Congratulations to 13 year old Mila Burek who has qualified for an ITF main draw for the first time - and a GA to boot. She joins Destinee Martins, who takes on the approprately named American who dumped Emily Appleton out of the US Open. Holly Fischer unfortunately withdrew.
There is a live stream at http://www.campeonatointernacional.com.br/ for the centre court, but I suspect Destinee or Mila would have to go deep to be scheduled on it for singles (priority to Brazilians and top seeds unsurprisingly). However Mila has teamed up with a local girl in doubles, against a pair of Brazilians, and that match is the last match on the streamed court (probably around 9 or 10pm tonight) should they stream doubles as well as singles (the match currently on the stream is followed by one more singles before Mila).
I know this doesn't answer your question but she played the Banana Bowl last week - the Grade 1 event.
So the trip out there was obviously planned round trying out in the top level events.
A very different approach to most, even the really strong girls like Holly and Emma. Generally they don't step up until they have decimated a few Grade 3 and 4 fields.
You could argue it is good to experience top level events early so you are mentally prepared when you are ready to make an impact technically and physically, but it is an expensive way to go about things.
Regardless good luck to her, a 13 year old making any sort of progress at Grade 1 let alone Grade A is pretty impressive (as would be wiping the floor at a grade 4)
I know her family home is Lancashire way but do not know where she trains. I wondered if perhaps she was training (even if just a block) at one of the American academies which would put this trip into a different light (for example, Anna Brogan was based at Bolletieri's for a while and during her time there competed extensively in S America). The other explanation, may be that, apart from the Grand Slams, Grade A and Grade 1 qualifying are rarely full and if you are on the entry list you can usually sign in. Given that she is at present unranked and tournament entry in Europe can be pretty stacked, her family may think, well why not. Also, if she managed to qualify for a grade 1 or 2 she would get points even if she lost her first main draw match, unlike the lower grade tournaments.
Yes, I imagined this South American jaunt had to be connected to her background, training base or something, it otherwise did seem very peculiar.
I see what you are saying The O about ranking points but just being that would arguably be very short termist against much more normal tournament progression and development. And I am not sure about the previously mentioned "useful experience" of a ritual thumping in the main draw.
Thinking of ranking points may be short termist but until you get those first points, it is almost impossible to plan a tournament schedule in Europe. Unranked you end up being anywhere between 30th and 200th + on the alternate list. Now clearly those at 30 will probably get in and it'll be worth taking a chance and booking fares etc but anywhere below that and you either end up booking fares at the last minute at top price or pay for transport that you don't need. This is why so many of our juniors take off to S Africa for their first points. Almost guaranteed to get in. I also wondered if Grade A and Grade 1 tourneys offer hospitality to qualifiers - think they might. They certainly do to MD participants. So that might make the trip more appealing. I also noticed that Miss Burek has played extensively on the TE circuit, often going for higher grade events. It's something foreign players often do - no pressure so kids play freely and well, you never know.
Be interested to see how her approach pans out over the next year or so.
It will interesting to see if having obtained initial ranking points she then follows a more 'normal' schedule. And this trip then looks more that one off to give her a stepping stone,
Identical score for Destinee, who plays her doubles on the streamed court after 2 and a bit matches. While Emma R's great run of wins has drawn our attention, it should be pointed out that the top seed here Maria Camila Osorio Serrano has also claimed 4 straight titles this year, all at G1 level
Regarding Mila, her FB page shows her training in November/December in Barcelona, followed by a pre-season stint at an Argentinian academy
A semifinal in your first GA event can't be bad - her doubles partner is also faring well in singles, having reached the quarters without dropping a set (as has the aforementioned top seed)
SF
Leonard/Martins (FRA/GBR) v (8) Tauson/Tikhonova (DEN/RUS)
The girls lost their semi-final. (Manon won her singles though - Manon is the girl who beat Victoria Allen in the final in St Cyprien about 4 months ago, in a tight two-setter).
SF: Clara TAUSON (DEN) / Anastasia TIKHONOVA (RUS) [8] 6-1 6-2 Manon LEONARD (FRA) / Destinee MARTINS (GBR)
