feather_ghyll (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
feather_ghyll) wrote2024-06-30 07:32 pm
feather_ghyll) wrote2024-06-30 07:32 pm
TENNIS: Eastbourne 2024
The BBC’s coverage felt parochial, although in the women’s tournament, the top seeds were getting a bye. I watched the Emma Raducanu vs. Sloane Stephens first round match, which was a battle between two former US Open Champions. After winning their opening games, they started exchanging breaks until Raducanu kept her serve, meaning she was up 5-4. After a long game, she broke, winning the first set, and from then on, momentum was with her and her game flowed, she won the second set easily. As the commentating team of Sam Smith and Annabel Croft pointed out, she’s done things back to front so far in her singular career, having that amazing summer once she turned pro and so little experience, really – this is her first Eastbourne – as well as injury to deal with. Now she seems to be fitter, able to train, and things are clicking for her.
Katie Boulter was, like last year, facing lucky loser Petra Martic, although Boulter is a different, better player than she was 12 months ago. She steamed through the first set, winning it 6-1 and seemed completely on it. Although she broke early in the second set, Martic was pushing more on the serve and broke back.
But Boulter won, because she was through to the second round, as was Jelena Ostapenko, doing better than she had at Birmingham, who Boulter was facing. By the time we joined them, Boulter had gained quite the lead in the first set, but Ostapenko pulled it back a little in long, entertaining games. Boulter still won the first set, though.
They were both attacking the ball, going for winners. Ostapenko remains an entertaining player. They traded a few breaks, although Boulter’s serve was better (except maybe when Ostapenko was facing break points.) Despite not being used to playing at this intensity (and the unpredictability of her opponent), Boulter managed hit some unplayable shots of her own for a very good win. The match was played in good spirits – I think because they play similar tennis, they respected each other.
Next up, an even sterner test for Raducanu in world no. 5 player Jessica Pegula, fresh off a win on grass in Berlin. (Caught up on what Pegula’s been doing, new coach, some injuries, skipped the French.) Pegula started off playing like the top 5 player she is, and Raducanu was soon a double break down, but she upped her level, forced Pegula to change her game plan and had got the score 4-4, before her serve let her down. Pegula broke again and won the first set.
She also broke Raducanu early, and Raducanu sat down at the first change of ends, when you’re just meant to take in some drink/food, towel down and keep going. At first I thought she was just mortified at her error, but it was obvious that her energy levels were down and movement between points was slower. Yet her movement during the points was fine, but she didn’t celebrate wins as she battled hard to get to a tiebreak. Pegula had a match point (on Raducanu’s serve) but the young Brit won it, and she did start celebrating winning points and looking more positive.
She took control in the third, while Pegula didn’t quite look as if she knew what to do. A double break up, Raducanu was serving for the match, but she just couldn’t impose her game, and Pegula started hitting more freely. She kept her serve. Raducanu was serving again, and something similar happened. Back on terms, Raducanu returned as she had all set, especially when Pegula didn’t get her first serve in, and broke. So, for a third time, she was serving for the match…but went down 0-30. This time, though, she found her grit again and wrestled the game back, winning in a mightily impressive fashion.
We saw some of her best tennis (and that there’s more to it than ball striking). She’s never beaten a top 10 player before (there was always that asterisk about her US Open win, although you can only play the opponents you’re drawn to win). Impressive stuff, although I wonder what was going on during the second set (she went off for a break after winning it, never mind momentum.)
Harriet Dart also won through to the third round, (from the scoreline it seems like Kenin’s play collapsed in the third set, and she did have a trainer on), so British women’s tennis would kindly like us to forget the French Open because we are now on grass and that’s the only surface that counts. I would kindly remind them that the Olympics are being held in Roland Garros. But those are three good wins.
Day four was quarter finals day, and we had the option to see men’s tennis (I must admit that I fastforwarded), with Billy Harris continuing his amazing summer by getting through to the semis against and Italian I’d never heard of. It was more like your normal Eastbourne, as Harriet Dart had lost to Leylah Fernandez. Apparently, Dart too had been injured in her last match. And the wind was a factor all day.
So, the tennis I did watch wasn’t always good, but you never knew what would happen next. Going in, I thought Boulter had a chance against Paolini, who was in the quarter-finals by virtue of a bye and a retirement early in her last match. She’d never done well on grass before, so although she was having the match of her life, Boulter had a good chance, didn’t she? Not really. The wind ruined her ball toss and serve, and the serve is the basis of Boulter’s game (at the end of the match, you could see that Paolini only came up to her shoulder, and so was much closer to the ground.) Paolini’s movement was good, she was unafraid of coming in, and though Boulter played better in the second set and the wind frustrated both players – they had to laugh – Paolini won easily. As did the wind. But the Italian is continuing the form that has got her to her best ranking ever this year.
Next up, Raducanu, who hinted in interviews that she had been going through ‘stuff’ and felt it affected her play at the start of the previous match, but she was feeling good about having won it, as she should. She was facing last year’s runner-up Daria Kasatskina and a very different ball. I liked Kasatskina’s sleeveless version of Adidas’s Emperor Penguin inspired outfit more than Pegula’s sleeved one the day before. Kasatskina seemed unphased by the wind and imposed her subtle, varying game in the first set. Raducanu had to count it a win to get her opponent to serve it out. The wind started getting to Kasatskina when it came to her serve in the second set, but although some of the games were close, the more experienced and higher ranked player won. Raducanu will just have to take the positives of the past few weeks, and there have been many, and the learning. She really is in such a singular situation.
The next day, I turned on the BBC2 coverage to find that Leylah Fernandez was ahead in the third set of her semi-final match against last year’s champion Madison Keys. And Fernandez won it.
I saw much more of the Paolini v Kasatskina semi. Kasatskina was still having problems with her serve, although some of it must have been the wind. Paolini was playing the more aggressive tennis and getting slightly ahead, but then her relative inexperience on grass showed, and after Kasatskina fought to break back in the third set, there were just too many errors. So, Kasatskina would be back in the final.
(Billy Harris was beaten in three sets in his semi=final and Max Purcell would face Taylor Fritz in the final, so Fritz’s level has probably improved since Queen’s, although it’s only a 250 tournament for the men.)
In the build-up to the women’s final, the brief interviews were illuminating: Fernandez talked about trying to play offensive tennis, while it was clear that last year’s loss in the final here rankled with Kasatskina. She’d changed restaurant, but was also having the food delivered and concentrating on relaxing when not playing.
When it was revealed that she’s lost the last five finals she’s been in, one understood that Kasatskina needed a good start, and she got one, while Fernandez was less settled. An early break, and Kasatskina was playing steely tennis her way. Another big factor was that the wind had calmed right down, the grass courts had dried and were playing a little more like a hard court.
Fernandez showed a willingness to come forward, but Kasatskina was always in control in the first set. She got an early break in the second set, for her opponent was far too inconsistent, but did come back, and there was some very good tennis at points. The lead disappeared, in part because of some nervy serving from Kasatskina, but there was less stress and frustration than in the semi. Fernandez played some excellent lunge volleys, but I think all of Kasatskina’s lobs were devastatingly good, and she, the older player, looked like the one who has spent longer in the top 10 (she’s just outside at the moment, while Fernandez is about no. 30.) She stayed resolute enough and won this year. It was nice that Navratilova was there to hand the trophy, as it’s all change this year, with Eastbourne becoming a 250 tournament for the women, and Queen’s becoming the 500 (although as I understand it the women will be playing there straight after the French Open, which may bring its own problems.)
(Fritz defended his title.)
For Wimbledon, I think the women’s side is harder to call than the men's. Swiatek has yet to prove herself on the grass, Sabalenka and all the former Wimbledon champions (I think three will be playing) have done better. I'm sure there will be a lot of talk about the psychodrama of Ons Jabeur and the Grand Slam she should win. Alcaraz and Sinner are somehow on the same half of the men's draw, so whoever comes through it is probably the favourite. Superhuman he may be, but Djokovic can’t come back to slam-winning levels so soon after such an injury. (Can he? Remember Nadal's last two Slam wins...) It will be interesting to see how Draper copes with the Weight of British Expectations. He must be hoping that Raducanu and Boulter can help give him cover.
Katie Boulter was, like last year, facing lucky loser Petra Martic, although Boulter is a different, better player than she was 12 months ago. She steamed through the first set, winning it 6-1 and seemed completely on it. Although she broke early in the second set, Martic was pushing more on the serve and broke back.
But Boulter won, because she was through to the second round, as was Jelena Ostapenko, doing better than she had at Birmingham, who Boulter was facing. By the time we joined them, Boulter had gained quite the lead in the first set, but Ostapenko pulled it back a little in long, entertaining games. Boulter still won the first set, though.
They were both attacking the ball, going for winners. Ostapenko remains an entertaining player. They traded a few breaks, although Boulter’s serve was better (except maybe when Ostapenko was facing break points.) Despite not being used to playing at this intensity (and the unpredictability of her opponent), Boulter managed hit some unplayable shots of her own for a very good win. The match was played in good spirits – I think because they play similar tennis, they respected each other.
Next up, an even sterner test for Raducanu in world no. 5 player Jessica Pegula, fresh off a win on grass in Berlin. (Caught up on what Pegula’s been doing, new coach, some injuries, skipped the French.) Pegula started off playing like the top 5 player she is, and Raducanu was soon a double break down, but she upped her level, forced Pegula to change her game plan and had got the score 4-4, before her serve let her down. Pegula broke again and won the first set.
She also broke Raducanu early, and Raducanu sat down at the first change of ends, when you’re just meant to take in some drink/food, towel down and keep going. At first I thought she was just mortified at her error, but it was obvious that her energy levels were down and movement between points was slower. Yet her movement during the points was fine, but she didn’t celebrate wins as she battled hard to get to a tiebreak. Pegula had a match point (on Raducanu’s serve) but the young Brit won it, and she did start celebrating winning points and looking more positive.
She took control in the third, while Pegula didn’t quite look as if she knew what to do. A double break up, Raducanu was serving for the match, but she just couldn’t impose her game, and Pegula started hitting more freely. She kept her serve. Raducanu was serving again, and something similar happened. Back on terms, Raducanu returned as she had all set, especially when Pegula didn’t get her first serve in, and broke. So, for a third time, she was serving for the match…but went down 0-30. This time, though, she found her grit again and wrestled the game back, winning in a mightily impressive fashion.
We saw some of her best tennis (and that there’s more to it than ball striking). She’s never beaten a top 10 player before (there was always that asterisk about her US Open win, although you can only play the opponents you’re drawn to win). Impressive stuff, although I wonder what was going on during the second set (she went off for a break after winning it, never mind momentum.)
Harriet Dart also won through to the third round, (from the scoreline it seems like Kenin’s play collapsed in the third set, and she did have a trainer on), so British women’s tennis would kindly like us to forget the French Open because we are now on grass and that’s the only surface that counts. I would kindly remind them that the Olympics are being held in Roland Garros. But those are three good wins.
Day four was quarter finals day, and we had the option to see men’s tennis (I must admit that I fastforwarded), with Billy Harris continuing his amazing summer by getting through to the semis against and Italian I’d never heard of. It was more like your normal Eastbourne, as Harriet Dart had lost to Leylah Fernandez. Apparently, Dart too had been injured in her last match. And the wind was a factor all day.
So, the tennis I did watch wasn’t always good, but you never knew what would happen next. Going in, I thought Boulter had a chance against Paolini, who was in the quarter-finals by virtue of a bye and a retirement early in her last match. She’d never done well on grass before, so although she was having the match of her life, Boulter had a good chance, didn’t she? Not really. The wind ruined her ball toss and serve, and the serve is the basis of Boulter’s game (at the end of the match, you could see that Paolini only came up to her shoulder, and so was much closer to the ground.) Paolini’s movement was good, she was unafraid of coming in, and though Boulter played better in the second set and the wind frustrated both players – they had to laugh – Paolini won easily. As did the wind. But the Italian is continuing the form that has got her to her best ranking ever this year.
Next up, Raducanu, who hinted in interviews that she had been going through ‘stuff’ and felt it affected her play at the start of the previous match, but she was feeling good about having won it, as she should. She was facing last year’s runner-up Daria Kasatskina and a very different ball. I liked Kasatskina’s sleeveless version of Adidas’s Emperor Penguin inspired outfit more than Pegula’s sleeved one the day before. Kasatskina seemed unphased by the wind and imposed her subtle, varying game in the first set. Raducanu had to count it a win to get her opponent to serve it out. The wind started getting to Kasatskina when it came to her serve in the second set, but although some of the games were close, the more experienced and higher ranked player won. Raducanu will just have to take the positives of the past few weeks, and there have been many, and the learning. She really is in such a singular situation.
The next day, I turned on the BBC2 coverage to find that Leylah Fernandez was ahead in the third set of her semi-final match against last year’s champion Madison Keys. And Fernandez won it.
I saw much more of the Paolini v Kasatskina semi. Kasatskina was still having problems with her serve, although some of it must have been the wind. Paolini was playing the more aggressive tennis and getting slightly ahead, but then her relative inexperience on grass showed, and after Kasatskina fought to break back in the third set, there were just too many errors. So, Kasatskina would be back in the final.
(Billy Harris was beaten in three sets in his semi=final and Max Purcell would face Taylor Fritz in the final, so Fritz’s level has probably improved since Queen’s, although it’s only a 250 tournament for the men.)
In the build-up to the women’s final, the brief interviews were illuminating: Fernandez talked about trying to play offensive tennis, while it was clear that last year’s loss in the final here rankled with Kasatskina. She’d changed restaurant, but was also having the food delivered and concentrating on relaxing when not playing.
When it was revealed that she’s lost the last five finals she’s been in, one understood that Kasatskina needed a good start, and she got one, while Fernandez was less settled. An early break, and Kasatskina was playing steely tennis her way. Another big factor was that the wind had calmed right down, the grass courts had dried and were playing a little more like a hard court.
Fernandez showed a willingness to come forward, but Kasatskina was always in control in the first set. She got an early break in the second set, for her opponent was far too inconsistent, but did come back, and there was some very good tennis at points. The lead disappeared, in part because of some nervy serving from Kasatskina, but there was less stress and frustration than in the semi. Fernandez played some excellent lunge volleys, but I think all of Kasatskina’s lobs were devastatingly good, and she, the older player, looked like the one who has spent longer in the top 10 (she’s just outside at the moment, while Fernandez is about no. 30.) She stayed resolute enough and won this year. It was nice that Navratilova was there to hand the trophy, as it’s all change this year, with Eastbourne becoming a 250 tournament for the women, and Queen’s becoming the 500 (although as I understand it the women will be playing there straight after the French Open, which may bring its own problems.)
(Fritz defended his title.)
For Wimbledon, I think the women’s side is harder to call than the men's. Swiatek has yet to prove herself on the grass, Sabalenka and all the former Wimbledon champions (I think three will be playing) have done better. I'm sure there will be a lot of talk about the psychodrama of Ons Jabeur and the Grand Slam she should win. Alcaraz and Sinner are somehow on the same half of the men's draw, so whoever comes through it is probably the favourite. Superhuman he may be, but Djokovic can’t come back to slam-winning levels so soon after such an injury. (Can he? Remember Nadal's last two Slam wins...) It will be interesting to see how Draper copes with the Weight of British Expectations. He must be hoping that Raducanu and Boulter can help give him cover.