The girls have made all of Steven's work unnecessary, they've done it without the help of others! That's brilliant news - the Brit girls really seem to inspire each other, don't they!
Of course, the only reason they won was to make all the work (almost) pointless so it was well worth it after all!
jb288 - at least 99, I think - she's provisionally WR 97 now and Amanmuradova & Zakopalova can still overtake - the latter is in a final set against Cohen-Aloro in the St Malo SFs.
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Now the hard work begins. Reaching the top 100 is itself a great achievement but you now have to remain a top 100 player to prove to your peers that you deserved it. Mel couldn't do this so now both Bally and Katie have a chance to prove to the tennis world that they are. Bally needs to gain enough ranking points between now and the Aussie open so that a potential 1st round exit does not mean an exit from the top 100. Katie having had such a poor second half of the season is in real danger of losing her new found status at some stage during the first half of next year. She can't rest on her laurels and must kick on with the pressure off and pick up points during the rest of the season.
Katie - you wait so long for 1 to come along, then 2 come at once but we couldn't be more pleased. Well done. Fantastic final line-up and I'm sure it will be very competitive. Welcome to the top 100.
What a good day it's been down Shropshire way. Well done girls. Don't really mind who wins the final - just hope it's a good 'un for those who can make it!
Now the hard work begins. Reaching the top 100 is itself a great achievement but you now have to remain a top 100 player to prove to your peers that you deserved it. Mel couldn't do this so now both Bally and Katie have a chance to prove to the tennis world that they are. Bally needs to gain enough ranking points between now and the Aussie open so that a potential 1st round exit does not mean an exit from the top 100. Katie having had such a poor second half of the season is in real danger of losing her new found status at some stage during the first half of next year. She can't rest on her laurels and must kick on with the pressure off and pick up points during the rest of the season.
True, true but maybe they can relax a bit now as the big mental barrier has been past. Many people though Anne wouldn't last long in the top 100 but shes still there and would be there for longer if it wasn't for the horrible injury.
Nither player has anything big to defend untill the Aus open so both have a great chance now to keep climbing before 2010.
best results for ages. Elena has had such a terrible time with injuries over last few years , but has at last madeit. Perhaps also parting with Jo Durie and alan Jones madea difference
katie O so pleased as well she has always had the potential let us hope that they establish theirselves in top 100 as Anne did prior to injury
The bad old days of British number 1 ladies player is ranked about 300 or so is over!
Fabulous day in the singles for us! Delighted for both girls. Like helki, I don't really mind who wins. I just hope it's a good contest & doesn't become one-sided in any way.
Now, a question for Steven which I hope hasn't been asked & answered already (too lazy to check! ): has there ever been an all-Brit final at this level before?
I understand ( source : britishtennis.net stats ) that it is back to 1990 since we ended the year with 3 British women in the top 100.
I make it Anne will end the year on 643 points so unfortunately touch and go for her, but would be great if she is still there and the Elena and Katie hold on in there, nae even move on hopefully.
Fantastic - the East Riding conundrum is solved - congratulations to both
Thoroughly deserved for all the hard work they have both obviously put in. While Bally was always likely to make the top 100 at some point in her career, there was little to suggest a few years ago (to me anyway) that Katie would also get there.
As for tomorrow, Bally rarely loses to other Brits, and has a positive H2H against all the top 6 at least (just 1-0 against Katie, going back to 2005)
In (very) partial answer to SC there has not been an all-Brit final at this level for at least 15 years, and probably a lot longer than that. Looking at a reference book I have with all Tour finals I see that Virginia Wade played Sue Barker in at least a couple of Tour finals in the mid to late 70s. Nothing obvious since then, but it doesn't include the equivalent level of event, allowing for inflation.
Personally I'm dying for Katie win as she needs all the self-esteem boosts she can get, whereas Bally I don't think doubts her abilities at all. But obviously I'm happy whatever :)