Strength the Key for Fitzpatrick says Sammel

Although Anna Fitzpatrick’s run in the $25,000 Challenger in Augusta was brought to an end by experienced Russian Alisa Kleybanova, it has been another valuable learning week for the 18-year-old in America.
 
Anna progressed through the qualifying rounds with impressive victories over Americans Julia Boserup and Alison Riske before going down 6-1, 6-0 against World No. 163 Kleybanova in the first round of the main draw.
 
“This was a good reality check for Anna,” said Monte-Carlo Tennis Academy Director of Coaching David Sammel. “She has just had an insight into her future and the level of mental aggression she will have to bring to reach the top 100.”
 
Anna, who currently stands at No. 385 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, said: “[Kleybanova] was literally hitting winners from everything. I attacked her second serve on my backhand and tried to follow it in and she hit clean winners off that three or four times.”
 
The British No. 9 will now head to Florida for a two-week training camp with the MCTA, and Sammel knows where the focus of attention will be. “A key goal for the training camp is gaining weight to help her weight of shot,” said Sammel. “We have been here before with Anna. In April the same happened to her in Croatia and she came back stronger.”
 
Anna’s next tournaments will in Poland, the week beginning November 19, and then the Czech Republic, from the 3rd of December.