I don't know whether perhaps injuries are having an effect too - the number of withdrawals from events this year by GB women that are classed as late under ITF rules is reaching epidemic proportions.
Plus of course the mid-range (WR 400 & lower) is probably being depleted to some extent by what some might term 'Borwell's babes' - i.e. the increasing number of GB tennis girls going off to uni in the US. Whether that pays dividends in a few years' time remains to be seen - hopefully it will.
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Fewer European tournaments doesn't help, but its been mainly injuries.( Tara/Jade/Lucy/Lisa all been injured/ill this year, Anna F is playing through an injury, and of course Anna S , Georgie Stoop and Jos are long term injury victims as well) Added to that as steven says the 'Borwell Babes' who might be players who could get into the top 500 are now playing in US colleges, but should hopefully be a long term payoff.
I see JoKo and her partner retired from their doubles match after the first set, hopefully JoKo is not carrying an injury.
R1: Lenka Jurikova & Kristina Kucova (SVK/SVK) WR 1386 defeated Lucy Brown & Fran Stephenson WR 1066 by 1 & 1
R1: Martina Borecka & Petra Krejsova (CZE/CZE) WR 935 lost to (4) Sam Murray & Emily Webley-Smith WR 552 by 0 & 4
R1: Julia Glushko & Jo Konta (ISR-AUS/GBR) WR 705 lost (2) Tatjana Malek & Stephanie Vogt (GER/LIE) WR 455 by 6-7(4) retired - I hope Jo didn't pick up an injury there
*****
QF: (1) Julie Coin (FRA) & Mel South WR 343 vs Mandy Elliott & Jade Windley WR 865
QF: Lina Stanciute & Ana Vrljic (LTU/CRO) vs (4) Sam Murray & Emily Webley-Smith WR 552