[sutho12]

Sachas talented (& pretty!), welcome to Australia

Kinda feel sorry for tennis nz but!

[Mana]

Interesting quotes from Erakovic regarding this.

"To tell you the truth I was in shock and I still am in shock: it was out of the blue for me."

"I read some things in the paper but I still don't see why she's done it."

"We really do not have a Fed Cup team now. It's hard, it's hardest on all of the people that have been supporting her over the years."

"I really don't know what to say: if she thinks this is the best option for her and this will make her achieve her goals, then that's great and all the best to her, but New Zealand and Australia are in the same part of the world and I don't really see the difference there. I am really disappointed by this."

"It's always hard and especially tennis players from New Zealand because tennis isn't a priority for Sparc."

"But you know what? If you're good and talented you can find a way."

"I've done quite a lot of work and I've sort of made it and I don't want people to say one of our top players is leaving so that means you can't make it here, because that's not true."

"You can make it and this is just a real shame, really."

If Jones was good enough, she should have been able to make it.

I wish her luck, but I don't want her back. If she fails to make it now with all of the funding and coaching TA will throw at her, she simply isn't good enough.
Kind of rich considering she actually was offered coaching by Chris Lewis a couple of years ago, but turned it down so she could be coached by her brother GD Jones.

[Territory]

Marina makes good points.

And it's all so quick: Sacha will appear as Australian in the next WTA rankings release!

[Territory]

Oh and it will be interesting to see what reception she gets when she takes to the court in Auckland

[Dani12]

Oh I feel quite sorry for NZ supporters, I'd be pretty pissed if the same thing happened to us. I had no idea she was half-australian, but anyway...this feels more sad for new zealand than happy for myself as an Aussie.

I'll support her, but I already did as a Kiwi anyway...As I do with most kiwis, apart from Erakovic, can't latch on to her for some reason

[scottsue]

Originally Posted by Dani12

Oh I feel quite sorry for NZ supporters, I'd be pretty pissed if the same thing happened to us. I had no idea she was half-australian, but anyway...this feels more sad for new zealand than happy for myself as an Aussie.

I'll support her, but I already did as a Kiwi anyway...As I do with most kiwis, apart from Erakovic, can't latch on to her for some reason

I agree with you Dani12 and feel the same way. It was always nice to see someone apart from Erakovic do well for NZ. I can't seem to warm to Erakovic either. Let's hope for the Kiwis that Westbury does well and does not depart for Thailand as someone has suggested on another forum.

[GeeTee]

I feel sorry for the Kiwis, but I had to laugh at what one of the NZ officials said yesterday in a report about perhaps trying to charge Sacha for the $-assistance she's received in the past.

Something about New Zealand being 'a breeding ground for champions' where other countries would steal their best players. Delusional much?

[Chilenaitor]

GL this week sacha!

[SeanyQ]

She should've done this to begin with. I don't agree with her stringing the kiwi's along for years, then ditching them simply for financial gain. She's basically admitting she's only using TA for money. I don't know what this girls character is like, but this all leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Dani12]

"Instead it will be up to Jones to carry the flag in the ASB Classic singles, ironic perhaps given this is her final tournament before she swaps the classic Southern Cross for an ugly six-starred ensign."

Classy New Zealand journalism as per usual.

[AYUMI-GOAT]

^ Poor NZ.

[Chris93]

She lost the first set 2-6.

[Keadz]

Competing better than the rest of our girls so far (bar Olivia and to a lesser extent Monique). Still see her having a decent shot at the top 100 and it wouldn't particularly bother me if she went back to NZ after achieving some success. I don't have a problem with peope doing what they can to get the best out of themselves if its all within the rules.

Marina makes some good points though, and she proved that it can be done without the support.

*edit* her half Aussie dad seems to have given her the choking syndrome as well.

[jack21]

Jones v. Baltacha 2-6 6-4 3-4*

Sacha was down 1-4 in this set. This is a good effort against the world number 51.

[Mana]

Her attitude is still negative. I thought she may have sorted this out by now.