Week 25 - ITF ($100K) - llkley, Great Britain Grass

the addict · Tennis legend

Week 25 - ITF ($100K) - llkley, Great Britain Grass

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q1: WEBLEY-SMITH, Emily (GBR) 527 lost to KUMKHUM, Luksika (THA) 7 164 1-6 1-6
Q1: BARNETT, Alicia (GBR) WC 1074 def JONES, Francesca (GBR) 1107 6-3 1-6 6-3
Q1: DEIGMAN, Laura (GBR) WC 977 lost to PAOLINI, Jasmine (ITA) 3 132 4-6 1-6
Q1: GREY, Sarah Beth (GBR) WC 814 lost to OMAE, Akiko (JPN) 211 7-6(5) 3-6 5-7
Q1: SILVA, Eden (GBR) WC 677 lost to ABANDA, Francoise (CAN) 4 143 5-7 2-6
Q1: MCCOLGAN, Hannah (GBR) WC UNR lost to DZALAMIDZE, Natela (RUS) 494 2-6 4-6

Q2: BARNETT, Alicia (GBR) WC 1074 v ANDREESCU, Bianca (CAN) 194 CH=188 17/4/17 17yo JCH=3

Michael D · All-time great

Some close runs, but if this is the limit of the LTA's willingness to support British players during the grass court season - having them pitted in a q1 against players 100s of places higher, there's not much more can be expected. And how on earth the LTA thinks the Brit players are going to improve their rankings and confidence in such circumstances rather beats me. Congrats to Sarah Beth, but still 0 points for running Akiko Omae so close. And even Alicia just picks up one for a q1 win after all that...

the addict · Tennis legend

The trouble with these 100k's at this time of year is that pretty well every player in the top 200 is over here gettng what grass practice they can before Wimbledon. Some smaller tournaments held at the same time might give more opportunities for our players. So for some of our players the next stop is the wild card play-offs

Michael D · All-time great

the addict wrote:
The trouble with these 100k's at this time of year is that pretty well every player in the top 200 is over here gettng what grass practice they can before Wimbledon. Some smaller tournaments held at the same time might give more opportunities for our players. So for some of our players the next stop is the wild card play-offs

Yes, I agree, it would be good to have some smaller tournaments at the same time, or preferably starting one or two weeks before. Then players would have an opportunity to get some practice in, and the more successful players could then get the WCs into qualifying for the bigger tournaments...

hoots · Intermediate Club Player

I saw Omae at Manchester against I think the number 2 seed. A small chunky player who set off like a house on fire and was soon 4-1 up. Good strong serve but the early winners soon tapered off and once she lost the first set[I think 7-5] the match was as good as over and her opponent breezed through the second set 6-2

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

We all knew there would be next to no winners in these 100k tournaments, I'm not surprised at the 100% failure rate. We've saturated the British Tennis year into this month with total disregard for development of our players. It really is becoming more and more elite a sport in this country, but then I guess it kind of flows with the current politics in the UK over the last 5 years or so.

Babfive · Pro player

Alicia has just levelled at 3-6 7-5

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

I see Laura has managed to sneak into this tournament via a last minute Wildcard despite originally being down to play in Birmingham. She joins Freya, Harriet and Gabi in the main draw.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I often think Laura doesn't deserve a WC, but on this occasion I feel it's a good call as it was her success that meant she couldn't play qualies in Birmingham.

indiana · Tennis legend

Alicia lost 6-3 5-7 6-2 which still looks like a very decent performance against the young Canadian star.

All now out in qualifying though.

Spectator · All-time great

Helen40 wrote:
I often think Laura doesn't deserve a WC, but on this occasion I feel it's a good call as it was her success that meant she couldn't play qualies in Birmingham.

Agreed.

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: DART, Harriet (GBR) WC 279 v SAKKARI, Maria (GRE) 98 CH=84 6/3/17
R1: ROBSON, Laura (GBR) WC 188 v BLINKOVA, Anna (RUS) 114 =CH
R1: CHRISTIE, Freya (GBR) WC 384 v PETKOVIC, Andrea (GER) 6 86 CH=9 2011
R1: TAYLOR, Gabriella (GBR) WC 284 v RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena (SVK) SR 107 CH=31 2013

eldanielfire · Improver

Jaggy1876 wrote:
We all knew there would be next to no winners in these 100k tournaments, I'm not surprised at the 100% failure rate. We've saturated the British Tennis year into this month with total disregard for development of our players. It really is becoming more and more elite a sport in this country, but then I guess it kind of flows with the current politics in the UK over the last 5 years or so.

I much agree. Is it so hard to run some $60k and/or $25k tournaments along side the 3 $300k ones? Australia, France and the US appear to have no problem with this. I also think running some lower level tournaments through July and August on grass would also be a benifit. True and sustained elite success comes via a pyramid system, not some shabbly scaffolding trying to hold up the top. Today's mid-range players experiencing the tour are tomorrows coaches, talent spotters, mentors sharing their experiences. Theire experienceswill provide them with a decent idea of how players must prepare and develop with using their wide raning experiences.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Hi, eldaniel !

A fellow believer

Exactly - you're not supporting the low end players because they are going to become top players but - like mushroom spores - you need to blow the 'tennis seeds' as far and wide as possible because, indirectly, that's the only way that tennis will become successful and sustainable.

If you took away parental coaching in France, the whole elite system in five years time would collapse. And parental coaching only works, obviously, because so many parents play tennis and at such a decent level.