Week 42 - ITF ($10K) - Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Hard

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Week 42 - ITF ($10K) - Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Hard

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Good work, Freya.

And hat's off to Jenny Claffey too - age 25 but only played her first ITF event 6 months ago, then instantly got her three ranking events, has made some QFs, a couple of SFs, and going strong !

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

Well done Freya.

paulisi · Tennis legend

A little more info on Ms Claffey

I started playing tennis when I was 6 years old. My mum Breeda is a coach and she is the one who got me started with tennis. Through my junior years I had aspirations of becoming a professional tennis player. I won numerous National titles and was ranked no.1 u12,u14,u16. At 17 I had a bad injury for 2 years, in that time I decided to finish school and pursue a University degree. While in University I played Federation Cup for Ireland on 3 occasions. During this time I also obtained my Level 1 Coaching course. My passion for tennis was so great that despite getting a degree I became a tennis coach.

At the start of 2015, I decided to make a go at the professional circuit. However, with the cost of playing and travelling I decided I would continue to coach, doing fewer hours, and increase my training schedule and fitness training. I am working to pay the bills and help with the cost of training and travelling.

wimdledont · Challenger level

I think that Freya has now probably got enough points to have passed the WR500 barrier, with 55 ranking points.

paulisi · Tennis legend

wimdledont wrote:
I think that Freya has now probably got enough points to have passed the WR500 barrier, with 55 ranking points.

We need a few more girls to push inside that top 500 barrier and move up to 25k level. Although with the impending removal of the 15K tournaments this will be harder and harder.

Katy Dunne, Amanda Carreras, Tara Moore, Harriet Dart, Emily Webley-Smith are the only players currently able to play at this level and even they are struggling in general to be successful on a regular basis.

Freya, Katie Swan and Laura Robson are the only others I can see breaking into this group in the next 12 months. It will be interesting to see the LTA tournament scheduling next year on the back of this.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

wimdledont wrote:
I think that Freya has now probably got enough points to have passed the WR500 barrier, with 55 ranking points.

smile smile smile

And she's down for the UK events coming up, so it's all looking good.

My only claim to fame from Sim's 2015 prediction tables - so she's a real fave !

Strongbow · All-time great

paulisi wrote:
wimdledont wrote:
I think that Freya has now probably got enough points to have passed the WR500 barrier, with 55 ranking points.
We need a few more girls to push inside that top 500 barrier and move up to 25k level. Although with the impending removal of the 15K tournaments this will be harder and harder.
Katy Dunne, Amanda Carreras, Tara Moore, Harriet Dart, Emily Webley-Smith are the only players currently able to play at this level and even they are struggling in general to be successful on a regular basis.
Freya, Katie Swan and Laura Robson are the only others I can see breaking into this group in the next 12 months. It will be interesting to see the LTA tournament scheduling next year on the back of this.

Mirabelle must be in with an outside chance - also Anna B if she can regain her best form. Lisa W if she can stay fit. Katie B if she can get fit.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Strongbow wrote:
paulisi wrote:
wimdledont wrote:
I think that Freya has now probably got enough points to have passed the WR500 barrier, with 55 ranking points.
We need a few more girls to push inside that top 500 barrier and move up to 25k level. Although with the impending removal of the 15K tournaments this will be harder and harder.
Katy Dunne, Amanda Carreras, Tara Moore, Harriet Dart, Emily Webley-Smith are the only players currently able to play at this level and even they are struggling in general to be successful on a regular basis.
Freya, Katie Swan and Laura Robson are the only others I can see breaking into this group in the next 12 months. It will be interesting to see the LTA tournament scheduling next year on the back of this.
Mirabelle must be in with an outside chance - also Anna B if she can regain her best form. Lisa W if she can stay fit. Katie B if she can get fit.

Yes. Katie Swan, Freya and Laura are the obvious choices. They're practically there (or were there) anyway.

The more interesting question is as you say Strongbow - who are the outside chances ? Katie B most definitely - i.e. if fit, she's a slamdunk, not an outside chance. but the fitness is the issue; Lisa is a similar case - anyone who's been there before obviously has the talent to do it again, if health allows, and it looks to be going in the right direction. And then there's the one's you mention. And also Gabi Taylor. Maybe possibly Emily Arb ? (although not within 12 months; will take longer, I'd imagine). Has Sam Murray definitely hung up her racquet? As some of the men have shown, it doesn't take much to get a run together and make a big move.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Mirabelle might take a little bit of time to push into the next level. Anna B is having a torrid time at the moment. Lisa and Katie definitely, but it will take a bit of time to get to their level given their layoffs. Gabbi, Emily A, Jodie B could all get to 25K level, but again it may take some time. You never know Jade and Sam Murray may try a comeback.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, as well as Robbo and Katie Swan, Katie Boulter and Lisa are two who are clearly well capable of getting far into the top 500 again, fitness permitting.

Mirabelle too. With some more QFs converted into SFs or better she wouldn't be far off already and is clearly progressing well. I'd expect one or two more youngsters to "break through" too. Gabbi Taylor may for instance be one to watch if playing many more ITFs.

Re Freya's ranking points, she has now moved to 48 points, 42 + 2 ( last week ) + 4 ( this week so far ).

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 23rd of October 2015 01:05:50 PM

wimdledont · Challenger level

Also Maia Lumsden, U14 Orange Bowl winner; knocked Bellis and Galfi out of Wimbledon '14; this year only knocked out Galfi. Good Junior doubles record; good on clay. Has played only one senior event this year.

wimdledont · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
Yes, as well as Robbo and Katie Swan, Katie Boulder and Lisa are two who are clearly well capable of getting far into the top 500 again, fitness permitting.

Mirabella too. With some more QFs converted into SFs or better she wouldn't be far off already and is clearly progressing well. I'd expect one or two more youngsters to "break through" too. Gabbi Taylor may for instance be one to watch if playing many more ITFs.

Re Freya's ranking points, she has now moved to 48 points, 42 + 2 ( last week ) + 4 ( this week so far ).

As far as I can tell, the WTA haven't added her 7 points for making the final of Sharm, starting 7 October. Compare...

http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/21737/title/freya-christie

...with...

http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=100168656

But I may be wrong. I am certainly confused.

Strongbow · All-time great

Didn't consider Sam, Eleanor or Jade as I haven't heard anthing recently about a return. Don't know if Gabi is going to play a full set of counters over the next year - same for Emily A.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

From what I've gathered (which is a long way from being confirmed but . . .), Jade seems to have found new avenues and is not considering a comeback.

Sam, however, I believed to be in training and aiming to play again. Might be a little out of date, though.

I also expect to see Eleanor playing competitive tennis again next year but it might take a while, I'd imagine, to get back to where she was - depends again on health and fitness.

Emily Arb is now adult so I'm expecting her to play a full set of counters next year.

Gabi and Maia (and Ema) are still juniors for another year, and Jodie for two, so there's less chance with them (although many youngsters do and it will certainly be interesting to see where Maia's at when she plays the tournament coming up).

I'll be curious to see Eden Silva's form when/if she kicks off again.

And I very much like Lucy Brown's tennis - she's more than capable of making a sudden big jump.

I don't get the impression that there are many/any US college graduates in the women about to hit the ground running. But I don't follow them that well so it would be a nice surprise.