Week 43 - ITF ($15K) - Wirral, UK Hard

blob · All-time great

RE: Week 43 - ITF ($15K) - Wirral, UK Hard

paulisi · Tennis legend

Nice article
Very impressed with the professionalism of Sam. Warms up and down properly and even on Monday(qualifying day), she was down early hitting and had a second hit around lunchtime when everyone else was turning up.
Disappointing crowd today- normally 80-90 for a Wirral final, but only about 50 this time. The Italians haven't travelled up yet. Remondina was watching the final and Steffanidi was having a run around the courts early on.
Bit sad that Eden only seemed to have her brother(?) with her, whereas Sam had two coaches from Bath and her family watching.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well done, Sam ! Profound apologies for doubting you. Great week. And to Eden too.

Michael D · All-time great

It's been a very good week for Eden nevertheless. The 4 matches here and 2 matches last week in qualifying in Portugal are more matches that she has won by far since reaching the F of a 15k in Obidos in March.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Congrats Sam; it's great that she's back in business :D
Very good week for Eden too :)

Strongbow · All-time great

Remember this

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Hilda · Social player

telstar wrote:
paulisi wrote:
Laura Deigman did get in direct. Lillian Mould got the main draw wildcard. That is a suprise.

Draw is out. telstar's inside knowledge for doubles was found to be correct.
Decent chances for some youngsters to pick up ranking points. Gemma Heath has a good draw and young Pitak must have a decent chance of a third counter.
Especially surprising as Miss Mould was 11th on the alternate list!

-- Edited by telstar on Monday 23rd of October 2017 05:08:24 PM

A bit late I know but ....

Miss Mould got her wildcard as a result of winning the 18U Nationals.
Not sure the LTA promoted that this was on offer though.

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks Hilda. Good to get more info on such situations whenever. Before anyone starts thinking it's nae fair between certain players.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Thanks Hilda. Good to get more info on such situations whenever. Before anyone starts thinking it's nae fair between certain players.

Yes, we had that recently with the men's tournament too and the boys' U18 winner.

And also with several of the British Tour winners which give wildcards.

There's quite a low of different ways of being entitled to a wildcard now, not just 'deserving' cases on the entry list.

Hilda · Social player

Coup Droit wrote:
indiana wrote:
Thanks Hilda. Good to get more info on such situations whenever. Before anyone starts thinking it's nae fair between certain players.
Yes, we had that recently with the men's tournament too and the boys' U18 winner.
And also with several of the British Tour winners which give wildcards.
There's quite a low of different ways of being entitled to a wildcard now, not just 'deserving' cases on the entry list.

Personally I think it a good thing that these wildcard places can be won through domestic competition.

Tier 1 British Tour winners get a main draw place and tier 2 British Tour a qualifying place.
A good thing but how many of the potential competitors know that this is the case?

The great pity is that it's not promoted.
Nationals don't get the best players involved but that's possibly because they're not aware of the fringe benefit of winning.

I wonder where else these benefits exist?

indiana · Tennis legend

That's precisely the kind of incentive many have said the Nationals need to help attract more players and make the "Nationals" more worthy of the name, particularly in the older age groups. But for pity sake, make players, clubs etc well ware of them or some people might get the impression that many in the LTA are not that bothered but to an extent just jobholders much more than enthusiasts and the Nationals say are just something to be held.

I am sure many in the LTA really do care but there is too much that suggests otherwise re some of them with such as this, tournament schedules and promotion without again going into the number of pro tournaments.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Hilda wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
indiana wrote:
Thanks Hilda. Good to get more info on such situations whenever. Before anyone starts thinking it's nae fair between certain players.
Yes, we had that recently with the men's tournament too and the boys' U18 winner.
And also with several of the British Tour winners which give wildcards.
There's quite a low of different ways of being entitled to a wildcard now, not just 'deserving' cases on the entry list.
Personally I think it a good thing that these wildcard places can be won through domestic competition.
Tier 1 British Tour winners get a main draw place and tier 2 British Tour a qualifying place.
A good thing but how many of the potential competitors know that this is the case?
The great pity is that it's not promoted.
Nationals don't get the best players involved but that's possibly because they're not aware of the fringe benefit of winning.
I wonder where else these benefits exist?

I think it's great too. I don't see the point of just giving wildcards to the next best ranked players on the list - that's an ALT list, more than a wildcard list. Young players, those who've been injured, old favourites, local players, the club coach, there are lots of better examples.

And, yes, the British Tour and nationals way is very good. Although I don't really know how it can be said that it's not well publicised - it's on the LTA site - and (slightly tongue in cheek) tennis coaches don't have a huge amount to do - they should at least be able to keep up to date and tell their players what's on offer.

I don't think the better players, though, would play the nationals because of it - because most of the better players are part of in-crowd anyway and so will get wildcards anyway. The nationals need a complete overhaul (which includes stick as well as carrot, and not just to the players but to their LTA coaches too).

Hilda · Social player

I don't dispute that this information is on the LTA website .... as long as you know where to look for it or how to phrase your search criteria on how to find it.
If you know it's there then it's easy but those that are just being curious will never find it!

Take a look at the Nationals factsheet. It does state that there's a wild card feed-up ..... but doesn't give a clue as to where!
What chance has anyone got in that scenario.

The LTA need to be upfront, clear and promote what's on offer.
What's the reason not to?

steven · Tennis legend

Hilda wrote:
I don't dispute that this information is on the LTA website .... as long as you know where to look for it or how to phrase your search criteria on how to find it.
If you know it's there then it's easy but those that are just being curious will never find it!
Take a look at the Nationals factsheet. It does state that there's a wild card feed-up ..... but doesn't give a clue as to where!
What chance has anyone got in that scenario.
The LTA need to be upfront, clear and promote what's on offer.
What's the reason not to?

I've often wondered - it's a bit like the similar semi-secrecy surrounding UK events outside the grass court season (i.e. the information is out there but so hard to find that it makes it look like they'd rather nobody found it and no spectators turned up)

Spectator · All-time great

Late to the party but delighted for Ms Murray and Ms Lumsden.