Wimbledon/Grass Season WCs

wolf · Tennis legend

RE: Wimbledon/Grass Season WCs

scottie1 · Futures level

wild cards for wimbledon should be mel/bally/georgie and laura with hopefully anne and Katie in MD as a right. That would be 4 WC for gb women. No doubt there are players like Mara Santangelo or Kikimo Date who may get a WC.
Other British women Naomi broady and Naomi cavaday and Emily have ouside chances of WCS but I think in Qualifying than main draw.
when one thinks of people like Julie Pullin and Lorna woodruffe getting regular WCS for main draw wimbledon for years it is a shame for the two Naomis and emily

jb288 · Satellite level

Given that Mel is supposedly a grasscourt specialist (Georgie too?) you would've though that she'd prefer to go through qualies and pick up an extra 60 (?) points - that's no small change to her when she's on the verge of the top 100, and would give her added confidence, surely?
Given the right draws (BIG if!), I reckon we could see 3 GB girls in R2 this year - my money would be on Anne, Katie and Laura or Mel. Would love to see NC and NB doing well in qualies too.

DavidC · Tennis legend

scottie1 wrote:

wild cards for wimbledon should be mel/bally/georgie and laura with hopefully anne and Katie in MD as a right. That would be 4 WC for gb women. No doubt there are players like Mara Santangelo or Kikimo Date who may get a WC.
Other British women Naomi broady and Naomi cavaday and Emily have ouside chances of WCS but I think in Qualifying than main draw.
when one thinks of people like Julie Pullin and Lorna woodruffe getting regular WCS for main draw wimbledon for years it is a shame for the two Naomis and emily

The GB players you list for main draw WCs will almost certainly be the only ones to get them with the current policy. The nature of Laura's WC will I imagine depend on Laura showing no reaction to her return to action over the next 3 weeks, and some dialogue with her camp. There are a lot of non-Brit candidates - apparently Kim Clijsters has been offered one and declined.

I think at present the Naomis and Emily are better-off in qualifying. With the current policy Julie Pullin would still have received multiple WCs, as she was nearly always in the top 250. Lorna occasionally missed out.

jb288 wrote:

Given that Mel is supposedly a grasscourt specialist (Georgie too?) you would've though that she'd prefer to go through qualies and pick up an extra 60 (?) points - that's no small change to her when she's on the verge of the top 100, and would give her added confidence, surely?
.....

It would be a big gamble for Mel to play qualifying, as there are plenty of players there who would be capable of beating her, so she would risk losing out on both Wimbledon main draw money/chance of a win (she has always played well as a WC, but has drawn seeds every time) and the chance to play at Eastbourne.

jb288 · Satellite level

Agreed on the Eastbourne point, but if she's serious about being top 100, playing sub-120 players on what is her favourite surface (and one which few other players 'specialise' in) should really not be something she's scared of, I'd've thought.

Tutu · Club Coach

Maria will obviously be given a wildcard for wimbledon if she doesnt do well at the FO (which is kinda likely IMO) and im still holding my breath for us to find out that Tati has been doing some top secret training regime (yes im delusional, I know lol) so I think we should wait a bit because this could all change :O

jb288 · Satellite level

Just to put this in perspective, I've just been looking at Mel's wikipedia article and apparently she got a QWC at Wimbledon in 2002 when she had only ever played one pro match before! I think that just shows how far we've come over the past few years...can't imagine an unranked player getting a WC now! Also, Mel's junior CH was 265, and we now have 4 girls in the top 60-odd (I think), so this all bodes rather well for the future, I reckon.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Yeh well spotted, it really does look good!

Tutu · Club Coach

I really would like to see naomi in the wimbledon MD. Shes had SUCH bad luck, in the three years she has had WCs, between them her opponents have won 36 Grand slams in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. And also 84 WTA singles titles. OUCH!

jb288 · Satellite level

I think Naomi could do a lot of damage in qualies though, and the 60 points would make a huge difference to her ranking; she's unlikely to get a MD wildcard at Eastbourne I would've thought, so it seems the better prospect for her. It would also make her less vulnerable to criticisms about her fitness etc - which must be damaging (though I have no idea of her current fitness).

Just another thought - if Tara beats Danilidou today, you would think that would put paid to Eleni's chances of a Wimbledon WC, which might free one up for another Brit if the AELTC overrides the LTA policy (and Naomis B and C would probably be the favourites there); personally though I'd rather not see them in the MD at this stage (unless they qualify of course!).

-- Edited by jb288 on Sunday 31st of May 2009 01:01:32 PM

wolf · Tennis legend

Unless Katie sneaks in as a DA we will only have a maximum of 6 qualifying wild cards - sheer brilliance from the LTA again - http://www.lta.org.uk/Resources/Competition/Wimbledon%20Wild%20Cards%20for%20the%202009%20Championships.pdf

jb288 · Satellite level

Can't really sniff at 6 QWCs to be honest: I'm not actually sure we have that many players who deserve it!

Personally I'd go for the Naomis, Jade and Amanda C (if she likes grass at all - Tara if not) for the 4 discretionary places, as they've all given good accounts of themselves recently, but other than that it's hard to see who's deserving - surely not Amanda E and Anna? Emily's getting on in age, and hasn't really impressed when she's been fit this year. If they are deserving, they'll win through the pre-qualies, if not, tough. I imagine Tara will in fact get the nod ahead of Carreras, but it'll be a great shame if Elliott or Smith get any kind of leg-up after their recent form - unless they can do something special in the next week or so.

philwrig · Hall of fame

I agree jb 288 current form and potential is what the selection should be based upon . Emily , Amanda E and Anna do not deserve to be considered for guaranteed spots.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Bit unfair on EWS, who has had many injury worries. She may be old in age, but in tennis years she has missed a lot of time and so will probably peak older than the average. I would giver her one for getting back on the tour and making the big climb, though she has stalled slightly, because it isnt easy getting back from where she has been

jb288 · Satellite level

To be honest, if at age 24 you're winning a 10k as the highlight of your career, it seems a bit pointless to me; Tara won the Frinton 10k aged 15 last year, so for me she has a much higher claim. I really don't see how you can logically knock out any of the 4 I mentioned in favour of Emily; if she can prove herself in the pre-qualies though, that's great.