Week 31 - ITF ($10K) - Rebecq, Belgium Clay

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 31 - ITF ($10K) - Rebecq, Belgium Clay

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Lily is sixteen, doesn't play juniors, and won a round in Surbiton qualis (an amazingly toughly fought out match).

Her opponent has only played one junior tournament, losing to our Destinee Martins

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I've no idea but just to mention that Edita Raca is listed as from Kosovo on the drawsheet and the ITF player's details page.

But she's got a GB flag next to her name on the ITF livescore page and also comes up as British on a couple of other sites (although nothing I'd take as conclusive)

Anyway, Edita is playing - and maybe someone knows more about her nationality status.

Allez, Edita ! (why not?)

Add:

PS Searching back on the site (I thought the name seemed slightly familiar), I see that she's played quite a few tournaments from 2008 up to 2014, all under the GB flag (hence on the site). And has played Fed Cup this year for Kosovo. So I guess she's changed to Kosovan since 2014. End of. But allez, whatever, Edita

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 30th of July 2016 07:52:27 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Lily is sixteen, doesn't play juniors, and won a round in Surbiton qualis (an amazingly toughly fought out match).

Her opponent has only played one junior tournament, losing to our Destinee Martins

Lily seems to focus more on doubles. I've seen her a few times and she has a very unusual forehand, which is a bit unpredictable.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Lily is sixteen, doesn't play juniors, and won a round in Surbiton qualis (an amazingly toughly fought out match).

Her opponent has only played one junior tournament, losing to our Destinee Martins
Lily seems to focus more on doubles. I've seen her a few times and she has a very unusual forehand, which is a bit unpredictable.

Yes, it's a strange technique, I agree. Don't particulalry like it (bit of a traditionalist really) but she's young, maybe it will evolve.

Don't really agree about the doubles bit - have seen her twice, both in singles (and she was a real feisty, fit player, definitely fine in singles). I know she got a doubles ranking once but that was only because of the walkover she got (with partner) in the R1 of a British 25k. Her results sheet seems very balanced. Interesting, though, that she completely ignores juniors. Net, net, I don't think she's quite got the level for ITF adults, but completely agree with the decision to try a couple - good experience and there's every chance she could win her first match (against a wc 14 year-old who may play Tennis Europe but doesn't play ITF juniors)

Good to see Martina Jennings (also 16) giving it a go, too, in Italy

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Edita came over from Kosovo with her brother and parents during the Balkan war. I believe both siblings took up tennis (at a reasonably late age) as their parents found work in a tennis club. Edita was a competent player, but not one that stood out in any way. I imagine tennis players are rather thin on the ground in Kosovo and the chance to play Fed Cup too tempting. She certainly wouldn't get that sort of opportunity with GB. She was however notorious when she first started competing for her (how do I put this) win by hook or by crook attitude...... I haven't seen her play for several years and I'm sure, like most others who behaved similarly in their early days that she has grown up and grown out of it. Will look to see how she gets on.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Lily G hasn't really played international junior events but has played plenty of domestic ones. She has also been a pretty regular competitor on the British Tour. It's not an uncommon route. Although our top juniors play endless ITFs, often to the exclusion of adult competition, many others only play a few for the experience of travelling and concentrate on what is on offer in the UK. It's easier if you want to continue your schooling and it helps save money for an assault on the tour in your late teens.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Re Edita, thanks, The O.

That made me smile - I certainly know kids like that hmm

And yes, a lot of parents (both here and in other countries) steer clear of the ITF junior events. It's hardly necessary, as long as you're playing some decent competition tennis, whatever that is.

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 30th of July 2016 12:24:12 PM

Peter too · Tennis legend

Whatever nationality Edita is, and the ITF seem to be hedging their bets by listing her as GBR in one place and KOS in another, she hasn't started too well, having lost her opening service game and the first 6 points of the match.

scottie1 · Futures level

Peter too wrote:
Whatever nationality Edita is, and the ITF seem to be hedging their bets by listing her as GBR in one place and KOS in another, she hasn't started too well, having lost her opening service game and the first 6 points of the match.

Edita shown as British by ITF LOST 6-06-0

Lily 5-5 first set

Peter too · Tennis legend

If you look at the draw on the ITF site it says she is (KOS) if you look at the live scores on the ITF site it says she is (GBR). If you do a player search on the ITF site it says (KOS). The WTA site lists her as (United Kingdom). All very confusing.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Given she played Fed Cup this year for Kosovo, I think it's pretty certain she must be Kosovan now and have switched.

Grachka · County player

Coup Droit wrote:
Given she played Fed Cup this year for Kosovo, I think it's pretty certain she must be Kosovan now and have switched.

Indeed, and not entirely successfully. She is a rarity in that she's on the few players in history to lose a rubber to Iceland, coming this year...albeit Kosovo still eked out the win.

Good luck to Edita, regardless!

DF · Tennis legend

Lily lost 6-7(5) 0-6

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: ARBUTHNOT, Emily (GBR) 8 634 v SCHOLSEN, Helene (BEL) 639 CH=601 13/6/16