Yes, a bit of a surprise after living over here for so long. But Lily has competed often in this country and is friendly with quite a few players, so perhaps she's been persuaded.

Coup Droit wrote:

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From a tennis point of view it makes a lot of sense.

Age 26. Needs to 'monetise'.

A wildcard into the main draw at Wimbly seems likely. And doubles wildcards.

And into the WTA events in the grass season too.

Obviously that doesn't take into account the personal, family side of things....

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I'm not sure about Wimbledon. There will be a lot of competition with (fellow) GB players, plus a few other big names.

It's not like for like, but Naiktha switched in April 2019, was ranked around 220 at Wimbledon, didn't need a QWC, but still didn't get a MDWC, and they only used 3 of their allotted 8 that year and handed the rest back, so that may not bode well for Lily. Naiktha did get a MDWC into WTA Nott'm, so you'd think Lily would definitely be in contention for the ITF / WTA grass events, which would still be a bonus.

I'm quite surprised she has switched, but pleased at the same time, and while I did keep an eye on her results (primarily in case this eventually happened), I'm looking forward to following her career in more detail going forward.

 

Coup Droit wrote:

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I don't think Naiktha is a good comparison.
As she had been British the start, changed, basically slagging off the LTA, and turning her back on GB
And then changed back without consulting the LTA when it all went a bit wrong.
Basically, Mr Bains managed to.put a lot of people's back.up

Lily's nothing like that.
So, yes, she'll get the WTA / ITF wildcards on the UK.
And I think she's got a very good chance for Wimbledon

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Naiktha did get a MDWC for WTA Nottingham that year, and upon checking, Surbiton W100 as well, so seems there were no problems on the WC front with the actual LTA. I forgot about the controversy with Gurnake, but if the LTA have got no qualms handing WCs over, then you'd think the AELTC wouldn't either, and you'd think a then 21 year old representing GB, inside the Q cut off, would possibly warrant a MDWC, especially if they were going to be handing more than half of them back anyway, so my thoughts were it was more Wimbledon thinking the switch was too soon, and possibly opportunistic, with them being more elitist and old fashioned. 

I guess it could depend on her ranking nearer the time and if she separates herself sufficiently from the likes of Jodie and Katie S in the coming months (and she does have 50 points for a W25 title coming off at the end of the month), but there could be a lot of competition this year - possibly Heather, Katie B and Harriet (depending on upcoming results), and then Fran, Jodie, Katie S, Sonay, maybe even Matilda as a younger entrant, plus the likes of Venus (if she wants to play) and any others (jr, ITF winners etc.). If there's very little between Lily and Katie S / Jodie, I could see them going more for the latter, mainly on principle.

 

Could Annie K have tapped her up with the coming BJK Cup tie in mind?

Joanna Garland next perhaps?

The big news, as trailed in the previous posts, is the welcome addition to the GB ranks of Lily Miyazaki who comes in as GB#6 and celebrates with a new CHat WR199. Heather puts space between her and Harriet to put the GB#2 spot in no doubt, but Katie B is closing down on Heather and Harriet moving up 9 places to 127. The other Katie climbs back into the top 220 with the Santo Domingo title added. Elsewhere, many of our women with nothing to add climb 3 or 4 places due to those around them dropping points.

Outside the top 10, there is nothing being added. Despite the addition of Lily we remain on 38 ranked women with Millie Bisset losing her ranking this week.

7/3/2022

GB Top 15
13 (=) Emma Raducanu - W25 Sunderland 2020 F points drop (net -29 pts)
113 (+7) Heather Watson - WTA250 Monterrey R16 points added (net +20pts)
122 (-1) Harriet Dart - WTA250 Monterrey R16 + LL points drop (net -27 pts)
127 (+9) Katie Boulter - WTA250 Lyon R16 points added (net +33pts)
154 (-1) Fran Jones

199 (+7) Yuriko Lily Miyazaki **New CH** - WTA250 Lyon Q pts added, W25 Pontiers QF+Q drop (net +8pts)
204 (+5) Jodie Burrage **New CH**
213 (+42) Katie Swan - W25 Santa Domingo W added (net +45pts)
292 (-15) Sam Murray Sharan - W25 Sunderland QF drop (net -14pts)
310 (+3) Beth Grey

321 (+5) Naiktha Bains
392 (+5) Sonay Kartal **New CH**
395 (+5) Tara Moore
427 (-3) Matilda Mutavdzic
441 (+3) Eden Silva

Other movers/pts change (active singles players only)
576 (-12) Alicia Barnett - W25 Sunderland R16 drop (net -3pts)

Lost ranking
OUT Amelia Bissett - W15 Sharm el Sheikh drop (2 counters worth 9 pts remain)

The next ranking update in 2 weeks will be the first this year that sees 3 years of points from ITF level dropping (there are no WTA level points dropping). Lily, Sam and Naiktha are due to drop significant points from W25 tournament wins. Katie S has points pending from last week that will replace most of the net 12 points she is due to drop. Katy D and Emily WS are the only other of our women with significant points due to drop. Katy has 3 counters totalling 28 points dropping and Emily a SF counter dropping.

So before Monday's new rankings come out, here's how March panned out in the UK rankings. So there's no real biggest riser in March, with lots moving up 1 place.  Biggest drop belongs to our newest player, Lily who in only their 2nd week as GB player, fell 2 places to GB#8.  But she was joined by Sam, Katy, Emily and Gabriella.

 

-- Edited by Aberdaberdonian on Friday 1st of April 2022 07:36:42 PM

There was a massive shake-up in the almost pointless ITF rankings today with all remaining 2019 points removed. For what its worth, which is not a lot, coming out of it Anna Brogan has an ITF ranking of 4, Freya 27 and Eliz 76. Of course, for all these 3 women the ITF ranking has no use as they have a WTA ranking to use for entry lists. Our highest ranked women without a WTA ranking in the ITF ranking is Danielle Daley at 306.

ITF ranking points can only be obtained in the FQR of 15Ks and 25Ks.
15K/25K FQR loser - 1 pt
15K Qualifier - 2 pts
15K+H/25K Qualifier - 3 pts
25K+H Qualifier- 4 pts