The entry lists are out for the Australian Open, with the main omission being Kyle Edmund, opting to play Futures events seemingly. Luke Bambridge is also down for Futures in the w/c 7th but has entered both the Australian Open (starting 19th) and the Traralgon warm-up (starting 12th). Katie Boulter is the only one listed below who miises the Traralgon event (she is playing the Venezuelan Grade 1 instead).
Evan and Jonny have withdrawn. Given that Luke is also expected to withdraw according to Bob in Spain it looks like the boys' entry will be thin. No change in the girls' lists
A flurry of withdrawals, unfortunately including some of the above, leaves our entry unusually weak - it's the first time I can recall all our top 100 boys not going down under. Jazzi's team are presumably reconsidering her schedule in the light of her struggle to make an impression in the US
Boys QD
19 Alex Sendegeya (also on the list for an event in South America, so may withdraw)
Looks like Tom Hill has now pulled out, which means NO boys at all in either MD or QD. Yesterday's LTA Aussie Open preview on the home page confirms Tom as playing!
As mentioned yesterday, Katie Boulter has also pulled out, and is playing grade 2 and 1 tournaments in Europe this week and next. Please ignore the LTA communication which confirms her as playing in the Aussie Open qualifying draw, as with Tom!
Only Katy Dunne and Harriet Dart left standing. For now. How sad is that for us and the Brit supporting public?
The fact that so many of our players who WERE entered into the tournament (and presumably their schedule had been scrutinised and signed off by the relevant people in the LTA coaching/support set up) have now withdrawn en masse would suggest that they are being strongly advised or instructed to do so. What has happened to cause this 180 degree shift in policy from previous years, and indeed from what appeared to be the plan just a few weeks back?
I believe part (though certainly not all) of the reason may be to de-risk any possible poor performance from the juniors, so soon after all the bad publicity for the LTA in December. The LTA needs the juniors to do very well at such a sensitive time, especially the boys. I think the LTA are being cute here, postponing a high profile test of their progress and performance until the French. After all its easy to give very plausible reasons for not going down under.
-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 09:18:35 AM
-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 09:19:37 AM
-- Edited by korriban on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 09:22:04 AM
I am suspicious of the LTA's motives but I largely think the right decision has been reached. Edmund and Bambridge should get plenty of matches under their belt in Florida as well as getting some testing encounters. I really think that 4 futures in Florida (no travelling between the first 3) is a much better scheduling that than a Grade 1 Juniors followed by Aussie Open juniors.
It's arguable both ways, but a shame for Kyle as he has gone as deep in junior slams as anyone currently playing juniors, and had the opportunity to lay down a marker as top 95 in the same way Vesely did 2 years ago
