It is fortunate that she is so talented that she can play to this level as a year 10 student, to do the same next would be quite challenging. She is at an eyeballs out super selective state grammar school and to be fair must be very bright to get in they have their own entrance exam which is more challenging (requires abstract thought) than the standard local Kent and SE London 11 plus and well organised to keep up. The other kids there are on it!
Generally along with the equivalent boys schools they dont churn out great sports teams but you do get the odd exceptional individual athlete and there is obviously a willingness to facilitate the fine tuning of other talents, Dina Ayesha-Smith the outstanding young GB sprinter being the most recent example. It doesnt hurt that the Bromley Tennis academy is in the school grounds, the fact that the school doesnt produce loads of high quality tennis players reflects how challenging the academic standards are.
I would imagine Lele Foorod already has eyes on her, although Emma realistically is probably too good but interms of a fulfilling career after Tennis still worth a consideration following Emily Arbuthnots lead and many really good athletes do Cici Bellis thought about it and ref Bryce Love a running back who is returning as a senior purely to put in the ground work to be a paediatrician before he hits the NFL.
Emma also a very slight favourite against the 3rd seed tomorrow, 1/2 vs 6/4. EKSHIBAROVA was taken the distance today by her wildcard compatriot with the final set going 5-5, before winning it 7-5.
Despite Emma having played the more matches this week, she has been on court for less time than Ekshibarova. In Ekshibarova's last two matches she has spent almost 6 hours on court. A 3 set 3hr 3min match against an unranked 16 yo WC compatriot and then a 2hr 47min 3 set match against an unranked 17yo WC compatriot. Add in the quicker R32 match that lasted just over an hour then that's 7 hours on court this week in 3 matches. Emma, on the other hand, has been on court for around 5hrs 30 min over 4 matches.
The rapidly improving younger teenagers ie. top ranked juniors taking there first steps I think are the lifeblood of the 15Ks, indeed their whole rationale and (UNR) age 15 is probably the last thing a 29 yr old seed who had a similar rank a decade ago to the one she has now wants to see in the later rounds at this level.
Emma also a very slight favourite against the 3rd seed tomorrow, 1/2 vs 6/4. EKSHIBAROVA was taken the distance today by her wildcard compatriot with the final set going 5-5, before winning it 7-5.
Emma's odds have tightened - now 2/5 against 7/4
(Or 1.4 v 2.75 for the ones I understand better).
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 18th of May 2018 07:02:53 AM