WTA week of 6/10; Hertogenbosch & Nottingham 250s

Looking forward to watching these 2 big guns fighting for a spot in the SF. There will be lots of gunpowder on the grass!

Osaka holds a H2H 1-0 lead from their only match in 2019 Beijing 5-7,6-3,6-4. Fairly close match. Osaka was seeded #4, Bibi #5.

and ....

Barty was #1 seed. Osaka d. Barty in 3-setter.

Wow, memory lane!
 
Coco is a mainstay, I listed the other 3 as I feel they're more likely to win a major right now. I think Coco has a chance at a 2nd major too especially at Wimbledon or the USO but I guess her record against Iga has me thinking she has some serious holes in her game if she has hit a ceiling. Now she's ranked 2nd she will avoid Swiatek especially now for Wimbledon if she retains that ranking so I'd say she is one of the favourites for Wimbledon as it's likely the major Iga will not make the latter stages if there is one. I probably overrate Rybakina though. She's got a good record with Iga but otherwise she's prone to missteps at majors that Iga and Sabalenka, and even now Gauff are not.

I'm always hopeful for more competitiveness in the top 10. There are players like Sakkari who float around the top 10 for years and never feel like factors at the majors (beside her 2 SF appearances but you know she will combust mentally). It's a shame so many are out for so long with injury especially immediately after they do something promising. Also it often seems like the top players are never injured such as Iga, Coco, Sabalenka and Rybakina (I know she's been ill a fair bit). Even Osaka outside of pregnancy she wasn't often injured whereas others who could compete with them fall off with significant injury lay offs. It's just frustrating at it limits the competition at the top.
 
Naomi v. Bianca not ‘til Friday.

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Raducanu through 6-2 6-2 against Snigur.

A decent chance of a Brit in the final from the bottom section.. Maria/Frech v Boulter to play Jones/Kruegar v Raducanu
 
It's Raducanu season again. She wins two very winnable matches and is on the news and first pages of sports sites and highlighted every day on the WTA website.
This is part of why the women's game isn't taken seriously. Osaka and Andreescu, former Slam winners, are also playing and winning matches this week, as is ex-world number 1 Pliskova, but who cares when you have to constantly hype the same player? Tiresome.
 
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D-Lite said:
Hope Bibi stays healthy. Would love these 2 back in the top 10 and posing questions for the top ranked players. Add Muchova into the mix, I want some more variety between power, counter punching and variety.

Really pleased with Osaka's approach on grass so far. Really hope she becomes a big factor at all majors because the Iga, Aryna and Rybakina trio are not being consistent enough at each major to force themselves regular major H2H matches. I love H2H stats but always a shame when it's only a match or two at majors when players have played like 10+ times.
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Yes, having both of them back in the top 10 would be great. Andreescu brings some personality that is desperately needed, and Osaka, while a power player similar to the others, would also help make things more interesting.

Iga, Aryna and Rybakina miss each other a lot in slams because none of them are really consistent enough to win the consecutive matches needed to play one another in the later rounds, expect at their own favorite events (French for Iga, Aussie for Sabalenka). Gauff seems more consistent, but she has a lower ceiling and probably that consistency is a result of some amazingly easy draws in recent events. Her AO draw this year was a complete joke, nearly matched by the joke that was her FO draw.

coolcamden said:
Really interesting you’re not mentioning Coco. Not picking on you, truly curious. (I wouldn’t include her either.)
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She's always there, but rarely that interesting or fun to watch. Her final against Sabalenka in the USO was interesting in a way, but not because of Gauff's tennis.

flyingboris said:
Whoops? Krunic (400) beats Pegula (5) in Den Bosch.
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Love me some Krunic. Something about her is just appealing and easy to root for.
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
It's Raducanu season again. She wins two very winnable matches and is on the news and first pages of sports sites and highlighted every day on the WTA website.
This is part of why the women's game isn't taken seriously. Osaka and Andreescu, former Slam winners, are also playing and winning matches this week, as is ex-world number 1 Pliskova, but who cares when you have to constantly hype the same player?
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EXACTLY!!! And people wonder why Raducanu is criticized by so many people that actually follow the sport and the WTA... this is why!
 
robyrolfo said:
EXACTLY!!! And people wonder why Raducanu is criticized by so many people that actually follow the sport and the WTA... this is why!
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In this case I would criticise the media and certain sections of the tennis community who seem to share this bizarre obsession. They have contributed to creating a part-time player who often utters the most nonsensical drivel about her own career and choices.
 
D-Lite said:
Coco is a mainstay, I listed the other 3 as I feel they're more likely to win a major right now. I think Coco has a chance at a 2nd major too especially at Wimbledon or the USO but I guess her record against Iga has me thinking she has some serious holes in her game if she has hit a ceiling. Now she's ranked 2nd she will avoid Swiatek especially now for Wimbledon if she retains that ranking so I'd say she is one of the favourites for Wimbledon as it's likely the major Iga will not make the latter stages if there is one. I probably overrate Rybakina though. She's got a good record with Iga but otherwise she's prone to missteps at majors that Iga and Sabalenka, and even now Gauff are not.

I'm always hopeful for more competitiveness in the top 10. There are players like Sakkari who float around the top 10 for years and never feel like factors at the majors (beside her 2 SF appearances but you know she will combust mentally). It's a shame so many are out for so long with injury especially immediately after they do something promising. Also it often seems like the top players are never injured such as Iga, Coco, Sabalenka and Rybakina (I know she's been ill a fair bit). Even Osaka outside of pregnancy she wasn't often injured whereas others who could compete with them fall off with significant injury lay offs. It's just frustrating at it limits the competition at the top.
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Thanks for your answer. I know you didn’t quote me, but I feeL you were responding to my curiosity.

I think Coco is not at the same level as these ladies (Iga , Muchova, Saby, Reba). She is a tremendous athlete, is a great fetcher, but she has many holes in her repertoire, and she does rattle quite a bit when she’s making those mistakes. She has no offensive game to have an edge over these other ladies, relying on wearing them out to cause them to make enough mistakes to lose (Saby in USO). Yet she’s good enough to kill lesser players and always get into the 2nd week at majors, or at least QF in other tournaments.

Osaka, when she is right, is an elite player. Line them up, she can beat them all. Bibi, nah…. That ship has sailed.
 
D-Lite said:
Really hope we get Boulter v Raducanu. Britain's most consistent player of the past few years and their most successful in slam terms (Raducanu also made R4 of Wimbledon in 2021).
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That would be awesome if it happens. The official British number 1 versus the unofficial British number 1. They would be desperate to beat each other and make a big statement.

Most of the matches I've seen in Nottingham this week have already been quite lively and tetchy. The lack of Hawkeye has had players getting irritated at bad calls, and just generally looking super stressed (with the exception of Boulter).

It's easy to forget just how important the matches are at 250 level for the players involved in them, both for points and money. I swear the 2nd week of the French is more chilled out than a 250.
 
robyrolfo said:
EXACTLY!!! And people wonder why Raducanu is criticized by so many people that actually follow the sport and the WTA... this is why!
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Directing criticism towards a player because the media class choose to put her front and centre of their publications, is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard, and that takes some doing on here. She doesn't ask or beg to be front-page news or given those column inches.
 
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coolcamden said:
I think Coco is not at the same level as these ladies (Iga , Muchova, Saby, Reba). She is a tremendous athlete, is a great fetcher, but she has many holes in her repertoire, and she does rattle quite a bit when she’s making those mistakes. She has no offensive game to have an edge over these other ladies, relying on wearing them out to cause them to make enough mistakes to lose (Saby in USO). Yet she’s good enough to kill lesser players and always get into the 2nd week at majors, or at least QF in other tournaments.

Osaka, when she is right, is an elite player. Line them up, she can beat them all. Bibi, nah…. That ship has sailed.
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I'm with you on this 100%. Gauff's serve could potentially be a weapon, but at the moment she seems to hit a DF for every ace she hits, so it's a wash. The only other thing she has going is her backhand, which is pretty good. But she mostly beats lesser players but just testing their rally tolerance, with the occasional unexpectedly good backhand thrown in (she hits backhands well when stretched, which seems to frazzle a lot of players). And when she gets exposed by better players, she really gets exposed and looks highly unimpressive.

I also agree about Bibi. As much as I would love to have the old Bibi back, it looks more and more likely that it will never happen. I don't think she will ever have more than 4-6 consecutive months on tour without an injury, and I think she will be retired in another 3-4 years. Part of it is also mental, as she says some really weird stuff, and the things she has done to her face are worrying.

ScottleeSV said:
That would be awesome if it happens. The official British number 1 versus the unofficial British number 1. They would be desperate to beat each other and make a big statement.
Most of the matches I've seen in Nottingham this week have already been quite lively and tetchy. The lack of Hawkeye has had players getting irritated at bad calls, and just generally looking super stressed (with the exception of Boulter).
It's easy to forget just how important the matches are at 250 level for the players involved in them, both for points and money. I swear the 2nd week of the French is more chilled out than a 250.
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Do Boulter and Raducanu get along? I know they just played together at the BJK cup, but I could also imagine all of the other British WTA players really resenting her.

And yes, these events are huge for lesser players, especially on a specialty surface like grass. A good result opens up the chance to tour full time, and it's basically what allowed Boulter to do what she has done this year (besides getting destroyed by Giorgi).
 
No_Kwan_Do said:
Directing criticism towards a player because the media class choose to put her front and centre of their publications, is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard, and that takes some doing on here. She doesn't ask or beg to be front-page news or given those column inches.

It's only one metric, but just check her match highlights packages on Youtube via the official WTA channel. She's generating 4-10x more watchers than almost any other player playing this week. She's still obviously a popular player whether you care or not.
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Ha, here we go...

She doesn't ask for it? Really? Did she have to accept every endorsement deal that was thrown her way, putting HERSELF front-row center? Did she have to fire more coaches than I can remember after working with them for 5 minutes? Did she have to take questionably MTO's in most of her long matches? Did she have to retire from a bunch of matches and tournaments with mysterious injuries? Did she have to have a lousy and entitled attitude during so many of her matches and interviews? Does she have to act like a spoiled brat that is too good for the tour, when the truth is actually the exact opposite?

And of course she attracts a lot of attention. She is a walking, talking click-bait character that ticks a bunch of boxes...
 
robyrolfo said:
Do Boulter and Raducanu get along? I know they just played together at the BJK cup, but I could also imagine all of the other British WTA players really resenting her.
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I've never heard anything to suggest Raducanu doesn't get along with other British players. The only known beef of recent times was between Dart and Boulter, and that's likely over now.
 
robyrolfo said:
Ha, here we go...

She doesn't ask for it? Really? Did she have to accept every endorsement deal that was thrown her way, putting HERSELF front-row center? Did she have to fire more coaches than I can remember after working with them for 5 minutes? Did she have to take questionably MTO's in most of her long matches? Did she have to retire from a bunch of matches and tournaments with mysterious injuries? Did she have to have a lousy and entitled attitude during so many of her matches and interviews? Does she have to act like a spoiled brat that is too good for the tour, when the truth is actually the exact opposite?

And of course she attracts a lot of attention. She is a walking, talking click-bait character that ticks a bunch of boxes...
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What are you bumbling about? She hasn't accepted every endorsement deal that was thrown her way. She's had around 10 and she's had those same deals for the past 3 years. Plenty of slamless, less accomplished players out there have MORE deals than she does. Eisenbud already confirmed last year in an interview at IMG that she could have accepted A LOT more than she did, but she wanted to keep them limited in order to prioritise her development.

She hasn't retired from a match in 18 months. She hasn't taken a single MTO this year.

I've seen her give one terrible press conference and that was right before she had to have 3 operations on her ankle and wrists last year. Where are these lousy and entitled interviews? Start citing some sources.

How does she act like she's too good for the tour exactly?

I get the criticism of some of her choices with regards to the coaching carousel, her game, and her schedule, but the attacks from you sound like they're coming from a place of genuine hatred. It's a bit sad, and more than a bit pathetic.
 
No_Kwan_Do said:
What are you bumbling about? She hasn't accepted every endorsement deal that was thrown her way. She's had around 10 and she's had those same deals for the past 3 years. Plenty of slamless, less accomplished players out there have MORE deals than she does. Eisenbud already confirmed last year in an interview at IMG that she could have accepted A LOT more than she did, but she wanted to keep them limited in order to prioritise her development.

She hasn't retired from a match in 18 months. She hasn't taken a single MTO this year.

I've seen her give one terrible press conference and that was right before she had to have 3 operations on her ankle and wrists last year. Where are these lousy and entitled interviews? Start citing some sources.

How does she act like she's too good for the tour exactly?

I get the criticism of some of her choices with regards to the coaching carousel, her game, and her schedule, but the attacks from you sound like they're coming from a place of genuine hatred. It's a bit sad, and more than a bit pathetic.
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Roby's a Moutet fan, so he has no credibility.
 
Nottingham play suspended, again. Raining hard. Jabeur up 6-2 in first. Linda didn't look comfortable on grass. Quite heavy-footed in general, probably exposed more on grass.
 
That hair band must be Bibi's trademark and/or lucky charm. She's been wearing them since seeing 2019.

Play suspended again. This is the first time I saw those contraption the ground crews use to swipe off the water off the surface - some long stick like a flag pole with very flexible mid to tip section. It makes swooshing sound when they whip it left and right to push the water aside.
 
Boulter looked very much on top against Frech. Shame it's been suspended when I had the afternoon off.

Must say, I'm uncomfortable with the idea of Raducanu playing two matches in one day tomorrow. That's the sort of folly that leads to snapped bones.
 
No_Kwan_Do said:
What are you bumbling about? She hasn't accepted every endorsement deal that was thrown her way. She's had around 10 and she's had those same deals for the past 3 years. Plenty of slamless, less accomplished players out there have MORE deals than she does. Eisenbud already confirmed last year in an interview at IMG that she could have accepted A LOT more than she did, but she wanted to keep them limited in order to prioritise her development.

She hasn't retired from a match in 18 months. She hasn't taken a single MTO this year.

I've seen her give one terrible press conference and that was right before she had to have 3 operations on her ankle and wrists last year. Where are these lousy and entitled interviews? Start citing some sources.

How does she act like she's too good for the tour exactly?
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Ah, yes, let's take the word of her agent (from IMG no less) about how selective she has been about endorsements. Just the fact that she is with IMG tells you all you need to know. (But sure, she said no to wearing a "Pornhub" patch on her sleeve, so she has her priorities straight.)

And name one, just one, slamless player that has more endorsement deals, and especially more lucrative endorsement deals. I'll wait...

Ah, yes, no MTO's in the whopping 18 matches she has played this year, including that one against Svitolina where she spent the entire third set quitting on points and acting like she was about to pass out.

As for the rest, just listen to her speak. If you can't hear it, that's your problem, not mine. Get out a little more and meet some different people, and it will help with your perception of such things. NY'ers know...

spystud said:
He does hate her, this isn't new.
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Hate her? I don't even know her. I hate the hype around her, and I think she is arrogant, self-centered and naive, but that doesn't mean I hate her.

Bill Lobsalot said:
Roby's a Moutet fan, so he has no credibility.
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Is this sarcasm?

ScottleeSV said:
Katie Boulter - 7 WTA quarter finals (4 of them in Nottingham). Talk about 'feeling it' at one particular venue.
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I mean, we know that the move to grass is the biggest adjustment of the season for all of the players. So this first two weeks is a huge opportunity for British players to rack up points.
 
Andreescu has been hitting some great length, and a few points back an amazing backhand pass down the line on the full run. Hope she stays healthy for long enough to see more of this!
 
Funny, I think they recorded actual Dutch people for the line calls. At least that "Out!" sounds like it has a bit of an accent. :)
 
Still quite a few hundred die hards sat in the gloomy stands hoping to see Raducanu/Jones tonight. The forecast looks bad, although at the moment there aren't many umbrellas around and a few extra peeps are filing in as if they know something.

Edit - Covers are off. I'll be amazed if this match finishes without more rain. The clouds look horrid.
 
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Osaka played a horrible game to give Andreescu the third set break. Osaka isn't playing close to the level she played in her FO match against Iga.
 
Raducanu and Jones warmed up and then the rain sent them off again. I suspect that will be that for the evening. We might go into Saturday with Boulter being the only person not required to play 2 matches on one day to reach Sunday's final. Defending champion's privilege, I guess.
 
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