Alicia Rocks
Jan 2nd, 2008, 11:55 PM
DAY SESSION
After a fairly long bus journey a couple of friends and I finally arrived at Royal Pines - to again very windy condition. Well wasn't so bad on Centre Court because the stands, cover and resort block it :lol:
Shahar Peer v Julia Schruff
Well it was clear from the start Julia was quite sick and looked very lathargic. Shahar didn't have to do anything special - but her groundies were nice as usual and footwork/defence was still very good. Her second serve however is still a liability and Schruff had a couple of return winners.
Dinara Safina v Flavia Pennetta
Probably the best match of the day - and before we get into it I must say Dinara is looking amazingly fit, much better than when I last saw her. This match was pretty much who hit the least errors. Amazing hard hitting rallies and lots of screaming going on :lol: In the end Dinara's fight pulled her through (after her choke at 5-3 40-15) and seemed determined - seems she loves playing at the Gold Coast ;) Flavia was getting down on herself and probably could have won if she had Dinara's attitude. But at least it seems she's on her way back to Top 25-20.
Patty Schnyder v Francesca Schiavone
The highlight of the match was listening to Franny's many different grunts :haha: :hearts:. Patty played pathetic in the first set and was practically shanking every single backhand. Franny was playing very well in the opening set however and was creaming her backhand most of the match - definatly her biggest weapon. Patty however picked up her game and never really looked like she was going to lose. She cracked a racket when she was up 4-2 in the 2nd and received a code violation :lol:. Rainer was in attendence and Patty had to tell him to shoosh up at one stage in the first set :lol: She never got warned however.
Nathalie Dechy v Amelie Mauresmo
Wasn't the most interesting match and I didn't see much of it, Nathalie has a real nice double handed backhand but pushed it long a bit too much. Amelie became way too defensive on her match points, but I'm sure with more matches she will continue to improve. Nathalie was in a awful mood and had a go at the umpire and linesman near the end of the match and didn't shake the umpires hand at the end. (Waved her racket at her instead ;) )
Safina/Szavay v Petrova/Vesnina
Lots of fun - Dinara and Agi were really enjoying themselves and played well as a team in the gale force winds :lol:. Petrova/Vesnina were having fun also but Nadia wasn't playing well at all. Ironic moment in the second when Agi smashed a volley into Nadia's face - with many apologies from Agi... at least Nadia handled herself better than Liezel ;)
Monique Adamczak v Na Li
Nothing much to say - Na just in a much different league than Monique and was absolutely creaming the ball :hearts: However I believe if Monique plays a smart schedule Top 100 is definatly reachable.
Night Session
Nicole Vaidisova v Tatjana Malek
Nicole just too good - serving well, groundstrokes solid and even had some nice touch at the net and some dropshots :eek:. Tatjana has a nice game (awesome forehand) but needs to improve her serve and really shouldn't slice her backhand so much! Funny moment when a massive bird came under the shade cloth and Nicole absolutely shat herself :haha:
Dominika Cibulkova v Tathiana Garbin
Was a great match with longggggggggggggg rallies. Dominika hits such a clean hard ball very nice to watch, but she puts so much effort into the ball and was cramping in the second set from the amount of running she had to do :lol: Does need to improve her serve however... but I can definatly see Top 20-15 potential if she is healthy. Received a code violation for taking to long between points though. Tathiana typical italian but not much weapons and Cibulkova just outlasted her in the end.
Side notes:
- Jess Moore was sitting with Rainer and Patty whilst watching Dinara v Flavia
- Agnes suits Fila perfectly
- Yan and Zheng practice wayyyyyyyy too much ;)
- Vesnina frustrated at the weather "Gooooooo away raiiiiiiiiiiiiin!" during rain delay in her doubs match.
After a fairly long bus journey a couple of friends and I finally arrived at Royal Pines - to again very windy condition. Well wasn't so bad on Centre Court because the stands, cover and resort block it :lol:
Shahar Peer v Julia Schruff
Well it was clear from the start Julia was quite sick and looked very lathargic. Shahar didn't have to do anything special - but her groundies were nice as usual and footwork/defence was still very good. Her second serve however is still a liability and Schruff had a couple of return winners.
Dinara Safina v Flavia Pennetta
Probably the best match of the day - and before we get into it I must say Dinara is looking amazingly fit, much better than when I last saw her. This match was pretty much who hit the least errors. Amazing hard hitting rallies and lots of screaming going on :lol: In the end Dinara's fight pulled her through (after her choke at 5-3 40-15) and seemed determined - seems she loves playing at the Gold Coast ;) Flavia was getting down on herself and probably could have won if she had Dinara's attitude. But at least it seems she's on her way back to Top 25-20.
Patty Schnyder v Francesca Schiavone
The highlight of the match was listening to Franny's many different grunts :haha: :hearts:. Patty played pathetic in the first set and was practically shanking every single backhand. Franny was playing very well in the opening set however and was creaming her backhand most of the match - definatly her biggest weapon. Patty however picked up her game and never really looked like she was going to lose. She cracked a racket when she was up 4-2 in the 2nd and received a code violation :lol:. Rainer was in attendence and Patty had to tell him to shoosh up at one stage in the first set :lol: She never got warned however.
Nathalie Dechy v Amelie Mauresmo
Wasn't the most interesting match and I didn't see much of it, Nathalie has a real nice double handed backhand but pushed it long a bit too much. Amelie became way too defensive on her match points, but I'm sure with more matches she will continue to improve. Nathalie was in a awful mood and had a go at the umpire and linesman near the end of the match and didn't shake the umpires hand at the end. (Waved her racket at her instead ;) )
Safina/Szavay v Petrova/Vesnina
Lots of fun - Dinara and Agi were really enjoying themselves and played well as a team in the gale force winds :lol:. Petrova/Vesnina were having fun also but Nadia wasn't playing well at all. Ironic moment in the second when Agi smashed a volley into Nadia's face - with many apologies from Agi... at least Nadia handled herself better than Liezel ;)
Monique Adamczak v Na Li
Nothing much to say - Na just in a much different league than Monique and was absolutely creaming the ball :hearts: However I believe if Monique plays a smart schedule Top 100 is definatly reachable.
Night Session
Nicole Vaidisova v Tatjana Malek
Nicole just too good - serving well, groundstrokes solid and even had some nice touch at the net and some dropshots :eek:. Tatjana has a nice game (awesome forehand) but needs to improve her serve and really shouldn't slice her backhand so much! Funny moment when a massive bird came under the shade cloth and Nicole absolutely shat herself :haha:
Dominika Cibulkova v Tathiana Garbin
Was a great match with longggggggggggggg rallies. Dominika hits such a clean hard ball very nice to watch, but she puts so much effort into the ball and was cramping in the second set from the amount of running she had to do :lol: Does need to improve her serve however... but I can definatly see Top 20-15 potential if she is healthy. Received a code violation for taking to long between points though. Tathiana typical italian but not much weapons and Cibulkova just outlasted her in the end.
Side notes:
- Jess Moore was sitting with Rainer and Patty whilst watching Dinara v Flavia
- Agnes suits Fila perfectly
- Yan and Zheng practice wayyyyyyyy too much ;)
- Vesnina frustrated at the weather "Gooooooo away raiiiiiiiiiiiiin!" during rain delay in her doubs match.