Taylor is back - again

The only good part of the accident was that she couldn’t remember much about it. She couldn’t remember much about anything at all. Sadly, the endless throbbing headaches, the dizziness and other assorted symptoms were there every day to remind her that something nasty had happened.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that she was cleared fit to play again and now, feeling refreshed after time at home with her son and family, she has her sights on a top 50 singles ranking by the middle of the summer (her current ranking is No.106). And you would be unwise to bet against her getting there, too. Not everything in her life goes to plan but she makes the most of every opportunity.

Take her partnership with Siniakova. The two got together by chance when Siniakova’s previous partner ruptured her Achilles tendon. She asked Taylor if she fancied playing a couple of tournaments; Taylor said yes and a team was born. The pair have been all but unstoppable ever since.

On Wednesday our heroine plays her compatriot Hanna Chang. Chang is the world No.190 and has lost the only two matches she has played against Taylor. The odds are looking good for Taylor, then. She enjoys playing on clay and as she sets her sights on that top 50 ranking, the slower surface and the longer rallies are giving her the perfect rhythm as she gets back into the groove after her injury.

Three to watch on Wednesday

Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) v Roman Andres Burruchaga (ARG)

Court 9, second match

You might want to bring sandwiches and a thermos of tea for this one: two men who know all about playing on clay (Burruchaga has played all but five of his 43 matches on clay this season) tends to take up most of the day. But at least it will give you the chance to take one last look at Ramos-Vinolas, once the world No.17 but now ranked No.248, before he retires. After a lifetime of sliding around the clay courts of the world, his 37-year-old body has had enough. He will hang up his racket at the end of this year. 

Francesca Jones (GBR) v Mai Hontama (JPN)

Court 10, third match

Fran is not your run-of-the-mill tennis player; there is more to her than forehands and backhands and “taking it one match at a time”. Born with a genetic condition, Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EED), she is missing one finger on each hand and three toes. Her doctors didn’t think she could ever so much as play tennis much less compete professionally, but here she is, the world No.113, fighting for a place in the main draw. With her heart set on a degree from either Oxford or Cambridge when she retires, Fran likes to think big. She also supports Manchester United. Oh, well. Nobody’s perfect.

Ethan Quinn (USA) v Bernard Tomic (AUS)

Court 8, first match

It might be a little early to start calling him the “Mighty Quinn” (we may be showing our age with that reference) but the 21-year-old Ethan has made a decent start to his clay court career. A former University of Georgia student, he played his first match on the clay in Houston this year and beat the then world No.35 Jordan Thompson (Ethan was No.130 at the time). He was delighted with the win but just as pleased not to have fallen over on the tricky surface. From there he qualified in Barcelona and gave Carlos Alcaraz the run around in the first round, holding a point for the second set before losing 6-2 7-6. Now he has Tomic, the former world No.17, to face. No matter, anything seems possible for Ethan at the moment.

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