The Shuai Zhang vs Ashlyn Krueger first round match at US Open today was the most unique duel by far. Zhang was on a 22-match losing streak in WTA singles. American Ashlyn Krueger was 0-6 in Slam main draw matches in her blossoming career.
Of course the match proved to be a dramatic one. The Chinese veteran won the first set 6-0 but lost the second 1-6. Both settled into the deciding set and were on serve 2-2.
It was the player with less psychological scars who would end up prevailing, as one might expect. Krueger smashed a forehand winner to clinch her first Grand Slam main draw win 75 in the third.
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catherine · August 27, 2024 at 10:31 pm
Lots of interesting action on the WTA side. As I expected Raducanu went out first round to Kenin. Less talk and more play needed on Emma’s side. You can’t be a part time player in today’s game. Might as well give up and go off to college.
Andreescu showing glimpses of her best form.
catherine · August 28, 2024 at 1:19 am
Looks like Emma’s changing her mind if her post-match comments are to be believed. Fewer training blocks and more actual appearances on the court.
I recall Andy Murray coming to the same conclusion.
Emma faded badly in the 3rd set while Kenin raised her game –
a bit of fatigue likely.
Scoop Malinowski · August 28, 2024 at 8:35 am
Bad matchup for Emma, Kenin won a Grand Slam and got zero endorsements, so resentments probably fueled Kenin’s effort.
Scoop Malinowski · August 28, 2024 at 8:36 am
Catherine, did you forget, Raducanu said all tournaments are just basically warmups for Wimbledon, that’s her big goal.
catherine · August 28, 2024 at 10:15 am
Kenin’s post USO career mirrored Emma’s after she won. Poor results and trouble in the background re coaching etc. Her father is still in the picture I understand.
Emma hinted that some of her scheduling decisions involved more than just her. It’s known that her parents have a say in their daughter’s career direction (she’s an only child) but she’s 22 in November and maybe time to loosen the ties.
Virginia Wade, another Brit favourite, took years to win Wimbledon. She once memorably said ‘I’d rather play beautiful tennis than win’. She denied this but the words stuck. Not Miss Popularity in the locker room.
catherine · August 28, 2024 at 10:36 am
I’m annoyed by the things tennis fans, some of whom BTW have appeared on this site, say – eg ‘I’m bothered by the way Emma behaves as though she is a great player’. That is very definitely not what she does. She is also popular with the British players although the trash media would prefer her not to be.
Neither is she treated like a rock star in England, where tennis is only important for two weeks in the year.
Scoop Malinowski · August 28, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Catherine, Raducanu has yet to win a match at US Open since she won the ten matches the year she won. She’ll put on a brave face but that fact has got to be confounding. Raducanu created her miracle, which shocked even herself, but there won’t be a second miracle from her magic Wilson.
Scoop Malinowski · August 28, 2024 at 1:52 pm
Catherine, whether she wins another major or not, probably not, she is still a great player and always will be a great player. Nobody will ever do what she did again, qualify as a teenager and then win seven more matches for her first grand slam.
catherine · August 29, 2024 at 3:20 am
Scoop – Yes- Emma did something exceptional and it changed her life.
She was crying in her press conference – she knows whatever plan she’s following is not working out and creating a new path isn’t going to be easy. Unfortunately it’s not just Emma who’s involved in her career trajectory. Same old story.
She seems to be close to a couple of British players which could help.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2024 at 8:06 am
She’s broken mentally now, crying at a press conference is a major sign of weakness.
catherine · August 29, 2024 at 8:49 am
Well, Swiatek must count as finished in that case.
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2024 at 9:03 am
Not at all, she still wins matches every week. Raducanu barely wins matches anymore. Big difference.
catherine · August 29, 2024 at 12:05 pm
According to rumours Emma’s boyfriend is Alcaraz. I look forward to their mixed doubles debut. Source Youtube 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · August 29, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Great poo publicity stunt.
catherine · August 30, 2024 at 2:14 am
Oh dear – poor Carlos can now join his ‘girlfriend’ on the sidelines.
It’s rubbish. Any time I see Alcaraz snapped in a social situation he’s got a new blonde on his arm.
catherine · August 30, 2024 at 7:57 am
I know where this rumour started. It came right out of the mouth of Carlos himself.
catherine · September 4, 2024 at 3:26 am
A last few words on Emma and her current struggles:
Her father is her Manager.
Scoop Malinowski · September 4, 2024 at 7:16 am
Ten matches won at us open, all in the one year. no wins since.
catherine · September 4, 2024 at 11:24 am
So what does that tell us ? Lots of gossip in Uk on Mr Raducanus’ influence. Maybe that’s why Emma cried. Conflict with the LTA I’ve also heard.
My mind goes back to Herr Graf’s antics. Steffi broke those bonds eventually although they reconciled before he died .
Scoop Malinowski · September 4, 2024 at 11:31 am
Catherine, I think she cried because once again she put every ounce of effort into doing well at us open and she bombed out again 1r. it’s been three years of this. nothing to show for all the work. tennis is cruel.
catherine · September 4, 2024 at 10:58 pm
Whatever, something is wrong in the family and it’s doing Emma no good.
catherine · September 5, 2024 at 3:51 am
Scoop – I’ve lost count of the number of promising players who have gone through traumatic times when they were young because of family involvement. Just too much to handle.
Emma lost at the USO because certain voices told her she didn’t have to come to NY prepare for it.She arrived in Washington the day before her match. The day before that she appeared sightseeing in Oxford with a friend.
She cried because she knew she just hadn’t done the work – just hadn’t spent enough time on court.
The model good young players should look at is Chris Evert. I’m sure Chris had plenty of toubles but she never let herself or the game down, not as a young player and more famous than Raducanu will ever be.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2024 at 6:45 am
Or the root of the problem is she’s working harder now than before she won us open but now she can’t win anything, even one lousy match.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2024 at 6:47 am
she’s a journey woman calibre player now who knows she’s a grand slam champion. self image conflicts.
catherine · September 5, 2024 at 8:23 am
She’s actually won several matches this year – they just didn’t get her very far.
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2024 at 10:18 pm
She never made an impact at any big tournaments, which is shocking for her. Andreescu, Leylah, Kenin, Ostapenko in same boat.