The under 12s begin today featuring National champion Lana Rush. Katy Dunne leads the British challenge in the under 14s, whilst our only under 16 entrant Georgina Sellyn has reached final qualifying.
U12 R1
Ifeoma Kuchler (GBR) v Madison Prelle (CAN) Mia Smith (GBR) v Kirsten Prelle (CAN) Varvara Gracheva (RUS) v Lana Rush (GBR) Maria Smith (USA) v Jazzi Plews (GBR)
Ifeoma Kuchler (GBR) d. Madison Prelle (CAN) 6-2 6-0 Mia Smith (GBR) d. Kirsten Prelle (CAN) 6-2 6-0 Lana Rush (GBR) d. Varvara Gracheva (RUS) 6-0 6-0 Maria Smith (USA) d. Jazzi Plews (GBR) 6-1 6-4
R2 (L64)
Ifeoma Kuchler (GBR) v Sneha Padamata (IND) Anastasiya Komardina (RUS) v Mia Smith (GBR) Mia Horvit (USA) v Lana Rush (GBR)
Nick Bolletieri was so impressed with Mia Smith's "wonderful, Henin-esque, single-handed backhand" during the summer that he gave her a scholarship to his academy. Colette from Zoo Tennis is the latest to be impressed:
Given the gushing about Mia Smith I thought I would check out her LTA ranking to see how far ahead of the GBR curve she is.
She's 323rd in the U12s. Maybe it's because she trains in the States that she doesn't play in many GB tournaments but she got quite soundly trounced by the 220-U14-ranked 8.2-rated Heather Everingham.
I guess this must be misleading if Nick B rates her.
Yes, I looked Mia up as well- not very impressive!!! I am also intrigued about her single-handed backhand as I thought that you were not meant to coach this technique until the kid is strong enough to cope with it. I may be wrong and imagine Henin probably played this shot from an early age but, without sounding catty, I would say that Justine looks a far more natural tennis player than Mia.
Mia is a 1998 girl so has another year at this level. Pippa Horn has just made a winning return in the under 14s after several months out.
Under 12 R2 (L64)
Sneha Padamata (IND) d. Ifeoma Kuchler (GBR) 6-4 6-3 Anastasiya Komardina (RUS) d. Mia Smith (GBR) 6-2 6-0 Mia Horvit (USA) d. Lana Rush (GBR) 1-6 6-2 7-6(2)
Under 14 R1 (L128)
(16) Katy Dunne BYE Paula Diaz (VEN) v Katie Boulter Pippa Horn d. (WC) Melena Lopez (BAH) 6-0 6-2
Under 16 R1
Georgina Sellyn has qualified, but the main draw is not currently on the Eddie Herr website