if these are valid reasons, they are still her excuses, the world does not revolve around her, if she can't make any meaningful progress, that's her problem, hers only, but I guess with a group of yes people around her and her family, the picture is still rosy for her upcoming tennis career, she just needs a little more time and more time...
Purestriker
Legend
Wow. Didn't see that one coming. Rus has been playing well, but drama queen Cornet usually finds a way to get some games and or a set.
Moose Malloy
G.O.A.T.
And Haddad Maia played 3:42 today with a breadstick in the final set(that set took an hour)
Wander
Hall of Fame
I'm not saying she needs more time. I honestly think the chances that she ever wins another major are under 5%, and even the odds of hitting top 10 rankings again are probably only 20% or so, but that's not because she's done everything wrong. It's because she has a fragile body and is probably simply not good enough to be a mainstay at the top level. But that is not helped by having a different tournament schedule and so on.
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
As others have said, no. She's not "rocketing" anywhere. If she has been hampered by repeated injuries, there is a reason (she is injury prone). If her game never seems to peak for more than a few sets or matches, there is a reason. If she keeps going through coaches left and right, there is a reason. And most importantly of all, if she continues to struggle mentally in close 3-set matches, there is a reason.
People need to chill with Raducanu. That US Open was nothing more than proof that the WTA is in a bad state right now. Fernandez is a better player than Raducanu, and she isn't going anywhere either.
On this we will have to agree to disagree. Not my type... at all. Meanwhile, in Romania, they trot out all these local players that aren't tour regulars, and they all look quite nice.
I think this is a good move as well. I recently saw the "Break Point" episode that focused on Pegula for a bit, and she and her coach seemed like the odd couple. I realize that different personalities sometimes still produce results, but it was like she was constantly rolling her eyes at him. (As an aside, she didn't come off so well on the show either. Far from dispelling the "rich girl" label, she seemed to make it fit.)
Purestriker
Legend
Well, we will never know why she decided to part ways. Players constantly change coaches, so it is not all that surprising. I doubt she will ever win a major, she is a lot like Rubelev. She is really good, just not good enough against the best.
JJGUY
Hall of Fame
you are joking, right?
coolcamden
Hall of Fame
lol…. OK, OK…. I wouldn’t kick her out of bed for crackers and cheese, you would prob need peeled grapes and caviar.
How about this… Anna Kalinskaya?
Purestriker
Legend
in slams. Nope.
What to say after another Rublev and Pegula quarterfinal exit? Ask their coaches | Tennis.com
Both David Witt and Fernando Vicente were complimentary of their charges, even in painful defeat.
ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
I think people just need to let her get on with it now. Most of us can probably agree she's a top 100 player of some description (come on, she's better than Jodie Burrage, currently 87). Whether she ends up around 10, 50, or 90 though, only time will tell.
Unfortunately, that glaring weakness of the body will likely always be close by. Not much she can do about it other than continue to train hard and keep her fingers crossed. It would be better if she had a different major weakness, like a bad stop volley, but those are the cards she's been dealt.
I only saw the final 3 games yesterday. Jabeur won all 3 and looked comfortable enough to start playing a few exhibition shots. That would have stung a little. Let's not forget though that despite her poor form, Ons is the world number 6 with three major finals under her belt recently.
I would say the win over Bouzkova just about makes the Abu Dhabi trip worth it for Raducanu. I do agree she should start to focus on 250s, try and become a major force at that level in the same way Pavlyachenkova did at the same age. It could be though she only accepted this wildcard because she thinks she won't get many more across the season. If that's the case, fair enough.
Watson v Busca today. Who's as excited as I am?
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JJGUY
Hall of Fame
I don't know why she didn't play 250, or I would say she should start from 125, that's where everyone started now on WTA. There is nothing to be ashamed on playing low ranked tournaments. Her fellow countryman and multiple grand slam winner Andy Murray was playing ATP challengers last year and the year before, if Andy wants, he can get WCs to any events but he knows better, that's the difference here, she and her family is clueless about herself.
ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
The family/coaching situation is a little bit awful. You can be too set in your ways (Sakkari) or too flighty and reactive (Raducanu). You need to find that right balance.
I think 125s would be a bit overkill personally. 250s is the level. Start getting a bunch of quarters and semis there and eventually a title. And have a little dibble at the Majors in-between.
ScottleeSV
Hall of Fame
That's cured yesterday's pain. I can move on now. Thanks Harriet.
tennis24x7
Hall of Fame
Doesn't Kalinskaya look like Bouchard's sister?
HarveyPitnik
Professional
She doesn't look like Beatrice at all!
But generally speaking she has somewhat similar features than Bouchard(s).Darcy and about 100 other forum members are thrilled to find out that good old Sara Errani served bagel to T. Maria in the first set and is leading... correction, won 6-0, 6-1 in the end! Forza Sara! Keep annoying the servebot-fans for some more years still!
Looks like Rybakina is taking the long & hard fought battle against Danimal (except that immediately after writing that, back on serve, the twists and turns in WTA sure can be quick!
) Pity I can't actually see that match as the total opposite temperaments would surely give great drama.
coolcamden
Hall of Fame
There is no similarity. But, AK takes the crown against anyone.
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
I'm not sure about this comparison either. Yes, they both seem to be hitting quarter-final walls, but I think the situations are quite different. Rublev consistently runs into very good players at that level (look at this AO, where he had to face Sinner, who was on fire. And Rublev actually played him pretty well). With the WTA, however, you can find some very beatable names in the quarter finals, so it is much more a story of Pegula dropping her level and losing matches she could win, and Rublev perhaps not finding another higher level needed to beat superior competition.
It will certainly be interesting to see where Pegula goes from here. Witt basically took here out of obscurity (struggling to qualify and enter the top 100), to the top 5 in the world. If she maintains this level or improves, he will still get some credit, but not nearly as much as if her ranking plummets like a stone.
Yes, Anna K is indeed quite lovely to look at. I mean, in my opinion, the WTA tour is full of very nice looking human specimens. It would be easier to pick the few that I don't really enjoy. I was just nit-picking with Emma, as she isn't the top of the top for me.
Nobody.
Yes, that Erani v Maria result was certainly bizarre.Darcy and about 100 other forum members are thrilled to find out that good old Sara Errani served bagel to T. Maria in the first set and is leading... correction, won 6-0, 6-1 in the end! Forza Sara! Keep annoying the servebot-fans for some more years still!
Looks like Rybakina is taking the long & hard fought battle against Danimal (except that immediately after writing that, back on serve, the twists and turns in WTA sure can be quick!
And it's the WTA. A break of serve basically means next to nothing these days.
Larry Duff
G.O.A.T.
Watson breaks back, 5-5
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Well, Sara Errani - yes, Sara Errani - just produced one of the most dominant serving performances of all time, not losing a single point in the whole first set and never being broken for the entire match.
By the way, yesterday I also watched Tomic be a real good sport for the entire match, and fight his heart out until the very last point.
As I've said before, the apocalypse must be upon us.
By the way, yesterday I also watched Tomic be a real good sport for the entire match, and fight his heart out until the very last point.
As I've said before, the apocalypse must be upon us.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
The "glaring weakness" of her body has made her countless millions before turning 20. Oh what I'd give to have it "close by"...
JJGUY
Hall of Fame
Must be a great feeling for Errani, considering she also suffered this humiliation in her career
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Gotta laugh at the stupidity of some of these players. Looking at the Romania draw and how weak it is, it would have been a perfect opportunity for players out of form to get multiple wins and possibly a title to restart their career.
Osaka, Garcia, Raducanu, Sakkari etc. But they all chose the money to go to Abu Dhabi Premier. All lost first round except Emma who got smoked by Jabeur.
Pliskova had the right idea playing there and is into the QF.
Osaka, Garcia, Raducanu, Sakkari etc. But they all chose the money to go to Abu Dhabi Premier. All lost first round except Emma who got smoked by Jabeur.
Pliskova had the right idea playing there and is into the QF.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Hadn't noticed that Sevastova had come out of retirement again after having a kid. Always a fun one to watch.
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
Can't argue too much with this logic. Most of them don't really need the money, either.
My girl Giorgi isn't playing anywhere this week! But that's not really news...
robyrolfo
Hall of Fame
I was really surprised to see her name on the order of play, as I didn't realize she took a break to be a mom (I thought she maybe just retired, or dropped way down in the rankings). I watched some of her first round match, and she looked really good. Seemed to be hitting with more pace that I remember, and moving well too. I'm happy she is back.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Go Sorana Carstea!
Sorana Cîrstea (49 WTA) - Daria Gavrilova (Australia, 25 WTA) 2-0 I have you in my avatar :D
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
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