Week 19 - ITF ($15K) - Karlskrona, Sweden Clay

blob · All-time great

Week 19 - ITF ($15K) - Karlskrona, Sweden Clay

Michael D · All-time great

blob wrote:
With her win today, Francesca is the new 2018 GB Womens leader for win %, dethroning long time queen, Gabi.
Fran curently is 14-3 (82.35%); Gabi after short run in Japan stands at 23-5 (82.14%)
Francesca's further results in Karlskrona could see them switch back, but for now, she is on top.

Harriet hads both played most matches (33) and won most matches (25)
Naomi has played more weeks than anyone else (13)

The question for Fran now is when does she start to attempt to step up to the 25k level?

blob · All-time great

Michael D wrote:
The question for Fran now is when does she start to attempt to step up to the 25k level?

Take her chances form the WC (she is surely going to get) in the GB grass season, and she might just skip $25K altogether

Michael D · All-time great

Strange that next week Fran is switching from Sweden to Tunisia to play, especially as the surface is the same - clay - and the field in Gothenburg is weaker!

the addict · Tennis legend

Fran was listed at M8, so should be seeded anyway. But yes, could have stayed in Sweden

Strongbow · All-time great

Fran needs a lot more 15k points, about 75-85. First she needs to get to 16 counters. Most players who move up to that level struggle cause they get knocked out in R1 (1 Point). so she will need a reserve of non-ccounters > 1.

Good luck to her smile

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I think it depends on the player stepping up, if Fran is completely dominating 15Ks ie wins 4 or 5 back to back and is comfortably beating players ranked 350-550 she could step up with some confidence. The overall impression of how quickly players progress is skewed by older players making gradual incremental improvements. Those top 20 by age I think are slightly different in that they progress through a level rapidly hanging around to build up counters is counter productive they need to move on to the next test so it is worth stepping up a bit earlier testing out the water. For older players like for example Sarah Beth banking the counters first would allow a sustained run at the 25K main draw.

Michael D · All-time great

Well Fran has breezed through the draw so far, but her next two matches should give her a little more test. I guess she is just banking counters at the moment. Fran is also at #50 on the transition tour rankings. If she gets much higher in that ranking, then she really should start to move to a higher level. But as said earlier by blob, I guess the grass court season could represent a transition for her, as she should get opportunities there (and won't have any to play at 15k level, if does return to the UK for the grass season).

Michael D · All-time great

Fran's match has actually started already today too... and she is an early break down 1-2*

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Irina R has certainly been around tennis a while - she's a hardened tournament player. Decent dubs player too. Not tall but a real fighter. Won't be easy.

blob · All-time great

Francesca bravely bids to represent the GB womens tennis 'non-Katie constituency', in singles finals this weekend

blob · All-time great

5 breaks in the set, Francesca on the wrong side of the balance, 4-6

Michael D · All-time great

Well, Fran has been chasing this match the whole time... always a break behind in both sets. I guess it shows the top end of these 15ks she still has room for improvement.. trouble in this tournament is that she has suddenly had a big jump up in class and experience between her QF (and earlier) and SF opponents.

Fran serving to stay in the match now 4-6 *3-5

blob · All-time great

4-6 3-6

In view of this result, new rule: All British women tennis players must, from this time forward, hereby change their names to Katie (this includes Ms. Dunne)

Michael D · All-time great

And comes up short.. as does her week a little bit as a result.

SF: JONES, Francesca (GBR) 4 583 lost to RAMIALISON, Irina (FRA) 2 534 CH=243 10/11/14 4-6 3-6