I'm sure SSK is right here. The entry list will only be finalised after the Paris Masters. Which has it's final on Sunday 4th November. So the draw is neccesarily at short notice.

However, if you've got tickets for both sessions in the same day, you'll get to see two singles matches. They tend to schedule both matches from a group on the same day, so you will almost certainly see two of the top four guys playing (assuming Nadal is fit enough to do so). But if you are after someone specific, then it's pot luck or a very late decision, I'm afraid.

Thanks for that, both of you.

I was ideally hoping to see Murray but it really doesn't matter that much because, as you say, I'm guaranteed a couple of the top players either way.

Watson and Robson both through to the quarter-finals in Osaka. A good win for Watson in particular, as she beat Anabel Medina-Garrigues, who is a top 50 player and has been so for around a decade.

A little voice in my head is saying they are on opposite sides of the draw. Would I be getting wildly ahead of myself if I hoped for an all-British final?
Yes. Yes I would.

Defintely got winnable quarters, though. Watson plays Pauline Parmentier (#73 to Watson's #71), whilst Robson plays Chang Kai-chen (#134 vs #56). Victory over Chang and Robson ought to be in the top 50 next week.

Watson wins her quarter. Robson doesn't. Not the way around I would have predcited...

It looks like Robson will be at about 51 in next week's rankings. Watson goes to ~60 with the points so far, and obviously can go higher with another win or two. Her semi is winnable. It's against a Japanese player (Misaki Doi) so the crowd will be against Watson, but Doi hasn't as yet been ranked in the top 100. First Tour semi for both players. Go, Heather.

I think it is great we have two girls getting into the later stages of events on a fairly regular basis now. Add that to Mr Murray and 2013 should be an exciting time for UK tennis.

Murray was put under severe pressure by Stepanek but there was always the feeling he would prevail and he found his game when he needed to. Up next, Roger. It will be interesting to see what happens between these two after what transpired on the lawns this summer.

Define 'fairly regular' or 'later stages'. These results are still exceptional in the context of Robson and Watson's (admidtedly short) careers. Robson has one Tour final and one other semi apperance, tomorrow will be Watson's first ever semi. Both are climbing, rather than established. But given their progress and their ages, there is a lot of hope for their careers. Fingers crossed it's based on something substantial.

Like London buses...

Three weeks ago the first British girl for a generation makes a WTA Tour Final. In it, she faced a player from Taiwan that she had a very good chance of beating. And now tomorrow, Heather Watson plays Chang Kai-chen in the final of the Japan Women's Open.
Straight sets for Watson over Doi this morning, but two very tight sets 7-6(2) 7-5. Chang shocked Sam Stosur in the other semi, 6-4 4-6 7-6(3). Seeing as Chang also took out Laura Robson in the quarter in three sets, with the final one being a tie-break, she is playing tough in clutch situations but also has a lot of tennis in her legs.

Victory would put Watson back above Robson as British no.1. She is already heading for her best ever ranking on Monday, but obviously victory would make it that little bit higher again. Current predictions are Watson win, Watson ~50, Robson ~52. Chang win, Robson ~51, Watson ~57.

Where are Britain in the Fed Cup?

right now we have Murray hitting rockets against Federer who is trying every trick in the book to disrupt and upset Murray's assaults. Stopping the game for drops of rain, wanting roof closed and then winning scandalously good points. Will Fed find a way here?

Murray is either struggling physically with the bug he had and is trying to keep points short or believes that he can blow Federer off the court because he has been ultra aggressive today. Some of his shots have been stupendous.

Great to see Watson get to the final. She comes across as a genuinely nice lady.

Federer just got spanked. Murray obliterated his second serve. Up next its Novak, who is playing superbly. Should be a cracking final.

multipleman78 wrote:


Heh, there was a rain delay in the Ladies event in Linz on Friday night. A tournament that is being played indoors. Which was a new one on me.

A British man and a British woman in playing in finals on the same day. It's truly a whole new era.

Well, it did happen at the Olympics too, sort of.

.

Rogin the Kitten Minder wrote:


Way down the pecking order. A couple of promotions away from even getting to the starting line for a chance to win it, I think. But I guess Judy Murray is quite hopeful about the near future. All she needs is a doubles pair to emerge, so she doesn't put too much of a burden on Robson and Watson.

We got to a promotion play-off in the Fed Cup this year but lost it to Sweden, which was annoying.

Gutted I missed Murray today - not sure what I'd have enjoyed more, him playing well or Federer serving three consecutive double faults.

Watson wins in a final set tie break. Blimey. And Murray to play later.

SSK, how about the bit in the presser afterwards where Murray called Federer the greatest player of all time? You would surely have loved that...

Watson apparently saved four match points in the final. And the match lasted for over three hours. Given the length of the matches Chang played in the quarters and semis they probably had to scrape her off the court afterwards. Watson has to find the energy to play the doubles final, which is starting around now. But she is probably walking on air at the moment, so that could carry her through.
Watson's doubles ranking must be fairly high at the moment, actually. She has made one Tour final in doubles per month dating back to July, win-loss in those is 2-1 with today pending.

Murray and Djoker well underway now. On Sky Sports, for those that have the option.

Watson and Kimiko Date-Krumm lost in the Doubles Final, 1 & 4.
It occurs to me that this might be Date's last ever professional match. I'm sure I heard somewhere that she had decided to call it a day for a second time at the end of this season, but I can't find a reference for that online. It would make sense for this event to be the end of her season, as it represents the end of the Asian leg of te Tour. If it was, it's a pity to go out on a loss.
Similarly, I think that is it for the year for Watson. She isn't playing either of the Tour tournaments this week, not is she on the acceptance list for the Barnstaple ITF event, and I find it unlikely that she will get a wildcard into the International Series Champions tournament in Sofia. It makes sense for her to end on a high note, and take the enthusiam the win brings into her off-season fitness work.

Laura Robson, on the other hand, is on the acceptance list for Barnstaple. Whether she goes ahead and plays is still TBD, but I think it makes sense to do so. For one, she has 30 points to defend and her 17th best points score is currently 8, so she would lose a few points if she doesn't play. Another is that if she has a good event, she will end the season inside the world top 50. A final reason for playing would be that she will be under a different pressure, that it would be good to get experience of. From the acceptance list, she is very likely to be the no.1 seed. She is also now a 'name' on the Women's circuit, so she will be there to be shot at. Dealing with the expectation of winning will hopefully form a major part of her career from her on out, so she might as well get used to the feeling in a slightly less exposed event.

First set Murray.

To win the same Masters Series event three years in a row is a serious achievement. It doesn't exactly compare to Rafa Nadal's eight straight (and counting) Monte Carlo titles, but it's still impressive.

ridiculous first set from Murray and Djokovic. Breaks of serve galore due to incredible returning. I thought Murray had dropped mentally just before turning it round at 5-4, 0-30. Djoko losing it and obliterating his racquet. Murray really is at a high level right now. Djokovic is playing that wonderful brand of tennis and Murray is matching it.

Djokovic claims an epic 2nd set tie-break 13-11.