05-05-2022, 10:55 AM
It's just jaw-dropping all around, and I'm choosing to place my trust in Lele, as she's earned it so often over the years.
This makes us significantly more dangerous in doubles. I already felt like we were pretty good bets at 5 and 6 in singles, so I don't know how much this changes things, especially since we have no earthly idea what sort of playing shape Gordon is in right now. She hasn't played a meaningful match in almost a year! (I'm not counting the single Hawaii exhibition match she played this past fall after apparently not playing tournaments in the summer.) But it should change 6 from "very good odds" to "nearly certain," at least.
How much has her form dipped? How rusty is she? How long has she been practicing under the radar? Why didn't she play the dual match season? (I'm assuming grad school commitments, but who knows.)
If she's been playing a while and is looking good, maybe we even see her climb over Houghton. Houghton at 5 rather than 4 is a much greater win probability.
This makes us significantly more dangerous in doubles. I already felt like we were pretty good bets at 5 and 6 in singles, so I don't know how much this changes things, especially since we have no earthly idea what sort of playing shape Gordon is in right now. She hasn't played a meaningful match in almost a year! (I'm not counting the single Hawaii exhibition match she played this past fall after apparently not playing tournaments in the summer.) But it should change 6 from "very good odds" to "nearly certain," at least.
How much has her form dipped? How rusty is she? How long has she been practicing under the radar? Why didn't she play the dual match season? (I'm assuming grad school commitments, but who knows.)
If she's been playing a while and is looking good, maybe we even see her climb over Houghton. Houghton at 5 rather than 4 is a much greater win probability.