Week 30 - ITF ($15K) - Dublin, Ireland Carpet

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 30 - ITF ($15K) - Dublin, Ireland Carpet

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I know there will be a handful of British women in the main draw but surprised to see such a low turnout of British players.

Michael D · All-time great

There are 6 in the main draw I think. And don't think there are many more ranked British players available. Of those who could potentially have played, there are the trio that all last played in Portugal - Maia Lumsden, who retired injured in her last match there (wk 27), Alicia Barnett, who came RU (wk 28) and Laura Sainsbury, who has been missing for the grass court season, presumably injured (wk22). Then there is Emily A, who has just done badly over two weeks in Belgium... and that's about it. Eden Silva was a late withdrawal and others are playing elsewhere.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

But what about all the unranked ones ? Those looking to get ranked ? It's summer, we've got a dearth of first-level domestic tournaments which is supposedly hampering our lower players, so why aren't they in Dublin? It's as cheap to get there for a heap of players as it is to travel to the other end of Britain.

the addict · Tennis legend

There are a whole bunch of players that are outside the GB top 25, yet have one or more ranking points already ( possibly 20, depending on injuries). I would have expected half a dozen to have made the trip across.

Michael D · All-time great

Yes there are 7-8 in that category (unranked) who have withdrawn in the last 7-10 days. And the q draw has 13 byes, so yes, plenty more space for players too.

-- Edited by Michael D on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 09:21:53 AM

Michael D · All-time great

And there is a very fully subscribed 25k in Woking the following week (wk31), which probably provides quite a lot of the answer. This is followed by another 25k in Chiswick.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Woking doesn't seem an answer to me - even if having a good week, the unranked players would expect to lose by mid week, so there's plenty of time to get back.

And the players we're talking about are not 25k level (although obviously playing a 25k is fine, if that's all your local federation are offering).

Michael D · All-time great

On the why not have a short summer break in Dublin bit I fully agree smile smile

the addict · Tennis legend

Most of the players we were looking at are entered in Woking. Chiswick withdrawal deadline is in a few days time, so hopefully a few more will make it into the draw. And I just spotted Patty Schnyder in the entry list !

the addict · Tennis legend

Oh, and the British Tour event at Sutton is the week after Chiswick - with double prize money - another incentive to stay in the UK

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
On the why not have a short summer break in Dublin bit I fully agree

And, as it stands, there's not a single unranked British player who has made it into qualifiers at Woking next week.

I know a few places will open up, and there are wildcards, but there are currently five WTA ranked players who are on the ALT list and haven't even made it into qualis directly - it doesn't bode well for the unranked GB players.......

hashtag:shouldhavegonetoDublin

Michael D · All-time great

hashtag:shouldhavegonetoDublin

-- Edited by Michael D on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 12:00:12 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes by the sounds of all that we have plenty unranked players who #shouldhavegonetoDublin

We still have 34 ranked players, which is historically relatively not too bad, though the retired Lisa Whybourn will drop out soon. But not exactly seemed any great push lately to join them.

Alice Gillan ( on 2 counters ) at least gets herself about. She has presumably made the MD here ( was first on the qualifying list ) and she is on the Woking list ( as 6th alt ) so will probably get into qualifying there by right or qwc. She though is right at the top of the unranked. As CD suggests others queueing up down the alts list have clearly less chance of getting in whereas they would have got into Dublin qualifying no problem with a decent chance of reaching the MD if they played well.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 22nd of July 2017 04:25:39 PM

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

I suspect most of the unranked players / older juniors are playing County Week this coming week. Good fun, team atmosphere, all doubles but generally good quality.