Shikha Uberoi thread ...

[jayakris]

$1.3M "Rogers Cup" Tier-I WTA, Toronto

[R1] (Q) Shikha Uberoi (IND,130) vs Dally Radriantefy (MAD,59)

First set

0-0 .. SU down 15-40 but wins three to deuce, saves and AD out and holds! (SU hits 10/10 first serves, no aces)
1-0 .. DR holds at 40-30 ..
1-1 .. SU 40-30, deuce .. AD out .. SU broken
1-2 .. DR holds at 40-30
1-3 .. SU holds at 40-30 after being down 0-30. Good work.
2-3 .. DR holds after one deuce ..
2-4 .. SU holds after two deuces ..
3-4 .. DR down 30-40 but saves the BP and holds ..
3-5 .. SU down 15-40, saves one set pt and then drops serve SU broken

36 00

Jay

[Sandeep]

Damn, I am not able to get into the chat room

Come on SU, fight. You can do it.

[jayakris]

$1.3M "Rogers Cup" Tier-I WTA, Toronto

[R1] (Q) Shikha Uberoi (IND,130) vs Dally Randriantefy (MAD,59), 36 00

Second set
0-0 .. DR holds at 40-30
0-1 .. SU down 15-40, saves two BPs, and holds after 3 deuces.
1-1 .. DR holds at 40-30 .. SU taking a lot of points off her, but can't get a breakthrough. (42 to 50 pts so far total in 12 games)
1-2 .. SU holds easily at love
2-2 .. DR holds serve at 40-30 for the umpteenth time. Can SU get a BP somehow?
2-3 .. SU drops serve at 15-40 ... SU broken
2-4 .. DR to serve .. 30-30 for the 7th time in 8 service games by DR. Amazingly, Shikha can still not get a BP on her. Holds. (51-62 in points after 16 games)
2-5 .. SU down 15-40, saved one match pt, then fell.SU broken. 36 26 loss

For the match, 53 pts to Shikha and 66 to Dally, which is amazingly close for that scoreline. Yes, this match was much closer in points - though Dally seemed to have a vice-grip on the match all through, and so perhaps the scoreline IS an indication. At no point did we feel that Shikha would be able to break through, despite her taking a lot of points off DR's serve and having all those 30-30 points, mostly after 30-15 and 30-0. Shikha on her own held tough on several break attempts too but she did crack enough times (4 of 13 in BPs for DR, and 0 of 1 for SU). Basicaly shikha would take 4 or 5 points ina row on her own serve nd then lose 3 or 4 in a row to DR, which meant a break. DR never lost more than 2 points on her serve in a row and stayed out of trouble all through. A crazy match.

Shikha served a very high fraction of first serves (started the match with 11 straight first serves in!), did not have any double faults, but lost just enough points on her serve to lose the match. I assume she was not trying to serve at her fastest, due to the really slow surface they have there. On the other hand, her aggressive net game was also not working with the ball in play I suppose. 7 sets at Toronto and Shikha did not serve a single ace - which itselfis some sort of a record for her. It worked in the qualies, and it did not work today in the main draw, I think. But again, these are all learning experiences too. Good week for Shikha to have picked up 16.5 more points, one more top-100 scalp, and made a little money at least.

Jay

[jayakris]

Damn .. Stephani Cohen-Aloro, after losing to Shikha and earlier getting a gift from a total meltdown from El Tabakh, somehow gets in as as a lucky loser, gets a qualifier (Sfar) in the main draw, and wins 62 75 .. Tennis is unfair sometimes.

Jay

[nkoth]

Damn .. Stephani Cohen-Aloro, after losing to Shikha and earlier getting a gift from a total meltdown from El Tabakh, somehow gets in as as a lucky loser, gets a qualifier (Sfar) in the main draw, and wins 62 75 .. Tennis is unfair sometimes.

Well, considering that Sania just recently did sort of the same thing, I don't think we can begrudge Cohen-Aloro her good luck.

[PKBasu]

Sad loss in R1 of the main draw. The Madagascar girl is good on slower surfaces, and Shikha of course needs faster surfaces.
Given the type of surface, it is all the more creditable that Shikha was able to qualify in -- and that, with a huge top-100 win.

[PKBasu]

By the way, I think Shikha has also earned herself a separate title page of her own, Jay.
I think we've had this conversation a year ago. Since then, she has changed her affiliation to India, and has played consistently at a slightly higher level than Niru Vaidyanathan (now Sanjeev) did through most of her career. IF she doesn't qualify for the USO this year, Shikha's ranking could drop to the levels that Niru normally occupied -- but I think Shikha has earned her spurs in the past year.
And, I am fully confident that Shikha will indeed qualify for the US Open again this year.

[jayakris]

I know ... I know .. It takes a little bit of work to change to add an extra button on the front page, add a bunch of links around, etc, and I have been lazy to do that. It was easy to change all the Nirupama references to Sania when I started her page a few months back. Should have got the Shikha page done at the same time. I am going to do it soon.

Jay

[jayakris]

Yes, seeing the confidence she seemed to have this weekend, I think she should be ready on her favorite surface next week at the US Open qualies.

I too think she will qualify in. She should be among the seeds and should have a chance to face lower ranked players in the first couple of rounds. She has lately done quite well against all but top-10o, and has not looked too bad against top-100 either. I think she will get in again at the US Open.

Jay

[amr090]

with me cheering her on...thats a few games automatically for her right there haha

[PKBasu]

No pressure, Jay! We fully understand that it isn't easy to do, or find the time to do it.
At least we agree on the principle...

[jaydeep]

Tough loss but still good outing for Shikha considering her another top 100 win in qualifying ... Yes Shikha definetly having chance of qualifying for maindraw ... She is playing good tennis and moreover playing on her favourite surface ... Go Shikha go.

Jaydeep.

[jimmy]

tough or bad ??

[jayakris]

Why would you call it a bad loss. Did you read the match details, or did you just look at the set scores? Shikha seems to have played a pretty good match actually, though she came up short in cracking randriantefy at so many big points in the match. Not a bad match at all against a top-60 player.

Jay