This weeks field strengths highlight how there is too little distinction beween the top end ITF events, and WTA $125K. Their is not enough separation in the points rewards to force players to aim up.
The points rewards currently offered are not sufficiently differentiated to separate players in to the pools and level of tournament to which they should otherwise rightly be entering. Availability in locality, and on prefered surface will play in to that to some degree, but players seem quite prepared to go to a $60K on occasions when when a $125K is just as readily available.

This week a $80K is stronger than a $100K or $125K, and both $80K are stronger than that $100K.
Most of this weeks events are weak compared to YTD. No doubt a product of the line up of many top end events diluting players between them: 2 WTA International, 1 $125K, 1 $100K, 2 $80K, 2 $25K
This weeks $125K field is actually weaker than one $25K from ealrier in the year!

Cancelled as it data won't post.

Yes, Peter's data is really interesting. Gabi's and Harriet's upward moves this year are really impressive. Some surprising non-movers too, though too of them, Katie S and Beth should show some more positive upward movement next week after the points from the last Obidos event go on.

The 400-650 cohort that we expected to move more - Sam M (who of course hasn't played yet), Maia, Eden, Freya, Jodie, Beth, EWS, Tara - have all been curiously static. Emily A and Fran have moved a little more, and are now at the back of this group too. Still waiting for 1 or more of this group really to break out and into the GB top 10, but they are either comfortable only at the 15k level thus far (Fran, Emily A), or are struggling to make the transition easily to 25k.

It will be interesting to see when Fran attempts to make this move, as one who hasn't tried yet, as she still has no 25k counters. With the 15k points not counting as WTA points next year, she needs to make that transition later this year, if she can.

Emilie's excellent win in Israel was the 300th professional singles win for GB women in 2018.

Field strengths - Week 19
Strange variation between the two Asian $60K this week - who knew carpet was so popular over hard?
Luan is shockingly weak - look a t it against it's peers, but also the final chart which shows it in place behind most $25K!
The European clay $25K in Italy is considerably stronger than the Hard court alternative in Spain - possibly just surface-season-appropriate preference there, but it's a big difference between them.
As other localities hold more top end prestige ITFs, we can see how they compare to the early marks set in North America - perhaps unsurprisingly, the NA events are looking strong; however, their $25K are variable.