adz1983 wrote:

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 Tweet from Katie shows that all 5 won today! http://twitter.com/#!/katiejobrien

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 Good spot - I hadn't realised Katie has started a coaching course and is accompanying this group for the next 3 weeks. Hope her work ethic rubs off on them.

Freya's win on her comeback after missing the last 3 months with injury means she is on a 6 match winning streak, but has the toughest task next - against a player on a 14 match winning streak in ITF Juniors

R1 (L32)

Freya Christie (GBR) d. Yus Syazlin Nabila Yusri (MAS) 7-6(0) 6-1

(5) Beth Askew (GBR) d. Danielle Spielmann (SUI) 6-4 6-2

 Lana Rush (GBR) d. Yulia Sudnikova (RUS) 6-1 6-1

 (4) Katie Boulter (GBR) d. Vita Taher (INA) 6-2 6-7(3) 6-3

Pippa Horn (GBR) d. Karin Hoppler (SUI) 6-0 6-0

R2

(1) Karin Kennel (SUI) v Freya Christie (GBR)

Tatjana Vorobjova (EST) v (5) Beth Askew (GBR)

(3) Ilz Hattingh (RSA) v Lana Rush (GBR)

Natjana Chujit (THA) v (4) Katie Boulter (GBR)

(7) Rosalie Van Der Hoek (NED) v Pippa Horn (GBR)

RBBOT wrote:

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This junior tour of Asia confuses me. I seem to remember the same thing happening last year - they enter some Malaysian tournaments but not the Osaka Mayor's all-you-can-eat points buffet in Japan, (or enter and then withdraw from it again). If your going to travel that far, why skip out the GA tournament that has such a ludicrously weak draw last year a player ranked 1279 got a direct acceptance to the main draw. Is Osaka really such a horrible place to visit?

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 I think the key to choosing which of the 2 tournament schedules is what is best for the long-term development of the player, based on their experience and current level of performance. I would maintain for nearly all the players here  that playing in Malaysia/Thailand is the most sensible choice. It gives a Grade 4, Grade 3 then Grade 2. The alternative option of a Grade A followed by Grade 2 in Japan is much tougher to win even 1 match in, despite the low cut-off. Last year Jonathan Cornish met Evan Hoyt in the Malaysian Grade 4 final, which was the right place for them last year. This year they should be in Japan which is right for their current level.

Most of the squad here will have opportunity to play the Grade A next year. The only player whose schedule I would question is Scott Clayton, who has just won back-to-back titles, appears ready for tackling higher grade events and is running out of time as a 1994.  I imagine Pippa would have joined Katy in Osaka if she had been able to recapture last year's form after her long injury lay-off.

Great to see Pippa seemingly in such better form again.  Seemed to have lost her mojo for quite a while after she came back from injury.