Anyone know if there is a chance Sevastova (last played 2010) could make a return because if so Latvia could be very strong with two top 16 players.
Per this source - with the quality of whose work I am not familiar enough to pass comment on it's veractity, or otherwise - she seems keen to play.... sort of. At the bottom of:
That's an slightly odd choice, who is Anna Smith likely to play doubles with? Katie Boulter only played in five doubles tournaments last year, whereas Laura the most likely alternative has played in 15. Perhaps Anna will play with Heather, and Katie will play some of the singles.
That's an slightly odd choice, who is Anna Smith likely to play doubles with? Katie Boulter only played in five doubles tournaments last year, whereas Laura the most likely alternative has played in 15. Perhaps Anna will play with Heather, and Katie will play some of the singles.
I think you always want a singles alternative for the week. And we have in the past had Laura able to cover both singles and doubles and generally noone a clearly better singles choice. This looks a very definite choice that Katie's singles cover is regarded as more important. Heather or Jo will no doubt play doubles.
In the here and now I would just about have probably kept with Laura this time. But I don't think that it was a clear choice.
I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if Laura travelled with the team (practice partner and cheerleader !), and possibly another, maybe Katie Swan. And there is always the possibility of a last-minute (well one-hour) change if form suggests it.
The selection makes sense to me. I don't think Katie B's credentials can be ignored now, and I'd definitely favour her ahead of Laura. I agree it's not clear who will play the doubles, but good that Anna has been brought in as the specialist half of whatever pair plays. Anna will be pleased to be back again having missed last year. Hope Jo does indeed get to the start line, since whether the Brit team has a chance depends totally on that.
I agree that the inclusion of Katie B makes sense as a reserve for the singles, but doubles is a key part of the tournament and it would be better to have a consistent partner for Anna rather than chopping and changing. The key roles of the third and fourth players are to maximise doubles wins, to take pressure off the two singles players and to provide a reserve in case of injury. So I was really wondering how Anna is likely to be used to optimise the team's performance.
-- Edited by Peter too on Monday 8th of January 2018 07:40:17 PM
Looking at the Australian open doubles entries, naomi and Anna Smith are indeed playing together. Laura is with coco VanD and Heather with alize cornet.