British Women - Top 25 etc table

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: British Women - Top 25 etc table

indiana · Tennis legend

Congratulations to Katy Dunne for slipping into the top 300 at WR 299 before she has a total net 27 points coming off over the next 3 weeks, which she will initially not be defending.

So it will initially be a very short stay, but I am sure she will be back again for a much much longer stay.

indiana · Tennis legend

Out of interest I was counting up our number of currently ranked players. It's 31, which I think has been about the standard level over recent years.

However, feeling that in general the lower ranked of these had not been particularly adding points this year. I thought I would look to see when players ( if adding nothing in the meantime ) were in danger of dropping off the rankings, well would if they literally added no points.

3 of the 31 would be gone before Wimbledon : Jessica Simpson, Eleanor Dean and Jade Windley.

3 more would be gone on the first post Wimbledon rankings : Gabbi Taylor, Sam Murray and Lisa Whybourn.

That would then leave 25.

Emily Arbuthnott would depart on 17/08 leaving 24, and Charlotte Pearce on 24/08 leaving 23.

Now that is a VERY worse case scenario and thoughy clearly it is actually likely that most of these named above will leave the rankings at least temporarily, the grassw court season usually brings new additions.

Anyway ...

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

I had recently been wondering about Jess and Gabbi, thinking it was a long time since their names had cropped up. Jess retired with injury last time she played but I had assumed it was a niggle as there was no news to the contrary, and that she would soon be back. Can't believe it is nearly a year. As for Gabbi, I knew Wimbledon provided her only adult points, but am surprised she has not appeared since in juniors. Does anyone have any news of either?

As for Emily Arbuthnott, I believe she is heading for college, although haven't heard that she has signed, and so has decided to focus on top junior events rather than adult.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Also, Charlotte Pearce has been injured for a while.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

The increasing popularity of college tennis for our girls has definitely reduced the 'tail' of GB rankings. Looking over the list of those in college on last year's US College thread, there's at least a dozen or so who have gone over the last 2 years who a few years ago would have been giving the tour a try for at least a year or two.

None of the women who graduated last year have since played any pro matches, although several of the men did. There is a fairly strong bunch coming out this year, including Nat Bezeant and Daneika Borthwick so hopefully they will swell the numbers.

indiana · Tennis legend

Re Gabbi, she also retired from the last match I am aware of, in juniors late last year and withdrew from.a following big late year junior tournament.

I have asked a couple of times in the forum, but noone seems to have heard anything. I've not seen anything about Jess either.

Yes, good point re the increasing number of girls at college, some of whom would have at least sneaked onto the rankings otherwise.

indiana · Tennis legend

So if both Jess and Gabbi are / have been long term injured, then that would essentially appear to be in some way the position with all 6 who are due to drop out of the rankings on or before the first post Wimbledon rankings. And then Charlotte too.

C'mon Emily, give it a bash, the top 25 table needs you !

Otherwise it looks very possible that it won't be most of these 8 leaving the rankings by August, it will be all.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Are you meaning Jess Ren? She's just completed her first year at Durham university. She has played matches for them during the year.

paulisi · Tennis legend

goldfish wrote:
Are you meaning Jess Ren? She's just completed her first year at Durham university. She has played matches for them during the year.

Jess Simpson - she was on an qualifying entry list recently, but didn't turn up.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

How will the top 25 table work. Will it be the last to drop out that stay on the table or national rankings or junior rankings to decide. Well worked out Indiana by the way it's almost certain to happen unless we get a few lucky draws in the grass qualifiers Brit v Brit etc. Jasmine is a possibility for that.

indiana · Tennis legend

I'd be for continuing with a top 25 table but with very apparent gaps after GB no 23 or whatever ( i.e. the last in the WTA rankings ).

If that is seen as some sort of commentary on the depth of GB women's tennis so be it.

Clearly there could be though current points that could be made re in particular so many long term injuries and, as mentioned, an increasing number of girls taking the collegs route.

At the moment Fran, Anna B, Izzy and Laura D are largely finding the way to advance up the GB tennis rankings is to stay upright long enough to get on a tennis court and win a few matches.

Not saying here that there hasn't been progress, in particular with Anna, but they and Dasha do rather stand out outside the top 10 as regularly playing tennis matches.

indiana · Tennis legend

PS : reading that back I don't think I phrased that well as I have no wish at all to belittle some of the struggles players have been having with injury and how frustrating and agonising ( and costly ) it must be.

It just stands out how relatively few are currently regularly competing.

wimdledont · Challenger level

I'm afraid, indy, that's also a consequence of the brutal economics of it all. If you fly in and fly out, you need to make the final of a 10k tournament to make a small profit. Typical hotel bill =$400-$600 + flights $300-$400. Runner up prize money = $980.

Hence, if the LTA stages 2 UK 10ks in the course of a year, they make it next-to-impossible for any UK woman to embark on a career in professional tennis.

As that is the stated aim of the LTA CEO, they are doing very well.

Peter too · Tennis legend

I did see an assessment some years ago, that for a British woman to make a living from tennis prize money alone she would have to be inside the top 120.