That semi wasn't all that great, Djoko was marginally better throughout and Stan just had no answer towards the end. Murray has a decent shot at this, would imagine Novak will up his game a bit yet, but will be interesting.
Something I meant to link here before but forgot to.
http://robcherrytennis.com/
Looks like the best online resource for info on what the Irish are up to.
Shoot the women's final is on at 3am here. Read today maria hasn't beaten her in 10 years? Had no idea it was that long.
Andy Murray is such a little whiner. I hope he loses and Mauresmo body slams him.
Yip, 15 straight losses, I think that also includes the Olympics, 15 times in 10 years in very little to play each other though. Apparently Serena is suffering from a cold of some sort, don't know if that will make much of a difference. Apart from the juice, she's a better match player than Maria, but it will be an interesting game. Despite all she detracts from the game and that (unlike Rio Ferdinand) she can get away with deliberately missing drug tests, she is a very clean hitter of the ball.
I'm kind of rooting for Andy, he's a nice guy, very down to earth and takes the p out of himself. Also he's a big lover of things Irish, has helped out Irish players (still does) and after everything he went through as a kid I kind of like his togetherness.
James McGee just one match away from his first challenger final in Maui after a 76 (8-6) 62 win over 16 year old American Stefan Kozlov overnight. James came from 5-1 down in the first set breaker.
Amy Bowtell in action in the semi finals in Sunderland at 12.00 noon playing unseeded Czech Jesika Maleckova.
Women final bitterly predictable so far.
I hope Murray wins as well, I thought his after match comments were on point. And Kim Sears swearing was hilarious!
Maleckova was a good little junior, but she's not translated it into the senior ranks. She's a good clay courter with some good wins, but Amy must be aiming to get through this in straight sets and meet Sirotkina in the final. If she can beat Marta, she is moving in the right direction. She matched and beat her in training many times, so she could do it.
Great for James, just for reaching the semi's he must be back up close to the top-200. Winning the title must push him close to an all-time high.
Maria never stood a chance. Serena is just too strong, too healthy and too consistent.
The lad McGee beat looks like a player, only a child really and is still very slight but as far as I'm aware he's the big American hope for the future. I remember him nearly toppeling big ol' Sam Groth last year, he's in the team that beat Clusky in the doubles, they're into the semi now.
Just checked his results last year, I had forgotten he got to a USTA final late in the season, also got a set or Corcic. in that challenger he lost to Queerey, but beat JP Smith, Tim Smyczek, Rhyne Williams and Ryan Harrison, all in the one week, that's something our James is very unlikely to be able to achieve unless he can start being more consistent. The semi is about as winnable a semi as you can ever hope for at this level. He has to take the chance, and will likely face Bradley Klahn who he lost 2-0 to earlier this year in the final.
If things go to form, James would jump to about 180 in the rankings, if he were to lose the final. A win would jump him to low 170's. I've not taken into account how other players points will fluctuate, but it's a decent approximation.
Doubles final is AUS is just starting, hope the French lads win, Fognini is an arsehole.
Sam Barry plays Taro Daniel later on in France, I'd be very surprised if he wins, Daniel is very good, bit can occasionally be an inconsistent hothead, but young and will probably eventually be a top 100 player at least.
Last edited by Acornvilla; 31/01/2015 at 10:49 AM.
Amy through to face Marta tomorrow at 11. I can see it being tight, but if Amy can get a head start, Sirotkina will crumble. Won't be easy, but it'll be quite the scalp fr her if she can do it. Come on Amy!
McGee lost semi 7-6, 6-2 so he gets 29 rankings point as a semi finalist - a missed opportunity to make it to the final!
Jesus Christ...
He looked knackered to me.
Amy won 6-4 6-3 to win the final ..... Bravo!
What a win! Brilliant! It is not going to make a huge difference in rankings, but it means a lot for the player and reputation. Tennis is like boxing. It's all about who you beat and how you beat them.
She's now beaten a player who a year ago was in Grand Slam qualifiers and a potential top 100 player (maybe top-75). And this player had beaten top-100 players and won a $75k, and even beat Nastia Rodionova last year (which is no mean feat).
So now it's up to Amy to routinely beat top-300 players and start making the quarters of $25ks and break 300. She's going to reach an all time high now, close to 350, so fingers crossed. Note: She pulled out of the $25k in Glasgow next week. She'd have been pushing it as she'd have had to play qualies, but it's a missed opportunity. - She's on the way to Estonia to play Fed Cup. Will be an impossible task for Ireland to stay up!
Last edited by Spudulika; 01/02/2015 at 10:15 PM. Reason: Info
James is at 193 in rankings while Amy is at 409
Don't think the girls/ITF events rankings get updated until the following week, so I'd wager Amy is really closer to 350 in reality.
Spot on, once a fortnight for ITF tournaments. All eyes on whether Ireland can finish 3rd and play off against 4th in the opposite group, it's happy days. As it stands Estonia, South Africa, Slovenia and Bosnia will be the big guns. Finland are strong with a very experienced captain (who is still winning club matches), Luxembourg are weak and Egypt are making up the numbers. Some very good players on show.
McGee just missed 3 match points v Smyczek. Netted an easy forehand with the whole court to aim at..
Edit: Broken to love next game. Two double faults. Moronic.
That was disappointing. 2 hours on court and nothing to show. But at least he made main draw, a decent start (without having to qualify).
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