12 Feb Mona

Today belonged to Mona Barthel who produced a stunning performance in the last match of the day. Even if you allow for Kerber not being at her best this was still a fine perf. It was good to see someone producing exciting attacking tennis given some of the dreary hours-long baseline pushing we seem to get so much of these days. I'd been a Mona sceptic last year, but not any more.

Why did the WTA and Fed Cup change the calendar and swap Paris and the Fed Cup ties? It seemed so sensible to have the Fed Cup the week after the Aus Open, with Paris afterwards. Now we have one of the biggest tournaments of the year, and a virtual mandatory, immediately after the Fed Cup. Hardly a surprise to see some players retirng and/or not at their best.

It was a case of one step forward, one back all day on the betting front until Mona not only lit up the court but lit up my PL! (There's still one match left in Cali later, but not sure if I'll have a dabble)