ITF ($100K+H) - Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France Clay

[Maza1987]

Rather than post in individual players' threads for this tourny, seeing as there are 4 brits in action, thought it better to create a thread.

All top 4 brit women are in the main draw.

Heather's match has just started on ls.
http://www.tennisscores.de/itf/fftapplet/livescorer.html#app=f46a&568-selectedIndex=1

[DaveArneRiise]

Cheers, Laura won her final qualies match 6-4 6-4!

[Maza1987]

heather started slowly, then turned it around and won against binerova.

[Maza1987]

R1: BALTACHA, Elena (GBR) 1 67 v BARROIS, Kristina (GER) 219
R1: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) Q 126 v RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena (SVK) 96
R1: WATSON, Heather (GBR) 110 v BIRNEROVA, Eva (CZE) 114
R1: KEOTHAVONG, Anne (GBR) 4 78 v DOLONTS, Anne Vesna (RUS) Q 169

[Alis]

Well done Heather - great to get a win from a set and a break down!

[Linda]

Well done Heather - great to get a win from a set and a break down!

Ditto :clap: :clap:

[JAMES4578]

Well done Layra and Heather!:cheer::cheer:

[Jan]

Bally lost the first set 5-7 but won the second 6-2, so into a decider

[Jan]

Bally a break down 1-2*

[Sallydaisy]

Now 1-3 after Barrois held to 15.
Bally held that last service game though for 2-3.
Only one break; maybe she could get a break back - she managed it in the 2nd set.

[Jan]

come on Bally!!

[Sallydaisy]

Great stuff - broke back to 15 for 3-3 in the 3rd set.
Back on serve and with Bally serving next what she really needs is to hold/break/hold.
;)

[Jan]

woo hoo she does break back!!

[Jan]

followed by a nice love hold. 4-3*

[Sallydaisy]

critical 9th game in progress - must hold from Bally. She took Barrois to deuce in that last game but couldn't break.

[Sallydaisy]

Held to 15 so now Barrois will serve at *4-5 to stay in the match.
Break of serve would be good now for Bally!

[Jan]

just got distracted! Come on Bally!!

[Jan]

5-5.
Come on Bally, make sure you hold here!

[Sallydaisy]

Eeek! Barrois has a BP against Bally's serve ...
:sofa:

And breaks so will serve for the match at *6-5.
:sad:

[Jan]

bp down. Come on Bally - fight!!

NO :sad:

Now please break back Bally

[Jan]

lost it 5-7 :sad:
so close

[Sallydaisy]

Oh Bally!!! So close but not to be.

Anne's match starts soon.

[Jan]

Anne up and running with a hold in the first game

[david1610]

lost it 5-7 :sad:
so close
Unfortunately she was the number 1 seed and has gone out in the first round to a player ranked approx. 150 places below her.

[Sallydaisy]

Anne up and running with a hold in the first game
Where are you finding the scores? I've looked on Flash but there's nothing showing there.

[david1610]

Where are you finding the scores? I've looked on Flash but there's nothing showing there.
http://www.tennisscores.de/itf/fftapplet/livescorer.html#app=f46a&568-selectedIndex=1

[Jan]

Yes - that's where I am too!

[Sallydaisy]

http://www.tennisscores.de/itf/fftapplet/livescorer.html#app=f46a&568-selectedIndex=1
Thanks David; I've got to go out for half an hour so hopefully Anne will have the first set in the bag by the time I'm back!
;)

[Jan]

hmm that's optimistic Sally! *1-3 down at the mo!

[david1610]

I expect one possibly two Brits in the second round.... and yes, I expect them to be the young 'uns.....

[Jan]

I'm inclined to agree with you David.

[Jan]

First set gone 2-6

[Sallydaisy]

First set gone 2-6
:sad:

[Jan]

and now down a break in the second :sad:

[Jan]

slipping away fast 0-3*

[DaveArneRiise]

Anne's form has been dismal to be frank.

[Jan]

ouch 2-6 0-6

[Sallydaisy]

Well, I didn't miss much then ...
Bally and AnneK out in R1.

Really hope Heather and Laura can fly the Brit flag in Cagnes today!!!

[david1610]

Presuming Judy stays in the Fed Cup job for a while, I have always thought she would have that tricky moment when it was time to bring on the young 'uns. I suspect that might even be in the next tie (presumably next year as there are no relgation issues this year?).
The problem then for Laura and Heather, part from winning their singles of course, will be if they also have to play doubles....

I was very impressed with Heather last week in Estoril as the experience of playing high ranked players is starting to show in terms of court craft, especially on the red stuff.
Laura will just need to get that power under control and get that movement going!

[DaveArneRiise]

It seems as if the British girls can't hold their serves for their lives. Needs to be addressed.

[Jan]

Laura's match is up on ls
http://www.tennisscores.de/itf/fftapplet/livescorer.html#app=f46a&568-selectedIndex=1

[Jan]

Laura dropped her opening service game, but broke straight back - that's the way to do it!
Come on Laura!

[Jan]

But you are then supposed to hold your own serve :grrr:

[Jan]

argh 1-5* down

[david1610]

Did they have a post/Fed Cup party last night or something_

[Jan]

definitely looking like that!
First set gone 1-6

[Jan]

feels like a very long gap between sets - hope there's no injury...

and as I post the scoreboard comes to life again!

[Jan]

it's now been 0-30 for ages

[Jan]

maybe a retirement??

[Jan]

Apparently Laura did have to retire - hope it's not too serious.

OK Heather - it's up to you now to fly the flag!

[JAMES4578]

Hoope Laura will be ok, frustrating! It certainly didn't go right for Anne, hopefully Heather can rise to the challenge!

[Maza1987]

R2: Heather Watson v [3]Alexandra Cadantu (76 CH.) is second match after 11am BST, Weds.

[Jan]

Thanks Maza. I have a short wondow of opportunity when I'll be in around lunchtime tomorrow - hopefully I'll catch some of the scoring for Hev's match.

[Sallydaisy]

Hev likes a challenge - hope she'll capitalise on her efforts on the clay from last week and take a pop at Cadantu!

Otherwise it's fair to say this has not been a good tourney so far for the Brits.
:sad:

[david1610]

Looking at Cadantu's stats, there is nothing special there really... she seems to play the level below a lot... CH 74, but you know if Heather knuckles down to the tour, I get the feeling that ranking after 75 is as much luck, a couple of good wins in slam first rounds, kind draws, etc. and although Heather has points to defend this year, after getting a taste of the top players such as Sharapova and Azarenka, she should start to think that she can take these lower top 100 players. Seems to be all about consistency at this level. Heather has shown that she is consistently winning thro Qualifying to get to main draw WTA events, and the next step is be making QFs, SFs Fs in these 100,00 $events - let's say, winning two our of three of her matches against those ranked below 75.... or is that wishful thinking?

[Jan]

just home. Hev is 1-4* down.

[Jan]

make that 1-6

[JAMES4578]

Not a good start, hopefully Heather can still make an impact!

[Jan]

A Watson-fightback is starting - Hev breaks in the opening game of the second!

[Jan]

but broken straight back...

[Jan]

I have to go out again. Hope Hev can keep fighting and maybe pull this one out of the bag!

[DaveArneRiise]

Heather lost in straight sets. Dismal tournament for the brits :(

[Linda]

Oh dear. All our girls out. :sad:

[Sallydaisy]

Oh dear. All our girls out. :sad:

Think we may have jinxed them by starting a thread for the tourney!
;)

R2: CADANTU, Alexandra (ROU) [3], WR76 1-6 4-6 def WATSON, Heather (GBR) WR110

[david1610]

Oh well, let's hope Heather got some useful experience in the second set.
She has to focus on holding her first service game!
Or elect to receive, if she gets the choice!

[Sallydaisy]

At least Heather got to Round 2!!!

[Jan]

back home.
What a shame - had hoped Hev might be able to turn it around.

[JAMES4578]

Disappointing, but at least Heather got a bit closer in the 2nd and can hopefully build on this week.

[Maza1987]

onto the next challenger in france next week.

[Sallydaisy]

onto the next challenger in france next week.
The girls are going 3 different routes I think:
AnneK is headed to Rome $3m
Bally to Czech Republic $100k
Laura and Heather to France $50k