Date: 5/18/2011
Result: Roland Garros R1 Qualifying, Heather Watson def. Ioana Raluca Olaru, 6-3 6-0
Why it matters:
- Just a general comment that the qualifying for the majors is really awesome. Qualifying is pretty cool anyway, because it's great to think that you can have just one golden week and put yourself into a major tournament by winning a few matches - against your usual competition, no less, it's not like really top players are ever in the qualies (usually) - and if you do so you could be on one of the most famous courts in the world against a top player within a few days. So the desire is super high for the players, which can make for great drama. Most events allow free entrance to watch qualifying days, so if you're ever able to go watch,you definitely should.
- To this match specifically, Watson is a Brit hopeful who doesn't play a game that should be clay friendly, but she's just improving day by day and has a tremendous attitude. By beating a clay-courter like Olaru, who although nowhere near her career high of 53 is certainly more experienced, Watson is showing her maturity. I'm not sure we should expect her to qualify in Paris, but picking up even qualifying experience points at a major can only help her come Wimbledon, where the home crowd would go wild for if she could even win a round.
Honorable Mentions:
- Nice R2, Nicolas Almagro def. Carlos Berlocq - 67 64 63 - Almagro's top ten stint seems dubious following his recent string of results. Unable to put up a big win, he's also had some strange losses. And although he pulled out today's match, losing a set to Berlocq isn't confidence building. One assumes Almagro played another clay event this week to pad his ranking and be in the best possible form in time for Paris. It doesn't look like either will happen if he plays like he did today.
- Brussels R2, Caroline Wozniacki def. Varvara Lepchenko - 64 76 - A messy match for the World #1. She's looking more and more like a second tier favorite for the French as players who go for it can trouble Wozniacki each and every time. Moreover, her resiliency to bounce back when she loses seems to be less effective. I think that eventually her gamestyle will yield a major title, assuming she keeps up her level for awhile, but it's hard for any player to be patient, especially when the media keeps annoying her. I think she's finally hit her saturation point. But unfortunately for her, it just doesn't seem like the French or Wimbledon will be her tournaments. We'll see if she can keep it together long enough. Lepchenko pushed but just isn't at the level to close out Wozniacki.
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