Laura now GB no 1

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Laura now GB no 1

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

I think Laura deserves the No. 1 position, having played consistently well since June, and producing the best run in a Grand Slam by a British woman for 14 years. Also, most of Laura's points have come from beating good players rather than benefitting from kind draws.

The top 4 are now in the revese order of the rankings from just 15 weeks ago - with Laura and Heather #1 and #2 it looks like the young guns have now taken over at the top of british womens tennis.

scottie1 · Futures level

I think Elena would still be top 100 if she was not injured.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Anne is also now injured and probably out for the rest of the season

philwrig · Hall of fame

I'm not sure we know the severity of Anne's injury, could still do some damage late during the indoor season.

Because of the way the points are spread both Hev and Laura have a big opportunity at the start of next year to make the top 50, on current form Laura should maintain her number 1 ranking for quite a while but draws are so important that Hev could easily reverse this very quickly.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Who will be the next British player to reach number 1 in the world rankings, Andy, Laura, Heather or none of these but someone else not yet in view?

philwrig · Hall of fame

If its going to happen in my lifetime, Andy then Laura long shot then someone we don't know about.
Andy probably has a greater than 50% chance of getting there at some stage during his career.

indiana · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
If its going to happen in my lifetime, Andy then Laura long shot then someone we don't know about.
Andy probably has a greater than 50% chance of getting there at some stage during his career.

Yes, I'd go with that.

You know me with Laura, have been unflinching over the last few years in that I have always thought she will get towards the top of the game, which I have generally meant that she will be top 20. Currently just enjoying the unexpectedly ( even for me, and I would think jusr about everyone ) good ride this Autumn, and particularly excited about how well I see her now moving, and not feeling like trying to predict where I finally see her going.

Re Andy, I had a bit of a discussion about Andy's chances of getting to no 1 on another forum, particularly with a guy who was saying he had no chance and wasn't impressed ( or maybe understood ) my logic.

Andy has been number 2 in 2009 ( OK, just for 3 weeks ) and the number 1 then was Fed. So given Andy has been above Novak and Rafa at the same time and only behind Fed, who I think has only a couple of years at most left at the very top level, and Andy is clearly a better player now, logic to me says it is very possible. But further, the way he is now playing and the confidence that winning the US Open should have now given Andy makes me think he will now win more than his share of big matches against the top players. Also, the next generation of players is not really very threatening. After Nadal / Murray / Djokovic / Del Potro the only younger challengers that currently look a remote threat are Raonic and Tomic, and still fairly remote at that.

Anyway, I maybe didn't convince that other guy, but I convinced myself smile For me, Andy has a greater than 50% chance of getting to World No 1

If and when he does he will almost certainly do so ahead of Laura ( in the still unlikely event she does get there ). For completeness, and just since her name was brought up, I don't think Heather will get close to no 1, though I am a big supporter of her as well as Laura.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 20th of September 2012 09:28:16 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

indiana wrote:
For me, Andy has a greater than 50% chance of getting to World No 1
If and when he does he will almost certainly do so ahead of Laura ( in the still unlikely event she does get there ). For completeness, and just since her name was brought up, I don't think Heather will get close to no 1, though I am a big supporter of her as well as Laura.

I agree, I can't see why he wouldn't get to no 1 with the way he's playing now, unlikely this year with his points to defend, but certainly a good shot at the start of next, even if Rafa's back. He's always been able to beat the top 3, albeit less so more recently prior to this summer.

I think Laura's in with a decent shot too, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess at when though, next five years, three to be optimistic.

The reason I think that she's in with a good shot is that with the exception of Serena, I think that she's capable of beating anyone. She had a good go at Sharapova on a couple of occaisions, and was the better player, losing due to lack of experience and mental toughness. With Heather being competition (although I don't think she'll ever get to no 1), and Andy getting there, and some access to his fitness team to inspire her. She's getting mentally tougher all the time. I can't see why not. She's already beaten a top 10 player this year, and more recently WR 22!

I admit I had lost heart with her, but now found it again!

philwrig · Hall of fame

It all depends if Andy stays as motivated as he is now. If he does for all the reasons explained above I think he has a very good chance of getting to number 1.
Laura for me is a top 10 player in the making, but getting to number 1 is a huge step up even from that level.
I think if she was to win a grand slam in her career that would be amazing and I'd settle for that.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

philwrig wrote:
It all depends if Andy stays as motivated as he is now. If he does for all the reasons explained above I think he has a very good chance of getting to number 1.
Laura for me is a top 10 player in the making, but getting to number 1 is a huge step up even from that level.
I think if she was to win a grand slam in her career that would be amazing and I'd settle for that.

Well I think it's possible, her biggest issues in my mind (assuming that her recent serving form is here to stay) are mental toughness and fitness. Saying that she's shown that both those have improved greatly from today's perfomance.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Andy and Laura both to make it to number one at some point, probably not for long. I would imagine Andy will get there first. Laura loves the big stage. She's capable of fighting (when she feels like it); all those mps saved against Sam Stosur was an encouraging sign. She's got a heavyweight game, the execution isn't quite there at the moment but it will improve. Mobility is a weakness but clear signs of improvement already and if Jez Green works with her for a few years, then I'm reasonably confident she'll have the physical platform that will give her the chance to compete for slams.

Heather will do well to make the top 10. Her height is a weakness and while I'm sure she'll make a big effort to develop more weapons, I can't see her building a game that will get her into the top 5.

Put it this way, Safina, Ivanovic, Wozniacki and Jankovic all made it to number 1. Sveta won 2 slams but her highest ranking is 2. Zvonereva reached 2. Petrova 3. Dani Hantuchova made top 5.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Of course none of our girls have yet won a WTA singles title, though Laura is nudging closer. On the other hand if we include doubles Heather does already have a WTA title and a doubles ranking of 59. So perhaps she will sneak past in the outside lane and grab the number 1 slot in doubles while Andy and Laura are chasing the singles crown.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

Peter too wrote:
Of course none of our girls have yet won a WTA singles title, though Laura is nudging closer.

I wonder if anyone could make No. 1 without winning anything? I've read that Steffi Graf made it to No. 3 without winning so much as a 10k.

Edit: runner up in 4 slams, YEC, 4 Premier Mandatory & 5 Premier 5 would give you 12,550pts which shoul be enough.

-- Edited by RBBOT on Friday 21st of September 2012 07:11:24 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Well lets hope Laura doesn't have to go that way, and wins tomorrow.