2019 Women's Wimbledon Championships

[tenisplayrla08]

So Serena comes through in straights. A much closer match than last year's semifinal. But Serena still at least a shot better at most turns. Goerges hitting the cover off the ball at times. And to good effect. Won 2 more games than last year. But Serena still got the break she needed each set and Goerges still couldn't return Serena's serve well at all.

Serena looks much better all around this time. But it's likely the effect of knowing her opponent better. Knowing what she needs to do. And having had that last tough match certainly helped her get her head in it. Knowing she can be beaten. Knowing she's got to come up with the goods. And finds them today. We'll see if her woes return though.

Meanwhile Strycova steals the first set from Bertens. Breaks for 7-5. Will Bertens be able to pull it out in 3? I'd like to think so. But I'm totally ok with Strycova winning to be sure. And she is definitely playing well enough and attacking Bertens' weaknesses well enough to win this thing. Taking great advantage of Bertens weaker backhand side. And moving Bertens around to great effect. Still. It's close. "Just" three breaks of serve in that set. But Bertens with multiple chances at deuce at .... 4-all I think. But Strycova just kept serving wide to the backhand from the ad court on every break point. And eventually got the hold. Great hold for her.
And she holds to start the second.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

And now for my most nerve racking match of the tournament. Been looking for this one since the draw came out. This Konta and Stephens 4th match OF THIS YEAR and Konta has taken all of them. That's all of their matches though. They've never played before this year. Which is strange. But Stephens definitely has not had the answer for Konta yet. We'll see if Konta remains Stephens kryptonite or if Sloane's solid form from the first two rounds affords her a bit of confidence and a better showing.

Still gonna try to pay attention to Strycova/Bertens. Especially since it's so good. It's one you can see going the distance in the third. Or one of them just suddenly running away with it. But we'll see.

Stephens starts with a hold.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Well. There ya go. Bertens disappears and Strycova doesn't lose another game from the last time I posted, though I didn't include a score. I think they were at 1-1 or already 2-1 Strycova. On serve. Great win for her. Sort of surprised to see this is just her 2nd trip to the 4th round. Last trip she went to her lone slam quarterfinal though. Strong win.

Bertens disappoints again. Some of the sheen coming off of her great recent run.

Serena now the ONLY quarterfinalist from last year still in this year's tournament. Granted she had to play one of them today, Goerges. So the draw not helping Goerges.

But Bertens and Kerber, the only 2 in the top 10 from last year's quarterfinalists, both disappointing here. Ostapenko out to Hsieh in the first round. Surprising no one. Cibulkova always up and down and just about to call it a career isn't she? May be mixing her up with someone else. Kasatkina hasn't been good in a while. And Giorgi was injured for some of the year and fell to Yastremska in the first round this year.

And technically there's no guarantee Serena will make the quarters again. We'll see.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Stephens with a much better showing against Konta today. Even before the break. But now serving for the set. Another close service game. 30-all. But she takes the first set point and the set 6-3. Another error from Konta to seal it. A backhand slice into the tape.

Sloane serving well for the most part. Though her service games were closer in the early goings and throughout. But got into a couple Konta service games and won one. Likes the slower grass that she's talked about all week. Maybe Konta likes it less. Even though she just had a much better clay season, for her and compared to Sloane.

 

[kskate2]

Serena would have to go incredibly lame not to make the QF's. CSN cannot challenge her even on this "slow grass".

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Well crap. Konta breaks to take the second set. But. I gotta appreciate how she did it. Upped her game. Found another level. Quit missing. Completely. And specifically on the last point just came up with a very nice forehand winner.

I'd say hopefully neither goes away. But if Konta dipped from here I'd be more than happy with that. So I guess I'm just hoping Sloane doesn't go away. But also just hoping Konta's level isn't too good. I just don't want her to have a level that Sloane simply can't handle. But we definitely already saw that at the French a few weeks ago.

A set for the fourth round.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Well. Sloane could get the early break. Collapsed a bit on her serve. And then played better but still couldn't get the break. So 3-love Konta. Konta definitely playing so much better though. Still not missing. Errors just completely gone. Serve clicking. Konta's forehand doing more damage now.

 

[tented]

Well. Sloane could get the early break. Collapsed a bit on her serve. And then played better but still couldn't get the break. So 3-love Konta. Konta definitely playing so much better though. Still not missing. Errors just completely gone. Serve clicking. Konta's forehand doing more damage now.

Konta up 5-1 — I don’t see Sloane mounting a comeback given how Konta has been playing.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Well. Sloane just not good enough once Konta reaches this level. This just the point where I just have to say Sloane is just not up to par. She's dipped. Not at her best. Maybe just can't play her best when another player is at their best.

But all respect to Konta. She played absolutely beautifully since 4-all in the second set.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Konta just served BRILLIANTLY in the final set. But Sloane's game... it didn't crumble. But it lost a bit. And seeing as she wasn't that far above Konta to take the first set, when it lost a bit, Konta's timing got better and she took over. Not the first set Stephens had taken from Konta. But she'll be bitterly disappointed to lose that one. Was right in there up to 4-all in the second. And then Konta's level just went up and Sloane didn't have the answer. At ALL. So frustrating.

Sloane will add points technically. But I don't think it'll help her ranking. Kerber losing early might help more with that. But still disappointing that she can't guarantee her way to the quarter of every slam. Just not as good as I want her to be. Gets harder and harder to be a fan of hers. I mean. I'm not gonna suddenly stop being a fan. But she's quickly moving into that category of those players that just remain frustratingly so so, relative to their talent, their entire careers. But. It's not like Konta is someone outside the top 50. Sven Groeneveld just hasn't gotten Sloane back to her best yet. It takes time for a new coach and player to click. But, even her best was never really good enough to dominate. And I don't know that I ever expected her to dominate. At least not consciously. But my reaction to this loss and her poor play over the last year suggests maybe I did subconsciously. I don't know. I don't want to be a fair weather fan. No one does. But when people or teams lose more than they should, consistently, you just start to put them to the side of your mind. It's too hard to keep rooting. I've already had to do this with Sloane from 20...14 to 2016. Then the injury was actually a blessing. Ya can't root for or be annoyed by the losses of someone who is injured and can't play. And then it turned out to be a blessing for Sloane, as we saw when she returned to the tour rejuvenated.

Whatever. This isn't where I need to have my fandom existential crisis.

Good for Konta. She deserves it. She really was sublime for a set. Found the timing and form she had in that RG quarterfinal against Sloane. They've now played 10 sets. Sloane has won 2 of them. 1 in a tiebreak and the first set today 6-4. There have been 4 6-4 sets. The 1 tiebreak. A 6-3 set for Konta. And then Konta has 3 sets of 6-1. 2 of them being the final set of a their 2 3 setters.

Here's to Serena. Sometimes frustrating. But probably the least frustrating player I've ever rooted for. Which. Now that I say that. And think that through, probably just means I latch on to underdogs. Well. Other than Fed. Just had to weather Fed's slamless 5 years (4 1/2).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Oh well I was right in my predication with Konta defeating Sloane,it appears she has her number.

 

[Horsa]

Oh well I was right in my predication with Konta defeating Sloane,it appears she has her number.

I'm glad Konta won. I wanted her to win but commiserations to Sloane's fans. Konta's win was good news for me to come back from Blackpool to, though.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I'm glad Konta won. I wanted her to win but commiserations to Sloane's fans. Konta's win was good news for me to come back from Blackpool to, though.

Are you watching Andy and Serena on court now....they won the first set 64 and are up a break early in the 2nd set

 

[Horsa]

Are you watching Andy and Serena on court now....they won the first set 64 and are up a break early in the 2nd set

Unfortunately not. I got up very early this morning as I live inland so had to set off early to have a decent amount of time there & get back at a decent time so I might have an early night. Thank you very much for the information. I hope they win.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Unfortunately not. I got up very early this morning as I live inland so had to set off early to have a decent amount of time there & get back at a decent time so I might have an early night. Thank you very much for the information. I hope they win.

No worries,I had to work night shift for 4 straight nights,I am still trying to catch up on missed sleep.....have a good sleep.

 

[Horsa]

No worries,I had to work night shift for 4 straight nights,I am still trying to catch up on missed sleep.....have a good sleep.

Thank you very much. You too.

 

[kskate2]

Wimbledon Results for Round 3 Day 6 - Saturday, July 6, 2019

 

[kskate2]

Wimbledon Order of Play for Round 4 Monday, July 8, 2019

 

[Hoergren]

The final 16

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

My selections women's 4th round matches.

Barty v Riske...Alison is very efficient on grass,Barty to me has more arsenal in her overall game.Barty to win.

S.Willliams v CSN...Serena will have no trouble with Carla dispatching her with ease,first time players have met on grass.

Elise Mertens v Barbora Strycova.I am leaning towards Strycova who defeated No4 seed Kiki Bertens in her previous match.

Kitova v Konta. To me the 'pick of the 4th rd matches'.This will be a tight match,Kvitova has been under the radar at Wimbledon,she has made the 4th rd here,first time since 2014,I did not think she would get this far,considering her forearm injury,her previous match,her serve was on song,she appears to be getting on a roll? though can Konta stop her? No doubt the crowd will be on her side.....Petra to win,though quite frankly I will not be surprised if Konta wins.

Martic to win over Svitolina
Pliskova to win over Muchova
Halep to win over Coco
Yastremska to win over Zhang.