Week 24 - Wimbledon Wilcard Play-offs - Wimbledon, UK - Grass

wimdledont · Challenger level

Week 24 - Wimbledon Wilcard Play-offs - Wimbledon, UK - Grass

PaulM · Tennis legend

Safe to say Naomi lucked out there! Bottom half so much weaker and she should cruise through.

Freya v Em

Babfive · Satellite level

It will be interesting to see if there are any surprises this year.

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

Freya resurfaces finally :)

scottie1 · Futures level

PaulM wrote:
Safe to say Naomi lucked out there! Bottom half so much weaker and she should cruise through.

Freya v Em

Agree bottom half weaker although Emily Arbuthnott is promising

Love to see the Freya v Emily match Freya I think will be a very good player

I am hoping though Tara comes through the top half

-- Edited by scottie1 on Wednesday 17th of June 2015 07:45:02 PM

paulisi · Tennis legend

Top half is loaded - EWS, Freya, Jasmine and Tara for one place

Whereas Cav has the much better half with Jodie probably the biggest danger

-- Edited by paulisi on Wednesday 17th of June 2015 08:35:49 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Ali Collins is no pushover either.

great to see a lot of the youngsters giving it a go - more juniors than seniors here .....

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Think Tiffany William will be disappointed not to get a WC to enter these playoffs - she's in the Hackney Gazette today, and reported to have a place and be playing.

Also, Lauryn J-B, who talks of going to university in Florida in August - but she's only just done her GCSEs - surely that's way too early for college???

www.hackneygazette.co.uk/sport/hackney_youngster_plots_her_path_to_wimbledon_glory_1_4116631

www.hackneygazette.co.uk/sport/hackney_teenager_aims_to_continue_her_tennis_education_at_junior_wimbledon_championships_1_4073385

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Academic requirements for US uni scholarships are based on GCSES results rather than A levels. However, if a player doesn't go straight after GCSEs, they must get straight on with A levels as continuous education without a gap is a requirement. US schools don't have the concept of specialising in a few subjects as we do at A level. Pupils finish high school graduating in a wide range of subjects at a level a little ahead of our GCSES standard. It's not massively ahead as age-wise they don't start school at all as young as in the UK. Presumably having been at boarding school, LJB will be more able to cope with university life away fro home than some her age.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Interesting, The O - thanks. Presumably that's why they have a foundation year? But most go at 17, don't they? i.e in the US, it has to be after high school?

NB I don't agree with the theory that if you start school later i,e, age 6 rather than 5, then you will be slightly behind come 16. Quite a few countries show the opposite. Also, having lived in the States, many countries have an older mandatory school starting age (i.e. the US and France are both 6) but hardly anyone actually does wait till then, they nearly all go to pre-school, and form an early age, even though not legally required.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Looks like the usual story this year, not open to the public, no live scores. Last year Steven had to put a shout out on twitter to try and get some information of what had happened, fingers crossed we get some updates throughout the day.

indiana · Tennis legend

Didn't one of the forum just brazenly turn up for the play-offs last year, asked where to park and then just sauntered in and had a great day's tennis watching, just by giving the impression that they were meant to be there

scottie1 · Futures level

Shouldn't the LTA OR Wimbledon not advertise these play offs for the public to view it could generate a good atmosphere for the players If I was in London I would love to have gone

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Coup Droit wrote:
Interesting, The O - thanks. Presumably that's why they have a foundation year? But most go at 17, don't they? i.e in the US, it has to be after high school?

NB I don't agree with the theory that if you start school later i,e, age 6 rather than 5, then you will be slightly behind come 16. Quite a few countries show the opposite. Also, having lived in the States, many countries have an older mandatory school starting age (i.e. the US and France are both 6) but hardly anyone actually does wait till then, they nearly all go to pre-school, and form an early age, even though not legally required.

Just to clarify - I'm in no way suggesting the American students are in some way behind!!! Their system is broader but a bit shallower ie at the end of high school they are some way ahead of GCSEs and a little way behind AS in lots of subjects but nowhere near as advanced as A2 in any subjects.

American students go after high school aged around 18. There is a massive book of rules that gives equivalent exam requirements and timings for just about every other country in the world. Talking to kids I know who have been involved in US uni tennis, the majority of US students at 18 are a little less mature than the average Brit at 18 so going young shouldn't present too much of a problem. This year I think Alex Jones, Zoe Douglas and Freddie McGeehan went before completing A levels.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Didn't one of the forum just brazenly turn up for the play-offs last year, asked where to park and then just sauntered in and had a great day's tennis watching, just by giving the impression that they were meant to be there

yes, and I was tempted to do that.... but it's a way to go if you then get found out and have to come home....

Agree with Scottie, can't for the life of me why you would ban the public.... surely this should be one of those events that has that 'buzz' about it - and the true underdog story that Brits love - youngster comes through out of nowhere - or 'old dog' Bloomers gets last chance - or whatever.