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jb288


Satellite level

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Nottingham
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I was really looking forward to going to Nottingham this year to see the Brits in action. However, it looks like the LTA's decision to create the Festival of Tennis with 2 weeks of high-prize money tournaments has led to a huge increase in top-level players entering. Whilst many of these will undoubtedly withdraw, players in the 80-200 region have a big incentive to stay in Notts for 2 weeks when there is no WTA going on, and only 1 50k and 2 25s in the same week as the 75k. 

Last year we had 12 MD Brits, and a qualies field packed with unranked Brits. This year that seems incredibly unlikely. I'm not quite sure who the LTA think they are benefitting by going for the big-money approach - certainly not British players or fans. Will more people come to Nottingham? Maybe. But they don't pay anyway!  

Far better, as I've said many times before, to keep prize money at a level where it can most benefit our own players (25-50), and not attract undue attention from top level players. It will be really sad if players like Anna F, Jade, Sam Murray,  Lucy & Joss are denied the chance to have a decent grass season because the LTA would rather have foreign stars.

Of course, I could be proven wrong when 200 people withdraw next week, and I hope I am! 



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DavidC


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I remember a few years ago when the tournament was at Surbiton and 25K the familiar complaint was that it needed to be upgraded to a 50 or 75 K to reflect the quality of field, so the boot's on the other foot. Both main draws are clearly going to be very strong, but qualie fields have a tendency to weaken significantly at the last minute, so there may still be an opportunity first week for some of those you name.

The money put in to this Festival doesn't appear to have been taken from other parts of the tournament budget, so I guess some additional funding has come in from somewhere, conditional on making the events attractive to a stronger field. It will be frustrating though for some who miss out first week, and then find a potentially awkward situation in week 2 (where the existence of 2 WTA events plus 2 100Ks will ensure that lots of Brits can enter qualies for Birmingham or Nottingham) where success could rule them out of the Wimbledon wild-card play-offs.

On the flip side those Brits who do get wins will find greater rewards (financially and in points)

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tony_orient


ATP qualifying

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The 75k at Nottingham certainly appears to be ridiculously strong as it stands (with Katie and Laura 31st and 40th alternates), but I would suspect these tournaments in the 2nd week of a grand slam will always attract relatively strong field as there is no bigger tournament to compete in.

The 100k a week later is one of three options, alongside Birmingham (which also has a larger field) and Copenhagen so I would expect there to be much more chance for our players to compete without the need for wildcards.

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philwrig


Hall of fame

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The list has now been updated following withdrawal deadline day, and my best guess is that we will have 3 GB players in the MD by right( Bally, Anne and Hev)
and probably 2 in the QD by right (Katie 7th and Laura 11th alternate at the moment).
This means that with 4 MDWCs to be awarded we will have 7 Brits in the main draw.
I am more hopeful of getting more Brits into the QD however. 4 QDWCs plus alternates who sign in because there maybe a number of late withdrawals due to doubles commitments at RG. I remember Nassau earlier this year which also had an initial stellar field but which ended up with quite a weak QD. I suspect quite alot of players on the alternate list will not bother travelling to Nottingham just on the offchance that there will be some late withdrawals.
I myself think a strong field is good, and as a spectatator I would prefer to see top quality tennis and a strong British turnout. I believe all of the GB players who are capable of Q or MD wins will get a chance.
I'm thinking of making the trip down and then driving across to Birmingham for the WTA event the following week. Fingers crossed the weather will be warm and sunny.

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DavidC


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Heather is certain of entry into the main draw, because they have left 2 places for Special Exempts - and there will not be any that week.

There are actually 6 QWCs, reinforcing Phil's view that there will be plenty of opportunities in qualifying for Brits.

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philwrig


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Another clump of withdrawals makes what I said above even more likely, plus the additional 2 WCs which David was kind enough to point out and I think we could have at least 10 Brits in the QD.

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RBBOT


Futures qualifying

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The local paper has an article on Jocelyn Rae planing to return from injury here and possibly play doubles with Heather.



-- Edited by RBBOT on Friday 20th of May 2011 01:58:34 PM

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philwrig


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Sounds as if being a dubs spec is on the agenda.

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jb288


Satellite level

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Ha, the vagaries of scheduling mean that the entry list for the 100k is vastly weaker than for the 75 - qualies cut-off is literally 300 places lower!
Whilst I would expect a fair few late withdrawals due to RG fatigue, it does look like a bit of a mess. Still, lots of Brits in a 100k is good news :)


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indiana


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Hmm, I really do not see this as a mess at all.

There will no doubt be quite a number more withdrawals particularly from the 75K.  So, if it still ends up with a stronger main draw field and a particularly stronger qualifying draw field than than the 100K.  C'est la vie, being the only real other show around in the 2nd week of Roland Garros.  That in itself is not greatly here nor there.

Yes, a few less GB players may get a chance of a couple of matches and winning a point in qualifying, but there will still be good contingent.  And more will get a chance in the 100K the following week.

Anway, looks good competition for spectators and at least a dozen of our players ( maybe ultimately more ) with good points for those who can get some wins.

By the way, the Wimbledon Wild Card Play-Offs don't start till the Wednesday of the Nottingham 100K / Birmingham week so in all honesty are hardly lilkely to cause conflicts of interests.  If they do to anyone, then just enjoy the unexpected success and points !



-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 08:24:55 PM

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jb288


Satellite level

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Oh i agree, it's just going to be a bit silly points-wise, since a win in the 75k is going to be basically 220k-level, while a win in the 100k is going to be about 50-75 level with more points! Also putting the lower money tournie in half term seems bad PR...but hey, am just excited to be going and looking forward to seeing lots of Brits.

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British_is_Best


County player

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Wildcards are up on the LTA website:

Main Draw: Laura, Katie, Emily and Naomi

Qualifying: Mel, Lisa, Tara, Anna F, Sam and Jade

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steven


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I think I agree with all 10 of those WCs, and the split between MD & Q - that must be a first! smile.gif Do other people too?

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RBBOT


Futures qualifying

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Pretty hard to argue with. However, for the 100K, I'd like to see Manisha Foster given a chance in qualifying if she's back in the country - she deserves it on current form.



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DavidC


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It's the obvious choice for main draw WCs - helping to prepare the 4 players who will be recommended for Wimbledon main draw WCs. Once the main draw WCs and irrelevant Special Exempts are removed from the list Mel will be in qualifying without a wildcard, and I expect most of the others will not need one eventually.

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