I noticed that both Dan and Kyle (and Aljaz as an alt) are entered into the Irving Challenger which falls in the week between Indian Wells and Miami. Looks like anyone still playing Indian Wells as of the middle Sunday can withdraw from Irving without any penalty and overall it has produced a v strong potential field for a Challenger - Dan is 3rd highest ranked entrant, Kyle just behind.
ITF added - busy week. Anyone know how Jodie acquired a JE. Does she have anymore available to her?
She has 3 JE's for tournaments at the $15k level, which she earned for being in the year end top 20 junior rankings. Emily A also has 3 JE's at the same level if she needs them.
ITF added - busy week. Anyone know how Jodie acquired a JE. Does she have anymore available to her?
She has 3 JE's for tournaments at the $15k level, which she earned for being in the year end top 20 junior rankings. Emily A also has 3 JE's at the same level if she needs them.
Jodie is using another of her JEs for the following week 11 in Egypt.
I think the incentive for playing on this year as juniors for Jodie and Emily is clear. Particularly with Emily if she can squeeze into the top 10 as she is likely to create opportunities to plump our her college schedule with some tougher tests on the pro tour.
The year-end number 1 ranked girl will be offered direct entry into the Main Draw at one (1) ITF Womens Circuit event up to and including $100,000 prize money level and direct entry into the Main Draw at two (2) ITF Womens Circuit events up to and including $80,000 prize-money level.
The year-end number 2 ranked girl will be offered direct entry into the Main Draw at two (2) ITF Womens Circuit events up to and including $80,000 prize-money level and direct entry into the Main Draw at one (1) ITF Womens Circuit event up to and including $60,000 prize-money level.
The year-end number 3-5 ranked girls will be offered direct entry into the Main Draw at two (2) ITF Womens Circuit events up to and including $60,000 prize-money level and direct entry into the Main Draw at one (1) ITF Womens Circuit event up to and including $25,000 prize-money level.
The year-end number 6-10 ranked girls will be offered direct entry into the Main Draw at three (3) ITF Womens Circuit events up to and including $25,000 prize-money level.
The year-end number 11-20 ranked girls will be offered direct entry into the Main Draw at three (3) ITF Womens Circuit events up to and including $15,000 prize-money level.
-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Wednesday 1st of March 2017 04:48:38 AM
While I can certainly see the case for Emily playing a fair amount of juniors this year with her going to college rather than full time onto the tour next year, and as you say the then attraction of these JE events in giving the opportunity for very useful experience and variety. Not to me for Jodie.
In her final junior eligible year Jodie needs to be playing by far predominantly senior events other than maybe junior Slam events and possibly main junior warm-up events immediately before.
If she does really well from these take what JE rewards that brings. However, it is only the #1 to #5 that look really rewarding to a player who should develop anyway to participate in 15Ks and 25Ks through playing in them, initially by qualification. Making a more substantial junior commitment to chase these #1 to #5 rewards I don't see as in her overall development interests, nor generally for any girl in her final junior eligible year and moving onto the tour. Greater commitment to juniors and possibly actively looking for these rewards / enticements I see as being for younger players. If you are good enough in your final junior eligible year to qualify for these then you shouldn't really be playing much juniors at all, but moving on if not having already done so.
The incentives of a top-10 junior finish are very attractive (as they were intended to be) for players from smaller/non-tennisy/poorer countries.
For players from mainstream monied tennis countries (like Jodie), it doesnt' really matter. She will get wildcards and funding so the whole calculation is different.
If she'd not going to college/uni, I agree with Indy - play predominantly seniors this year.
