Week 24 - WTA ($220K) - AEGON Classic, Birmingham - Grass

steven · Tennis legend

Week 24 - WTA ($220K) - AEGON Classic, Birmingham - Grass

steven · Tennis legend

Not sure why the WTA have changed the tournament code for this event from 504 to 1052 - the Q draw was on 504, so I assumed no change but they had put that on 1052 as well and the main draw only on 1052, else I'd have found it hours ago furious

Anyway, filling in the other GB pairings (the remaining 3 get the 11th seed, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist and the player who beat Bally today ) and the gaps in the original ones:

L56: (WC) Tara Moore WR 339 v (11) Iveta Benesova (CZE) WR 51 (CH 25 in 2009) - first meeting
L56: (WC) Melanie South WR 277 v Mirjana Lucic (CRO) WR 117 (CH 32 in 1998) - first meeting
L56: Heather Watson WR 110 v Paula Ormaechea (ARG) WR 120 (CH 111 in Apr) - H2H 1-0, 2&4, Casablanca juniors 2009
L56: Anne Keothavong WR 81 v (12) Tamira Paszek (AUT) WR 52 (CH 35 in 2007) - H2H 1-2 including a 3-set loss here in 2007 but Anne won 76(4) 76(5) in Doha this year
L56: (15) Elena Baltacha WR 68 v Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) WR 104 (CH 82 in 2010) - H2H 0-1, 3 sets, Fukuoka ('grass') 50K SF 2009
L56: Laura Robson WR 126 v Qualifier
L56: (WC) Samantha Murray WR 362 v Urszula Radwanska (POL) WR 79 (CH 62 in 2009)

Edit - see below ashamed (if only they were L32 matches!) - L56 like Queen's since there are 8 R1 byes.

-- Edited by steven on Friday 8th of June 2012 11:06:36 PM

steven · Tennis legend

QR1: (wc) Emma Devine UNR v (q2) Vera Dushevina (RUS) WR 82
QR1: (q15) Naomi Broady WR 199 v (wc) Karolina Wlodarczak (AUS) WR 533 (winners meet in FQR)
QR1: (wc) Francesca Stephenson WR 552 v (q3) Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) WR 125
QR1: (wc) Jessica Ren * UNR v (q4) Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) WR 131
QR1: (wc) Daneika Borthwick UNR v (q5) Kurume Nara (JPN) WR 132
QR1: Emily Webley-Smith WR 407 v (q9) Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) WR 151
QR1: (wc) Sabrina Bamburac UNR v (q16) Gail Brodsky (USA) WR 201

* this is Jessica, not Jennifer as it says on the draw!

I thought Naomi had a MD WC here, so maybe she opted to play qualifying to get more match practice on grass pre-Wimby, or maybe I just misunderstood.

The four unranked Brits will all get their 3rd counting score (and hence a WTA singles ranking) even if they get double-bagelled here, which may explain the split in qwcs between here and Nottingham!

Priesty · Challenger level

I hear the 2 remaining MD WCs have gone to South and Moore.

Naomi won her 1st round MD last year (I watched from the stands as she overcame Garcia) and if I remember she was a MD WC then, so maybe she's opted to qualify in order to defend some of the points - who knows??

I'm going down to watch on Tuesday by the way - anyone else going?

daisy · County player

Priesty wrote:
I hear the 2 remaining MD WCs have gone to South and Moore.

Naomi won her 1st round MD last year (I watched from the stands as she overcame Garcia) and if I remember she was a MD WC then, so maybe she's opted to qualify in order to defend some of the points - who knows??

I'm going down to watch on Tuesday by the way - anyone else going?

I've booked a ticket for Tuesday; looks as though it might be the driest day next week so taking a chance. Happy to PM my mobile number if you want to say hello over a cuppa! It's a nice venue; saw Heather there last year in R1.

Should be a mix of Main draw R1 and R2 matches that day but I guess a lot depends on whether they achieve schedule on Monday which looks to be wet.

They've just opened the new indoor facility so could play matches indoors if need be.

The new indoor arena/showcourt is due to be ready 2013; seating 2500. Handy perhaps for Fed Cup? (or even Davis Cup events?)

Miriambee · Futures level

Priesty wrote:

I'm going down to watch on Tuesday by the way - anyone else going?

Hi if I go at all it'll be Thursday.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

i may go on monday,
but if i pay my money, will i get a refund if it's washed out?

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Maza1987 wrote:
i may go on monday,
but if i pay my money, will i get a refund if it's washed out?

Yes, I did. Can't remember if it was last year or year before. On back of ticket it state conditions relating to time played on Centre Court I think. I know I did watch some tennis but was still covered because it was less than a certain number of hours or something.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

actually, england are playing monday night, so might go tuesday.
but ticket prices get more steep then? oooh, decisions decisions.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Well Heather should win.

Anne tough could go either way. Bally hopefully will win that one.

Laura, who knows depends who she gets. Probably Naomi B now LOL

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

steven wrote:
Not sure why the WTA have changed the tournament code for this event from 504 to 1052 - the Q draw was on 504, so I assumed no change but they had put that on 1052 as well and the main draw only on 1052, else I'd have found it hours ago
It looks like Samantha Murray got Naomi's main draw WC.

Anyway, filling in the other GB pairings (the remaining 3 get the 11th seed, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist and the player who beat Bally today ) and the gaps in the original ones:

L32: (WC) Tara Moore WR 339 v (11) Iveta Benesova (CZE) WR 51 (CH 25 in 2009) - first meeting
L32: (WC) Melanie South WR 277 v Mirjana Lucic (CRO) WR 117 (CH 32 in 1998) - first meeting
L32: Heather Watson WR 110 v Paula Ormaechea (ARG) WR 120 (CH 111 in Apr) - H2H 1-0, 2&4, Casablanca juniors 2009
L32: Anne Keothavong WR 81 v (12) Tamira Paszek (AUT) WR 52 (CH 35 in 2007) - H2H 1-2 including a 3-set loss here in 2007 but Anne won 76(4) 76(5) in Doha this year
L32: (15) Elena Baltacha WR 68 v Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) WR 104 (CH 82 in 2010) - H2H 0-1, 3 sets, Fukuoka ('grass') 50K SF 2009
L32: Laura Robson WR 126 v Qualifier
L32: (WC) Samantha Murray WR 362 v Urszula Radwanska (POL) WR 79 (CH 62 in 2009)

Apologies Steven, but this might be the only chance I ever get to correct one of your posts - these are Last 64 matches. biggrin

Laura is the last direct acceptance for this tournament so she avoids the need for a wild card once again.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

What was the WR cutoff for this tourney? Surprised to see it was lower than a 75K.

steven · Tennis legend

Helen40 wrote:
What was the WR cutoff for this tourney? Surprised to see it was lower than a 75K.

Laura at 123. It's because the 75K was the only tournament available on grass last week and because this WTA event has a 56-player draw.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

steven wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
What was the WR cutoff for this tourney? Surprised to see it was lower than a 75K.
Laura at 123. It's because the 75K was the only tournament available on grass last week and because this WTA event has a 56-player draw.

Thanks Steven.

I was just looking through the qualies draw for it, and noticed that the top three seeds at WR 34, 82, 125. So how does that work?

I still ffeel like a complete newbie at times

Peter too · Tennis legend

Johanna was in the Alts list but dropped out so either she didn't get one of the wild cards or she decided to take the lead role in flying her new flag a Nottingham where she was also on the lists.