Week 45 - ITF ($10K) - Loughborough, UK Hard

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

RE: Week 45 - ITF ($10K) - Loughborough, UK Hard

Maza1987 · Challenger level

well done

indiana · Tennis legend

Well done to Tara on the title smile

Georges seems a decent player and has had a pretty good couple of weeks, but that was quite a bit tighter than I had anticipated, with Tara for whatever reasons clearly having some difficulty closing out sets, though quite a lot of breaks generally.

Hiowever, she's battled through and it's a title, always welcome. So, after an almost certain CH on Monday as a result of getting to the final last week, for the following Monday these 12 points will replace 6 from last year, whuch should push her ranking up still further to maybe about WR 315.'

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 13th of November 2011 05:34:35 PM

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

The Bilberry squashed rather than crushed, but at least she managed it in the end! wink Well done, Tara. smile

Happycynic · Pro player

From memory (and please do correct)

The LTA sets benchmarks for Aegon core funding. If a player meets the A benchmark (the precise attainment is age specific) they are funded subject to good conduct. If they hit the B benchmark, funding is discretionary.

Last year, Tara hit the B threshold (not the A) and wasn't funded. I think Lisa W was in the same position. If I remember, the B threshold for her age group was top 500.

The thresholds for this year are I think due to be released next week. If thresholds are like last year, she won't hit the A threshold. I don't know what the B threshold would be, but it will be higher than last year (as she has aged a year) and they then look at progress since last year, and mitigating circumstances (injury etc.).

To be fair to the LTA, their aspiration for all aegon funded players is top 100 material, and their benchmarks are set with that in mind. I am a #1 Tara fan (gutsy player), but she has quite an amount of work to convince she is top 100 material (I soooo hope she makes it). So under LTA logic, they may be right - even if Tara is the next best >17 year old prospect post Heather, Laura, Naomi. They maybe should be concentrating cash on a prospect in their younger years.

Also to be fair to the scheme, those not on it can recieve bonuses from performance (winning a 10K gets 600 quid to add to the prize money). It is I think rather easier to get bonuses from a 10K than a 25K (have to reach the QF of both to start getting bonus cash, though you then get more for a 25K), and you get a bonus for 50K+ events for just qualifying. I half wondered this week if Tara had entered 10Ks with this in mind (I guess the choice was 10K here vs 25K in Poland).

For the sane folk who don't trawl the LTA website, scheme can be found at: http://www.lta.org.uk/players-parents/Performance-players/Player-funding/Bonus-Scheme/

Last year, my biggest issue was that they funded a large numbers of doubles specialists (I think it was Jamie who turned it down as it compromised existing sponsorship, Colin, Ken, Hutch, Sarah). Whilst I love our doubles lads (and Sarah) - really great people all, I wish them well etc, I don't think they deserve funding more than young aspiring singles players.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

A / B grade funding levels next season's funding is here and they are based on week 36 rankings. Any junior player who meets the criteria is funded as long as they sign the code of conduct; I can't see anywhere on the LTA site that specifies whether this funding is automatic or discretionary for over 18s.

From the WTA rankings:

Laura & Heather have met the A threshold.
Naomi, Tara, Lucy, Fran, Manisha & Eleanor have met the B threshold.

Only Laura & Eleanor are juniors though so it might be discretionary for the rest. Other juniors will qualify on Junior ITF / domestic ranking and Eleanor will probably get upgraded to A grade on it.

However, these grades are for Core funding - Core funding isn't Team Aegon. Making the grade is merely the eligibility requirement to apply for the much better Team Aegon funding. The process by which they select which of the eligible players gets the Team Aegon funding is a secret committee decision that doesn't work to published or quantifiable criteria as far as I can see.

I agree that it had too many mature doubles players rather than up and coming singles players last year.

The thresholds due to be released Friday are the thresholds players have to attain next year to get funding the year afterwards.

Edit: On the men's top 25:

A: Golding, Morgan, Broady, Burton, Evans, Murray

B: Marsalek, Ward x 2, Cox, Smethurst

Only Broady is a Junior.

-- Edited by RBBOT on Monday 14th of November 2011 06:48:53 PM

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

I take it back - they do have quantifable criteria for the Team Aegon funding too - its just more deeply hidden. There is still a non-quantifiable decision on who gets to make up the numbers from those that don't meet the criteria for automatic inclusion.

They also have different week's rankings mentioned in different places - some give a date which is in week 36, some say first September rankings oe first rankings after the US Open (week 37). I don't think it actually makes a difference to our candidates.

Automatic inclusion should go to:

Eleanor Dean (Junior top 400 + 2 10k SF)

Laura Robson (Top 600 + SF 25k & 50k )

Heather Watson (Top 200)

Actually, if you took the rules literally, Laura doesn't qualify - she has to have reached 2 25k semi finals as a 17 year-old, but I think they will let her off with a 50k instead. If she were 19, she would meet the grade. Slightly crazy.

-- Edited by RBBOT on Monday 14th of November 2011 07:30:59 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

murray_2k9 wrote:
Gosh, Tara isnt hanging about. Anyone had a chance to see her recently / this week? I remember reading that she is moving better now?

Seems that if her movement could get near to the quality of her hitting she will really start climbing. I see no reason for her to not start closing in on top 200.

Go on Tara! Take the title.

-- Edited by murray_2k9 on Saturday 12th of November 2011 01:20:00 PM

Yes I saw her at Sunderland and felt she was moving much better than she was 12 months ago.

Tara has the talent required to be a top 100 player, but as like say Naomi Cavaday off court issues are preventing her from progressing to that level now. Funding was withdrawn because the powers that be felt she wasn't working hard enough/ being professional enough off the court to deserve full funding. Its in Tara's hands IMO she could be a top 100 player with more dedication but at the moment is probably a top 250 player. Time will tell if Tara can develop a more professional attitude and thus achieve her potential. I'm sorry if this assessment is a bit harsh but that is my opinion and of some others I have spoken to.