I will be adding to this over thread the next hour or so. Just got back from the Open. I ran around the courts a lot, so I caught bits of a bunch of matches. I did watch that Baker v. Lucic match. Lucic dominated the first set, but Baker seemed to be in better shape. It is clear that Baker has lost a lot of weight and is in very good shape. However, she is still lacking in the quickness dept. Lucic has good strokes, but does not move well. Baker really gritted this one out. Lots of people waited for her autograph after the match. And someone interviewed her. I have many pics of Baker.
Qualifying Day 1 Report and Pictures
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Noorlander v. Cochran
Tanner Cochran was a pleasant surprise. She looked to be in good shape and has strong legs. Her upper body isn't well developed and thus, she does not possess a lot of power. Noorlander is a small woman who is seeded number 11. Cochran won the first set looking good. Then she faded and I thought she would lose. However, she fought and came out on top. I think Cochran has good potential, but she needs to hit the weights in the future.
Tanner Cochran was a pleasant surprise. She looked to be in good shape and has strong legs. Her upper body isn't well developed and thus, she does not possess a lot of power. Noorlander is a small woman who is seeded number 11. Cochran won the first set looking good. Then she faded and I thought she would lose. However, she fought and came out on top. I think Cochran has good potential, but she needs to hit the weights in the future.
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Brandi v. Saeki
Saw a little of the Brandi-Saeki match. I've never seen Brandi play before. She hits an oddly flat ball. Refreshing in this day. She is not a star, but plays solidly with an all around game. A step above Saeki at this time.
Saw a little of the Brandi-Saeki match. I've never seen Brandi play before. She hits an oddly flat ball. Refreshing in this day. She is not a star, but plays solidly with an all around game. A step above Saeki at this time.
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Thanks.
Ally Baker looks nice.
Ally Baker looks nice.
Strycova v. Voracova
Strycova is sort of a combo between Coetzer and Hingis. She has great racquet control like Hingis, but is small like Coetzer. Watched a little of the first set of this match and it appeared to be even. Voracova didn't show much. Strycova I guess was just a little better. It is not as though Styrcova was blowing her off the court.
Strycova is sort of a combo between Coetzer and Hingis. She has great racquet control like Hingis, but is small like Coetzer. Watched a little of the first set of this match and it appeared to be even. Voracova didn't show much. Strycova I guess was just a little better. It is not as though Styrcova was blowing her off the court.
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Did you watch Keothavong?
Robinson v. Dulon
I had high hopes for Robinson after seeing her last year. She plays smooth. However, she doesn't seem to have progressed like Baker and Cochran. Those two girls are fit. Robinson does not appear to be fit - yet. I think she has potential if she steps it up. But Dulon appeared more experienced and was much more consistent.
Robinson played on the court next to Baker. After Baker won her match, Robinson congratulated her before her match started. I thought that was nice. One of the pics attached is funny - Robinson was having trouble putting on her hat.
I had high hopes for Robinson after seeing her last year. She plays smooth. However, she doesn't seem to have progressed like Baker and Cochran. Those two girls are fit. Robinson does not appear to be fit - yet. I think she has potential if she steps it up. But Dulon appeared more experienced and was much more consistent.
Robinson played on the court next to Baker. After Baker won her match, Robinson congratulated her before her match started. I thought that was nice. One of the pics attached is funny - Robinson was having trouble putting on her hat.
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SRG, did you see Alina Jidkova?
I did not see Jidkova. I got there too late. Same with Nuria. Any requests for tomorrow?
I did see Avants vs. Birnerova. I was looking forward to the match. Avants is a fighter. She changed her shoes during the first. Then she changed outfits after losing the first set. During the second set tiebreak, Avants came back from a 5-1 deficit. Very impressive.
But Avants has a huge liability with her serve. She gets no power off it and Birnerova was teeing off on it. Avants gets good power off both sides with her two handers. But she has problems hitting on the run.
Birnerova is decent. I was expecting more. She should have put Avants away in 2 sets.
I did see Avants vs. Birnerova. I was looking forward to the match. Avants is a fighter. She changed her shoes during the first. Then she changed outfits after losing the first set. During the second set tiebreak, Avants came back from a 5-1 deficit. Very impressive.
But Avants has a huge liability with her serve. She gets no power off it and Birnerova was teeing off on it. Avants gets good power off both sides with her two handers. But she has problems hitting on the run.
Birnerova is decent. I was expecting more. She should have put Avants away in 2 sets.
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Yes, please take pics of Alina if she's playing tomorrow.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Birnerova looks like Vera...
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