Melanie South is our sole entrant in the second of the 3 50Ks in Japan. Mel is in a good quarter of the draw, with dangerous floater Kimiko Date-Krumm in the top half. Mel is seeded to meet Tamarine Tanasugarn in the semi-finals (who she lost to at the Australian Open).
Third quarter:
Akiko YONEMURA (JPN) (8) Vs Shiho HISAMATSU (JPN) Q vs Q Ana JOVANOVIC (SRB) Vs Ami NAKANO (JPN) Q vs 4-Melanie South (GBR)
Mel won her quarters 6-2 6-2 She will face Tanasugarn win the semis. Really good to see Mel doing so well and looking like she could compete with Elena, Anna and Kate for the top spot
Mel got to the QF here last year, so this SF will give her 7 extra ranking points, which is probably not enough to rise up the rankings, as there is a little gap (11 points) to the next player.
(I am assuming the tournaments are same week, which may be wrong)
She's hit the point in the rankings where the points difference between players is more pronounced; 10 places = 40 points where she is now. In other words, progress into the top 150 needs you to be winning the 'weaker' tournaments (25K/50K), going deep in the mid (75K/100k), qualifying for GS, or a single Tier 1/GS win....
Well done Mel. What an impressive year she is having. Her game has really come on and she certainly has a liking for doubles. Does anyone know if she plans to team up with Boggo again at Wimbledon in the mixed doubles. Hope so after last years run.
