Date: 3/22/2011
Result: Miami R1, Elena Baltacha def. Sybille Bammer 3-6 7-6 7-6
Why it matters:
- Baltacha needs wins like these if she wants to make the big run British women's tennis needs to inspire some up-and-comers. Sure, this type of win might not make a 7-year old good athlete decide tennis is what she wants to do with her life, but gritty, grind-it-out wins might inspire the other British players already on the scene to take training (and fighting to the last point) more seriously. Heather Watson and Laura Robson take note!
- Bammer is another mom on the tour, and while her results haven't been as impressive as someone like Clijsters, her efforts might be more impressive. Clijsters has earned enough and has a high enough ranking that she can pick and choose when she wants to be a tennis player and when she wants to be a stay-at-home mom. Bammer needs to grind it out week after week on tour to maintain her ranking. It's that kind of toughness that has her 2-0 lifetime on Serena Williams. Cheer for Sybille sometime.
- This is one of those matches that makes me love tennis. Bammer won more points and more games, but Baltacha won the match. It's all about winning the right points.
Honorable Mentions:
- Miami Qualifying Final Rd, Lucie Hradecka def. Irina Falconi - 61 57 61 - Hradecka was destined to be a low top-100 player for her whole career, but 2011 has been amazing. She has no really bad losses (though losing R1 in Australia to Alberta Brianti wasn't ideal) and a LOT of good wins. I don't expect anything crazy for her, but why not a top 50 debut?
- Miami Qualifying Final Rd, Grigor Dimitrov def. Nicolas Massu - 62 63 - the long touted successor to the current generation of top players is having a solid year. These are the matches he can't lose if he wants to set up a massive charge later this year - and it looks like he's coasting.
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