[Dan_Doe]

But most important, Garcia is through. Hope Donna will do well tomorrow.

[paulmara]

Just won my 2nd Round match vs. Honcova (SVK) 3-6 6-4 6-2. Almost 3 hours match for my place in the last 8 at 100K Challenger in China. After the match I had an interview for China national television CCTV, as well as Chinese radio in Croatian language!!!

I'm making the most of enjoying the Chinese food.

[chingching]

Donna
Garcia will be hard. But even if Donna wins, I struggle to see her beating Su-Wei in this form

[networthy]

Originally Posted by ma re

In other words, she's a win away from AO MD.

Don't forget that she'll be losing 68 points from Lagos I/II. Even if she wins her QF match, she would still need another 50 points or so to make AO MD. That's doable, considering she'll be playing a $25K later in October and a $125K next month.

[ma re]

Of course, I forgot about Lagos - ironically I even calculated how much she'll need for that before the tournament started

So it's two wins away, assuming both wins are on this tournament. She needs about 120 points to make sure she'll finish the year around 108.

[ma re]

(1)Hsieh def Han 6:1, 5:7, 6:2
Sun def (8)Buyukakcay 6:4, 1:6, 6:3
winner plays (3)Vekic or (7)Garcia

Interesting to notice that Hsieh again needed 3 sets to get past some local chick. Btw, looks like Vekic v Garcia will be by far the best QF here - Hsieh and Peng will face some locals (in Peng's case it's a qualifier), while the last one could be between (4)Zhang and (6)Duan.

[chingching]

Originally Posted by ma re

(1)Hsieh def Han 6:1, 5:7, 6:2
Sun def (8)Buyukakcay 6:4, 1:6, 6:3
winner plays (3)Vekic or (7)Garcia

Interesting to notice that Hsieh again needed 3 sets to get past some local chick. Btw, looks like Vekic v Garcia will be by far the best QF here - Hsieh and Peng will face some locals (in Peng's case it's a qualifier), while the last one could be between (4)Zhang and (6)Duan.

Zhang and Duan
Hsieh always does this, but Han has potential as she took a set off Stosur at the Australian Open 2010
Garcia is the perfect player to see where Donna is right now

I was just thinking about her fathers comments about the costs. She must be receiving some support, whether from Felgate, the LTA or the Croatian Tennis Federation because every good Junior who isn't is caught up in a press storm about it, like the Broady's. She earned a hefty paycheck in Tashkent and winning 25Ks may not being a lot but +$2500 for every tournament goes a long way. Also, she keeps on bringing her father and David (one or the other), flying quite expensive airlines and is as we all know going to unknown locations. It may become less of a problem now, but I think her dad is just whining, because if it is a problem, I think he would have put his foot down by now and stopped her playing Asian tournaments

[ma re]

About the finances - I don't know if she is receiving some help from our tennis federation, but I wouldn't bet on it based on what I've read in interviews so far. I also don't know if there's even possibility of her receiving something from LTA, since she's not a native, but who knows.

Basically what her fater said is that he took out a big bank loan and has been paying it back for several years now (he is a business man), but that each year costs them up to around 200 000 euros (260 000 USD), but also that they've signed a contract with a certain British investor. Still, it might be the case that her traveling costs are covered by sponsors (Nike, Yonex), which would mean that playing in Asia could be cheaper for her since accomodation and other costs in third world countries are waaaaaay lower than the Western European equivalents.

I wouldn't say he is "just whining" cause sending your kid to make a career in tennis is risky business (one injury could end it all) and tennis is one of the most expensive sports out there. Of course, if you make it, it can also be one of the most rewarding.

[chingching]

Originally Posted by ma re

About the finances - I don't know if she is receiving some help from our tennis federation, but I wouldn't bet on it based on what I've read in interviews so far. I also don't know if there's even possibility of her receiving something from LTA, since she's not a native, but who knows.

Basically what her fater said is that he took out a big bank loan and has been paying it back for several years now (he is a business man), but that each year costs them up to around 200 000 euros (260 000 USD), but also that they've signed a contract with a certain British investor. Still, it might be the case that her traveling costs are covered by sponsors (Nike, Yonex), which would mean that playing in Asia could be cheaper for her since accomodation and other costs in third world countries are waaaaaay lower than the Western European equivalents.

I wouldn't say he is "just whining" cause sending your kid to make a career in tennis is risky business (one injury could end it all) and tennis is one of the most expensive sports out there. Of course, if you make it, it can also be one of the most rewarding.

Bullshit it costs 200,000 Euros a year
Although agree with you on all your points
I mean, a year at Henin's academy for example is 36,000 full time plus boarding
It's good that she's gotten an investor
There is now way they could survive if Donna is costing 200 a year as he does not seem to be ridiculously wealthy. And she wouldn't get more than 20 from her sponsors
They must be paying for travel, and what types of tickets are they buying
I just think that it must be simply reckless to spend that much because I know someone who was ranked in the 480 range (CH) and she said that on average including airfares and accommodation, she was spending about 24 Grand a year and she was travelling to Africa, Europe and Asia, along with the Australian 25Ks each year.

[tennismaster8820]

Good win for Donna, especially as of final set result 62!
Garcia should be beatable as well and if she wins I would give her good chances in SF as well.
Hopefully Garcia will play on her usual level.

[doktor]

Donna just has to try and be consistent in the QF. Garcia will hit herself out of the match given the chance

[ma re]

Originally Posted by chingching

Bullshit it costs 200,000 Euros a year

I do think this number sounds excessive, but it was what her father said on their last press conference. We have to understand that she spends a great part of the year in one of the most expensive cities in the world (London) which is her base, and also that she is under the guidance of one of the world's most renowned coaches, which certainly doesn't come cheap, although admittedly, he is working with her "below market price" - whatever that means.

[ivananda]

Any link for livescore? I don't see any.

[BlueTrees]

Originally Posted by ma re

I do think this number sounds excessive, but it was what her father said on their last press conference. We have to understand that she spends a great part of the year in one of the most expensive cities in the world (London) which is her base, and also that she is under the guidance of one of the world's most renowned coaches, which certainly doesn't come cheap, although admittedly, he is working with her "below market price" - whatever that means.

At the moment she might have some financial difficulties but if all goes to plan she won't have any of those in 3-4 years Isn't she getting any support from the Croatian Tennis Federation for some of her expenses, like coaching and traveling?

Does she already have a sponsorship deal with Nike? I guess they wouldn't pay her too much at the moment, but if she ever makes it to Top 10 she could get paid a lot because she is a pretty girl and quite marketable

[chingching]

Originally Posted by BlueTrees

At the moment she might have some financial difficulties but if all goes to plan she won't have any of those in 3-4 years Isn't she getting any support from the Croatian Tennis Federation for some of her expenses, like coaching and traveling?

Does she already have a sponsorship deal with Nike? I guess they wouldn't pay her too much at the moment, but if she ever makes it to Top 10 she could get paid a lot because she is a pretty girl and quite marketable

It depends on how long a contract she signed. Bouchard and Anett have signed 5 year deals with Nike, which gives them the ritght to ask for more money in case they become Top 20 in that time. Companies don't like to sign long sponsorships because it is a risk, so they only do it if the players are good. I don't know what Donna has but I am guessing a long term one She is only a little bit into hers though, because Donna was wearing Adidas as recently as Lagos last year