WTA News and Gossip 2022

[MargaretMcAleer]

Bad Homburg WTA250 tournament in Germany has a fairly strong field,

Angie Kerber, defending champion, Simona Halep, Belinda Bencic, and Daria Kastatkina.

 

[TheSicilian]

Emma Raducanu not among the wild cards named this afternoon for Eastbourne.If she plays Wimbledon, she's going to go in with seven games ( not matches) of competitive preparation on the grass.

Hopefully she will be able to play Wimbledon. Last year she only played 1 match at Nottingham which was okay. Obviously things are different this year but if she is injury free then hopefully she can work her way into the tournament and the lack of matches won't be a problem.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Hopefully she will be able to play Wimbledon. Last year she only played 1 match at Nottingham which was okay. Obviously things are different this year but if she is injury free then hopefully she can work her way into the tournament and the lack of matches won't be a problem.

We will see, I still think she needs to get some strength training in the gym, she seems of late to get injured, 3 retirements already in matches.

 

[TheSicilian]

We will see, I still think she needs to get some strength training in the gym, she seems of late to get injured, 3 retirements already in matches.

Yeah I think that will help. It will probably take her a while to get used to the tour hopefully by then she will be physically stronger and have fewer injuries. Whatever happens at Wimbledon will happen. But after she needs some good recovery time to allow any injuries time to heal & try to arrive in NY 100% healthy.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Sicilian

If you are around Mike Dickson has written a book....Emma Raducanu: When Tennis Came Home....probably a good read on the rise of Emma Raducanu.....I dont know as yet if it is available in book shops, or you can buy it online.

 

[Hoergren]

Just to recap HOW good Ons Jabeur is right now - highlights from her two latest matches

 

[TheSicilian]

The Sicilian

If you are around Mike Dickson has written a book....Emma Raducanu: When Tennis Came Home....probably a good read on the rise of Emma Raducanu.....I dont know as yet if it is available in book shops, or you can buy it online.

Thanks, I saw it on amazon last week going to order a copy soon!

 

[Kieran]

Hopefully she will be able to play Wimbledon. Last year she only played 1 match at Nottingham which was okay. Obviously things are different this year but if she is injury free then hopefully she can work her way into the tournament and the lack of matches won't be a problem.

I agree, and remember, when she played both Wimbledon AND the US Open last year, she was basically a young calf hobbling about. She’d had zero experience. But now she’s coming to the time of the season where people will be especially critical of her. Anything less than Fourth Round of Wimbledon will be considered proof that she’s overrated.

Fourth round will be held against her as proof she hasn’t improved. And on and on until the US Open is in her rear view mirror. She’s facing a higher amount of ridiculously biased scrutiny - comparative to this, she’ll get little credit for her successes, if they come…

 

[kskate2]

I agree, and remember, when she played both Wimbledon AND the US Open last year, she was basically a young calf hobbling about. She’d had zero experience. But now she’s coming to the time of the season where people will be especially critical of her. Anything less than Fourth Round of Wimbledon will be considered proof that she’s overrated.

Fourth round will be held against her as proof she hasn’t improved. And on and on until the US Open is in her rear view mirror. She’s facing a higher amount of ridiculously biased scrutiny - comparative to this, she’ll get little credit for her successes, if they come…

All true. I just hasten people to remember what happened to Serena when she was 17. She won the USO beating #1 Hingis at the time. She struggled mightily in the slams and elsewhere for about 2 years, getting to the QF or SF and getting beat by the likes of Lindsay, Jennifer and Big sis. When she reached the USO F in 2001, I thought she had turned the corner, but Venus still had her number then. In 2002, she went on a tear winning 4 slams in a row and generally owning all the hype that had been circling her. I say all of this to say, sometimes it takes time, even for the greats and we don't know if Emma is a great yet.

 

[TheSicilian]

I agree, and remember, when she played both Wimbledon AND the US Open last year, she was basically a young calf hobbling about. She’d had zero experience. But now she’s coming to the time of the season where people will be especially critical of her. Anything less than Fourth Round of Wimbledon will be considered proof that she’s overrated.

Fourth round will be held against her as proof she hasn’t improved. And on and on until the US Open is in her rear view mirror. She’s facing a higher amount of ridiculously biased scrutiny - comparative to this, she’ll get little credit for her successes, if they come…

Good points, it will be interesting to see what happens. The real test will be USO because she will have all eyes on her & pressure to repeat. I hope she turns up at Wimbledon just happy to be playing the event, after all the recent injury problems arriving with low expectations would be best. She also needs to do what she did last year ignore all media. Turn off the phone & social media as it could be brutal if she losses early. I think one match at a time but with the recent injury struggles making it to week 2 again would be a success. Anything else would be a bonus

 

[Kieran]

Good points, it will be interesting to see what happens. The real test will be USO because she will have all eyes on her & pressure to repeat. I hope she turns up at Wimbledon just happy to be playing the event, after all the recent injury problems arriving with low expectations would be best. She also needs to do what she did last year ignore all media. Turn off the phone & social media as it could be brutal if she losses early. I think one match at a time but with the recent injury struggles making it to week 2 again would be a success. Anything else would be a bonus

Yeah, she’ll do well to reach the second week. I think you’re right about the need for her to block out the static. If she can find a carefree attitude and swing and enjoy it, she might do well, but she’s gonna face a huge amount of nonsense in the media…

 

[TheSicilian]

Shame both the ladies grass court finals ended in retirements today. Bencic retired 36 12 due to an ankle injury, so Jabeur took the title in Germany. Zhang retired in Birmingham 45 so Haddad Maia winning the title. Both players had already played 3 set Sf matches already earlier in the day due to being rained off yesterday.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Shame both the ladies grass court finals ended in retirements today. Bencic retired 36 12 due to an ankle injury, so Jabeur took the title in Germany. Zhang retired in Birmingham 45 so Haddad Maia winning the title. Both players had already played 3 set Sf matches already earlier in the day due to being rained off yesterday.

Shame that the ladies in Birmingham had to play 2 matches, due to rain.Though I am keeping my eye on Haddad Maia she could be a dangerous floater in Wimbledon, 6ft tall, a good lefty serve, reminds me of Petra Kvitova in ways

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just saw a picture of Caroline Wozniacki, holding a scan? I think congratulations are in order she is pregnant again.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well done to Ons Jabeur a new career high of No 3 in the rankings from Monday
Hopefully Bencic ankle will be okay for Wimbledon, I would think she will withdraw from Bad Homburg tournament

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena spent the afternoon at Eastbourne practicing at the off-site training courts with Frances Tiafoe

 

[TheSicilian]

Yeah, she’ll do well to reach the second week. I think you’re right about the need for her to block out the static. If she can find a carefree attitude and swing and enjoy it, she might do well, but she’s gonna face a huge amount of nonsense in the media…

Last year at Wimbledon she said she hadn't read any of the papers, & managed to block everything out. Which must have been difficult as she got a lot of attention last Wimbledon!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Last year at Wimbledon she said she hadn't read any of the papers, & managed to block everything out. Which must have been difficult as she got a lot of attention last Wimbledon!

I think the most important factor for Emma presently is to stay with a coach for a considerable amount of time, she has teamed up with Delgado, a good experienced coach, ex coach of Andy Murray and more recently Denis Shapo, Jamie is also great in the fitness area, a area I feel Emma needs, hopefully this partnership lasts.

 

[TheSicilian]

Shame that the ladies in Birmingham had to play 2 matches, due to rain.Though I am keeping my eye on Haddad Maia she could be a dangerous floater in Wimbledon, 6ft tall, a good lefty serve, reminds me of Petra Kvitova in ways

Bad luck with the weather unfortunately. She has done very well the last 2 weeks. I remember she had a big win at Wimbledon in the past. Just checked she beat Muguruza in the 1st round in 2019.

 

[TheSicilian]

I think the most important factor for Emma presently is to stay with a coach for a considerable amount of time, she has teamed up with Delgado, a good experienced coach, ex coach of Andy Murray and more recently Denis Shapo, Jamie is also great in the fitness area, a area I feel Emma needs, hopefully this partnership lasts.

That sounds like a positive move for her. Talking of Murray do you think he will play mixed doubles with Emma? Been a few rumours they might, that would be fun.