Last year Billy Harris and Chris Pearce won the doubles title here, and are back to defend. Katie Boulter should be joined by Lana Rush and Anna Brogan, with the girls starting a day after the boys.
Boys R1 (L64)
(13) Billy Harris (GBR) bye
(9) Callum Poland-Smith (GBR) bye
(WC) Dominik Kellovsky (CZE) d. Christopher Pearce (GBR) 6-4 1-6 6-3
Anastasia Nefedova (RUS) d. Anna Brogan (GBR) 6-3 6-4 (Q) Katarina Stresnakova (SVK) d. Katie Boulter (GBR) 6-2 6-3 Nina Stadler (SUI) d. Lana Rush (GBR) 7-5 6-7(4) 6-4
You're not wrong David! What with Harriet losing her form, Katy not winning at G1 or GA level yet and now injured, Eli injured (again) plus this performance from the rest of the "older" girls in another G1 (Boulter, Brogan, Rush), it's not a rosy picture, despite all the "good news" the LTA talks about.
Given your focus on all things junior, apart from the Lumsden, Plews, Taylor 1998 trio who have shows real signs of class (mixed in with some very ordinary results as well), is there anyone younger who is blazing a trail, or anyone older who is a hidden gem (Eli Dean aside, injuries permitting).
I'm not aware of a big wave of top British juniors likely to have success on the pro tour in girls or in boys for that matter - 1s and 2s in a few age groups, but no more than that. Clearly the LTA message is that we have to wait, but my concern is that in the next 4 years of boys and girls, we have absolutely no quantity coming through and only variable quality. Any names we should be looking out for?
You're not wrong David! What with Harriet losing her form, Katy not winning at G1 or GA level yet and now injured, Eli injured (again) plus this performance from the rest of the "older" girls in another G1 (Boulter, Brogan, Rush), it's not a rosy picture, despite all the "good news" the LTA talks about.
Given your focus on all things junior, apart from the Lumsden, Plews, Taylor 1998 trio who have shows real signs of class (mixed in with some very ordinary results as well), is there anyone younger who is blazing a trail, or anyone older who is a hidden gem (Eli Dean aside, injuries permitting).
I'm not aware of a big wave of top British juniors likely to have success on the pro tour in girls or in boys for that matter - 1s and 2s in a few age groups, but no more than that. Clearly the LTA message is that we have to wait, but my concern is that in the next 4 years of boys and girls, we have absolutely no quantity coming through and only variable quality. Any names we should be looking out for?
Junior careers are rarely smooth but on the girls side only Eleanor of the 95-97s has at some stage been up in or around the top 10 of their year. She has some catching-up to do when back on court though.
That's not to rule out the chance of others having a successful pro career. Harriet's junior and Pro record compares with Katie O'Brien's at a similar stage and Katy wasn't far off the top 95s as a 14 year old when she reached the Teen Tennis and Eddie Herr finals. Her route, almost ignoring Pro events until her final year (assuming that after Oz she changes tack), is unusual but not unique.
However it appears that the feelgood factor emanating from winning the Maureen Connolly Trophy and working with Judy Murray, which sparked a marked upturn in fortunes late last year has faded and another infusion is required from somewhere. It didn't come from the 1999s this week, who disappointed at the Teen Tennis Category 1 event - only Katie Swan reaching her seeding spot
At least one Brit survived the opening matches, though with the top seed up next (who beat Jonny O'Mara twice recently) it would be a shock if Billy went any further
Boys R2
(13) Billy Harris (GBR) d. Aman Agarwal (IND) 6-2 6-4 (Q) Jakub Filipsky (CZE) d. (9) Callum Poland-Smith (GBR) 3-6 6-2 6-3
R3
(1) Alexander Vasilenko (RUS) v (13) Billy Harris (GBR)
