BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, CA, 2023 - WTA 1000

[tented]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

QFs Thursday 16th March,

E. Rybakina (10) vs K. Muchova H2H Muchova 1-0 HC 2019 New York RD 1.
This will be an interesting match a contrast of styles with these 2 players, big flat, hitting Elena, with a great serve and forehand , and Karolina with great variety in her game.

I.Swiatek (1) vs S.Cirstea H2H Swiatek 1-0 HC AO 2022 4th Rd in 3 sets. Sorana after her shoulder injury last year has a new coach in Tomas Johansson, who I must admit dosent look much older when he was playing on the tour, Sorana has said he brings more cofidence in her game, that was evident when she defeated Caroline Garcia in her last match, facing Iga will be a bigger test.

 

[tossip]

Saba can be inconsistent,and we will see if she makes it to the end.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba can be inconsistent,and we will see if she makes it to the end.

Well so far Saba is 16-1 in 2023, to me that is pretty consistent

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

The difference between Coco and Jess is that Coco is 19 and Jess is 29. Jess is who she is at this point. She will never win a slam. Coco, on the other hand, has a lot of time to evolve her game. She will win slams, barring a career altering injury.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Also I wish people would give credit where it is due?
Coco had no answer for Saba today, it was a different Saba she played last time they met, I could not watch Saba last year, I remembering telling Kskate, she does my head in, and dosent understand how to play percentage tennis, I even threatened AF she would not be on my Christmas list, if Saba she got to a final and won. To her credit she hired a 'Bio Mechanic Specialist for her serve, she also got rid of her sports phycologist and went it alone at the start of the year, and she won the AO.
Coco has to be able to 'absorb big hitters' for starters, instead of just hitting the ball back, and into their wheel house, she was frustrated today in the 2nd set she had no answers, that has nothing to do with playing doubles, or her match yesterday where she was lucky to win against a Qualifer? yes I have said many times Coco dosent need to play doubles in every tournament that goes with Jess as well.
Coco needs to mix it up against Big Hitters, take a leaf out of Ash Barty's book, use the slice as a defence or offense, use spin, etc, you have to be able to 'absorb' this is a good way to do that., use angles as well, anything and everything to disrupt their power play.

Great point ... Against big hitters you can feed the monster , fastballs in die ( etc . Sakkari vs Kvitova first set) or you can vary the pace and survive (etc. Sakkari vs Kvitova 2nd and 3rd set yesterday) ..Tennis at that level as you are saving is between the ears..Saba isn't unbeatable and her opponents have got to make the game uncomfortable or Elena will drive the bus over them and her entire team.

The best change of pace stroke in tennis is the slice.. I have seen the very best baselines get taken completely out of their game by players who are the Masters of the slice. Coco has a undercut FH to change the pace but hasn't incorporated the slice into her arsenal at the stage in her career. Just as Kskate and others have stated, she needs to reduce the role of daddy coach and grab a Cahill or Gilbert to take her completely from point B to A.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

For now, Coco just needs to focus on improving on her results from last year. She didn't make it past the round of 16 of any tournament between now and the FO, so she's not defending too many points. If she just makes at least a quarterfinal appearance in each tournament between now and the FO, she will gain ranking points and probably be in the Top 4 of the world rankings. If Coco can get a Top 4 seed at the FO, she can avoid some of the big name players (Iga, Rybakina, Sabalenka) until the semis or finals. Who knows, with a little luck, they may all fall victim to an upset, and Coco ends up beating a player like Magda Linette or Donna Vekic for the FO title.

 

[the AntiPusher]

For now, Coco just needs to focus on improving on her results from last year. She didn't make it past the round of 16 of any tournament between now and the FO, so she's not defending too many points. If she just makes at least a quarterfinal appearance in each tournament between now and the FO, she will gain ranking points and probably be in the Top 4 of the world rankings. If Coco can get a Top 4 seed at the FO, she can avoid some of the big name players (Iga, Rybakina, Sabalenka) until the semis or finals. Who knows, with a little luck, they may all fall victim to an upset, and Coco ends up beating a player like Magda Linette or Donna Vekic for the FO title.

The ONLY way to improve her results, CoCo will need to make some changes to her game which isn't difficult to figure out. Yes she is so young but look at the past few grand slam champions,they were just leaving their teens before the capture their first and ONLY GS. E.g Kenin

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay just tuning into the 1st QF match today Rybakina v Muchova, a contrast of styles here, will be an interesting match up

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is what I have been talking about, Muchova with her all round good variety in her game, using her slice to perfection, to absorb the power of the big flat hitting Rybakina gets the break early in the 1st set, other players should take note, shame that Muchova has had soo many injuries in her career, she is a Top 10 player, if she could remain healthy, early days yet I know, I really enjoy watching her play, Muchova has a big bandaged on her thigh, and another strip on her other leg,one day I may see her play without any bandages on her body lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Great antcipation from Rybakina and she breaks Muchova who was serving for the 1st set, a bit of a momentum shift, as Rybakina 1st serve was missing early in the match, Muchova returned her 2nd serve well, this has been a close contested match so far, 5 games all 1st set
Muchova will serve to force a TB for the 1st set, she needs to forget the disappointment of not serving out the 1st set, reset and concentrate on taking this to a TB
TB it is for the 1st set 6 games all
Rybakina 1st set 76(4) her serve was one of the deciding factors in the t/break, when she gets that 1st serve in and her big fhand , nothing , much her opponents can do, though Muchova DF, gave the break to Rybakina in the TB. Lets see how she rebounds in the 2nd set, for most of the 1st set she was marginally the better player.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Muchova up a healthy lead in the 2nd set 4-1 ( I am again having computer troubles, having to reboot all the time,)
Rybakina's 1st serve is not as consistent as it has been, Mucova teeing off on Rybakina's 1st serve, with results
Also I love the hand skills of Muchova, which really has been evident in this 2nd set.
Rybakina's fhand wide and Muchova wins the 2nd set 62, well done Muchova after getting broken when serving for the 1st set 5-4 and losing the TB.
We are going 3, fascinating match to watch, I have really enjoyed, contrasting styles, who will win?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am going to smash my computer, I only brought it new earlier this year, I will take it back where I brought it from on the weekend

Getting back to the tennis,

This was a highly contested QF the best so far, in terms of ball striking, variety, net play from these 2 players, sad to say there can only be one winner, though Muchova made Rybakina win the match

Rybakina (10) defeated Muchova 76(4) 26 64.....Well done Elena, that was the first set of tennis she has lost this tournament, she will play the winner of Swiatek and Cirstea in the SF

 

[the AntiPusher]

If I could interview to Rybakina, I would ask her if she knows Borat.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If I could interview to Rybakina, I would ask her if she knows Borat.

LOL!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina,

" It was a really tough match today. I'm just happy I managed to win in the 3rd set and serve it out. I served much better in the 3rd. I didn't start that well. Here the conditions are not easy for me, Karolina played really well."

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

iga Swiatek (1) defeats Sorana Cirstea 62 63 reaching the SF, the defending champion will play Elena Rybakina in the SF
Swaitek is 16-3 in 2023, all wins in straight sets

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina
- the 3 current GS champions
- the top 3 players in the WTA race
- 3/4 semi-finalists in IW. Not bad

 

[the AntiPusher]

LOL!

Oh some of y'all thought about it too.jajaja

 

[tossip]

The ONLY way to improve her results, CoCo will need to make some changes to her game which isn't difficult to figure out. Yes she is so young but look at the past few grand slam champions,they were just leaving their teens before the capture their first and ONLY GS. E.g Kenin

Coco is still learning and she has done more than a lot of players older than her.She reached a slam final before she turned 19yrs,and how many of these players reach that height.Pegula at 29 has never reached a slam final.I like that Coco is still learning and developing her game.I remember Vee used to have a weak forehand,and it was eventually fixed.Her time will come and for a 19year old she is pretty accomplished.She is a hardworker and the results will follow.