(1) Anne Keothavong: Climbed from outside top 200 to a new career high of 118 and became the first British woman to make a WTA semis since 1992, in Kolkata. Also made two 50K finals in the States, winning the big Vancouver title and reached the final round of US Open qualies
(2) Katie O'Brien: Finished the year as British no 1 at 121, with a run of consistent performances. Kick-started her year on the grass, winning rounds at Eastbourne (world no 60 Bardina) and Wimbledon. Pushed on further in the autumn, making a WTA quarters in Tashkent and racking up the pts in the 25Ks - 4 semis and a final.
(3) Naomi Cavaday: Naomi enjoyed a stunning first half of the year, winning her first 25K title in California and making some more strong runs in clay challengers. On the grass she won her first WTA match in Birmingham and came within a point of dumping Martina Hingis out of Wimbledon. Reached a new career high inside top 200
(4) Elena Baltacha: Elena went from down in the mids 800s to top 200 in just 6 months, making several 25K semis in the Far East. Showed signs of being back to her best on the grass, qualifying for Eastbourne and winning a round and then pushing top 20 player Srebotnik to 3 tight sets at Wimbledon. Also qualified and won a round in WTA Tokyo later in the year
(5) Anna Fitzpatrick: Anna ended the year at a new career high inside the top 400. Started the year well with a 10K final in Sunderland and then made the latter stages of further futures in Canada and Nottingham later in the year. She's started to trouble challenger level players on a regular basis, making her first 25K quarters in Turkey and beating several top 250 players
(6) Jade Curtis: Despite not playing that many events, Jade shot up the rankings to the top 500...making her first 10K final in Frinton...
I went for Anne...tough choice between her and Katie but Anne did make that semi-final and probably would have ended in the top 100 if it hadnt been for injury
This one's a tougher choice than the men as the girls have all improved with 4 now in the top 200. However it has to be Anne K as she did achieve 3 new things this year. That main tour semi final, her first 50k title and a new career high of 118 and yes if she hadn't been injured at the end of the season she may well have done enough to climb into the top 100. Next year with that group of girls in the top 200 and others not too far behind we MUST SEE AT LEAST 1 reach the top 100.
It was rib and back injuries that forced Anne K to end her season early. "It was a shame as I had been playing well," said Keothavong. "I'm fine now though after some good rehab work at Roehampton. I'll go out to Australia in early December to continue my off season training and get ready for the new year."
