Eleanor's debut will have to wait, as she was replaced by a lucky loser. Katy impressively double bagelled the sixth seed, but 5th seed Caitlin Paige Hindmarsh was an early casualty. Kyria Dunford earns another crack at Malta finalist Pia Konig.
Eden only won 4 games against Nicole Peterson. Current or former Sixth Sense Academy student Emma Devine had a good win against the 8th seed but second seed Alex Walker was a surprising casualty.
Top seed Jo Henderson continued her disappointing season, but The Knight's final prediction is still on. The quarters tomorrow are:
QF
Candelaria Sedano-Acosta (ITA) v (7) Abbi Melrose (GBR) (16) Ruth Seaborne (GBR) v Emma Devine (GBR) Michelle Werbrouck (BEL) v (3) Pia Konig (AUT) Katy Dunne (GBR) v (14) Karin Kennel (SUI)
Katy appears to be hitting form again after her layoff - just 7 games dropped in 3 matches. If she can put an end to Konig's Brit-bashing (5 in the last 2 weeks) then we are guaranteed a winner.
QF
(7) Abbi Melrose (GBR) d. Candelaria Sedano-Acosta (ITA) 7-5 3-6 6-1 (16) Ruth Seaborne (GBR) d. Emma Devine (GBR) 6-2 6-4 (3) Pia Konig (AUT) d. Michelle Werbrouck (BEL) 6-3 1-6 6-0 Katy Dunne (GBR) v (14) Karin Kennel (SUI) 6-2 6-1
SF
(7) Abbi Melrose (GBR) v (16) Ruth Seaborne (GBR) (3) Pia Konig (AUT) v Katy Dunne (GBR)
Katy had to fight harder today, but got the win to ensure a British winner of the title. Her opponent in the final though is Ruth Seaborne, who has impressed a number of onlookers apparently, from the reports I have read.
SF
(16) Ruth Seaborne (GBR) d. (7) Abbi Melrose (GBR) 6-2 6-2 Katy Dunne (GBR) d. (3) Pia Konig (AUT) 2-6 6-2 6-2
Yes, I've seen that on GBTG, Ruth sounds like a great player - tho also criticism of her junior ranking... However, it's roughly the same as Anna Smith's career high junior ranking of 655, which was when she was 17 (Ruth's age now)...
I really don't think for our girls junior ITF ranking has much relevance - they seem to mature a lot later than some other countries do, which is fine in my book.
I really don't think for our girls junior ITF ranking has much relevance - they seem to mature a lot later than some other countries do, which is fine in my book.
That good old "British late developers" myth. It really is complete garbage,
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"Where Ratty leads - the rest soon follow" (Professor Henry Brubaker - The Institute of Studies)
I may be wrong but think Ruth plays more senior tennis than Junior. She is an outstanding athlete, really good, and also plays her own game which may have hampered her in her earlier years. The LTA didn't back her at all as a young Junior so she has gone out and proved a point.
Congratulations to Katy on her first singles title. Ruth has indeed been playing seniors only since she reached the under 16 nationals final in August (beating Elisha Gabb amongst others) and hence has a low junior ranking