Some have said it is her knee. Others have said it helps the team strategy. Who really knows?
Looks like they moved Tetyana Bilenko into #3 so Lily will have to beat a pips player anyways. Good luck!
Her opponent is now 42. She is probably filling out a team decimated by other aging players and the war. I do wonder why players like Solomiya Brateyko and Gaponova are not around.
Tetyana used to be higher ranked when she was younger. Lily would have struggled much more against that version because she used to pip hit much more.
She did look slow here, but it was also a push battle lol. Surprising tactics by her opponent to hardly go to the backhand after the 2nd game, since Lily was showing some hesitation on the pivot forehand. 75% of the pushes were middle to the forehand and even then Lily was really lifting that left leg and leaping with the right to get leverage on the ball towards the end. Tetyana has a really strong backhand loop so surprised she didn't use it more after the 2nd game.
Lily's superpower is her backhand. The tactics were not surprising, they were correct - Lily generally doesn't pivot. Tetyana is now 42, it takes a lot of energy to loop. Even her smashes were often ineffective.
Brateyko got pregnant last year. Not sure if the baby is born yet, but she will play league again in the new season.
