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August 28, 2007
USOPEN Tuesday 5:30pm
A "good experience" is what you get, when you don't get what you wanted. Ashley wanted a win today but got a good experience instead. She got to compete on a large stage. She got to test herself, not against the best in Austin, not against the best in Texas, not against the best in the USA, but the best the world has to offer. She got to compete against the #6 ranked player in the world today. And, while the score was not close 1-6, 1-6, there were signs that Ashley can sucessfully compete with players of this calibar.
Chadvetdze is #6 because she has a 105+ mph serve that she can put wide or down the middle or into your ear. She has one of the best backhands in the world that is hit as hard as most pros forehands with excellent spin and depth. Her overall depth on all shots and her overall committment to hitting a high quality ball every shot simply was too much for Ashley to handle...today. A month from now, a year from now, 18 months from now might be a different story. As each player makes the transition to new levels, whether that's from ZAT to champ or champ to super or super to national or national to international or international to professional, there is always a period of time of gaining experience at that new level as the player learns what is necessary to be sucessful. It's called paying your dues. Everyone has to do it, Ashley paid some dues today to become a professional player.
She can take what she learned today and apply it to both the women's doubles and mixed doubles. She will be playing both of those events, in addition to the Girls singles and Girls doubles. She will be competing throughout this week and next in all 5 events in this Grand Slam. I believe she is the only player for a second year in a row playing in all five events.
Ashley says thanks to the many of you who have sent best wishes and positive energy.
Posted by Jack Newman at August 28, 2007 4:25 PM
+1 512.276.2271
+1 512.276.2272
