Naiktha Bains

ROSAMUND · Futures level

RE: The LTA and Naiktha Bains

JonH · All-time great

Seems to be same discussion on Tennis Forum, with as few answers available!

www.tennisforum.com/203-tennis-australia/440379-naiktha-bains-36.html

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Interesting indeed.

JonH · All-time great

This is her dad and coach Twitter. Youd expect some comment if any of this was true. Nothing

mobile.twitter.com/gurnakebains

steven · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
This is her dad and coach Twitter. Youd expect some comment if any of this was true. Nothing

mobile.twitter.com/gurnakebains

Nothing on @teambains either but these things tend to happen quite quietly (it's quite likely that the majority of a players' Twitter followers are from the country being switched from, which may be why!), so I wouldn't take that to mean it hasn't happened.

I've seen this (i.e. nationality changed on ITF but not on WTA) happen quite a few times and as far as I can remember, the switch has always ended up being confirmed. If it is true, she'll probably show up as GB in the new WTA rankings on Monday.

Michael D · All-time great

Well if Naiktha has decided to switch, the timing makes sense, since all the Aussie early year tournaments are now done - so no groups of Aussie players or crowds to deal with, and the focus moves onto Europe. She is playing in Italy on clay next week, as is Jamiee Fourlis, one of the other young Aussie players, and I guess as Steven says, we'll see what the WTA makes of her nationality tomorrow.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I'm pretty confident this will happen (or rather has happened). There seems to be someone passionately defending her and the situation on Jon's previous link, someone who just joined that forum and all their posts have been on the topic - it's almost as if it's someone in the know / in her team...

Plus, the ITF do normally change things first, like Rybakina to Kazakhstan, and there'd be no reason for them to change the flag first and then a few hours later change her nationality if it wasn't true and as Steven also say, these things do often occur without a song and dance, unlike football and if a Declan Rice or someone switched his allegiances.

Indeed we'll likely find out one way and the other soon, but I personally doubt it'll be too long until Naiktha has her own thread her on the individual players section here.

JonH · All-time great

Here we go, some news at last

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/47847795

indiana · Tennis legend

Presumably it is the ITF that approves the switch, which is probably just procedural given her dual nationality.

And it is the ITF site that is already showing Naiktha as a British player.

JonH · All-time great

It sounds like it's all official though and we should regard her as a British player again.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Good luck to her.

indiana · Tennis legend

So for a few weeks anyway 25 WTA ranked players for top 25 GB table.

Laura has 2 of her 3 counters due off on the 6th and 13th of May.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I love the fact the LTA say they've been 'made aware' of it but it was a completely independent decision - when you look at how rude Mr. Bains was about them on the BBC website page (which is still up, from 2011), I'm not surprised that they're not best buddies. Mind you, you could see how he may well have fallen out with the Aussie authorities too....

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/13394586

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I've mentioned before, but I always pay more attention to the girls with GB links, in case situations just like this arises and we benefit from a new addition who will instantly become one of our better players, our current 6th best in this case. I've also made no secret in that unless the player is in the top 250 / 300 or is young enough / capable enough to get to that level, then I'm not as interested as most on this forum would be, so for me, to get a new player instantly at this level is great. She's at a good age as well, at a CH, and isn't defending any points for a while, so can push on further short term and I'll certainly be following with interest.

The father does appear quite difficult from what I've read though and seems in control, and assuming it's allowed, it might not be a huge surprise if she were to switch again if they were not getting what they wanted or had a fallout - maybe to India, Mr Bains' birthplace. No substance there, just the kind of impression I get.

Nevertheless, welcome on board Naiktha and if she has some solid results on the clay in Italy 25k's over the coming weeks as well as Surbiton, if she plays, she has a great chance to further boost her ranking and get that Wimbledon MDWC. It'll be strange (but good) seeing her name in the entries threads initially smile

ROSAMUND · Futures level

What are the reasons for her wanting to come back to Britain at this stage in her career? A least being born in GB she will not get some of the comments that Johanna Konta gets. One might add that she provided Heather Watson with one of her rare wins of 2019. However hope she is successful in her move back to GB.