Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a low 30% win ratio on her 2nd serves with 74% on her first serve points with only 1 double fault.  This type of conservative play contributed to her two singles losses over the weekend.  During a critical first service game, Mattek-Sands spun her 2nd serve to the deuce court and it was crushed for a winner that turned the tide of the second set.  The US Fed Cup Team will need more aggressive play in Italy.

Glatch in Indian Wells

Glatch’s wide serve was very effective and would continue to be effective on clay.  Her win was closer than the score indicated as the match turned on unusual points in each set such as Glatch’s overhead drop shot at 30 all 2-1 to get a break point that was converted.  The ball went off the top of her racquet with backspin landing just over the net.

While Glatch won 72% of her first serve points, Glatch also had a low 33% 2nd serve win ratio in her 6-3 first set.  In addition both Glatch and her opponent had negative winner/error ratios -5 for Glatch vs. -11.  Suprisingly Glatch won 71% of the points when receiving a first serve and 43% of the points when receiving a second serve.

Glatch for the match ended with 14 winner and 14 unforced errors, but her  opponents 6 winners to 29 unforced errors does not offer Mary Joe Fernandez a good look at how Glatch would match up against the consistent Italian players.

After the US Fed Cup captain reviews the Italian squad, she will choose the players that can bring the cup home to America.  She could bring Jill Craybas for her fitness, the Williams sisters for their power and consistency, Melanie Oudin for her ability to grind out a win, Alexa Glatch, Bethanie Mattek-Sands or possibly a new face that may surface during the clay court season.  Regardless of the final team, Ditty, Huber, Craybas, Oudin, Mattek-Sands & Glatch will all be members of this winning team.

A final option to present to Mary Joe Fernandez is to leave the developing players at home for the final in Italy and bring all the players that have played a live match…

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