Week 25 - ITF ($100k) - Ilkley, Grass

TomTraubert · Futures level

Week 25 - ITF ($100k) - Ilkley, Grass

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Quite enjoyed that match, not the result I wanted but I hope now Dayana takes this and the Wimbledon wildcard.

Assuming the Ilkley winner gets the wildcard, it's only Alexandrova who can deny them.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

TomTraubert wrote:
loses 36 in the third much better than gabi mannaged she must have been reading the serve at least

She'd won more return points after the first point of Yastremska's 3rd service game than Gabi did all match.

Mervatron2 · Challenger qualifying

Shame for Harriet but yet another positive week.

Hope she gets a good draw for Wimbledon.

Peter too · Tennis legend

QF: DART, Harriet (GBR) WC 190 lost to YASTREMSKA, Dayana (UKR) 151 5-7 7-6(4) 3-6

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

What have attendances been like this week? Considering going next year. Heard good things and those who saw the Harriet Dart/Yastremska match sound like they were well entertained.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

A131 wrote:
What have attendances been like this week? Considering going next year. Heard good things and those who saw the Harriet Dart/Yastremska match sound like they were well entertained.

I went yesterday and was fairly well attended. I got there about 10.30 and there were far more staff / volunteers than fans. The Alexandrova Kanepi match on the 2nd court was very sparse but filled up half way through. I'd say the centre court was about 3/4 full for Dart and similar for Liam's doubles after. Then as tickets were free in the evening it got busier if anything.

I really enjoyed it, stunning setting and staff very helpful. Would have been nice if Dart won to keep the British interest going but I'm currently on my way there now and looking forward to both women's matches, especially with that final wildcard seemingly on the line.

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

Ace Ventura wrote:
A131 wrote:
What have attendances been like this week? Considering going next year. Heard good things and those who saw the Harriet Dart/Yastremska match sound like they were well entertained.
I went yesterday and was fairly well attended. I got there about 10.30 and there were far more staff / volunteers than fans. The Alexandrova Kanepi match on the 2nd court was very sparse but filled up half way through. I'd say the centre court was about 3/4 full for Dart and similar for Liam's doubles after. Then as tickets were free in the evening it got busier if anything.
I really enjoyed it, stunning setting and staff very helpful. Would have been nice if Dart won to keep the British interest going but I'm currently on my way there now and looking forward to both women's matches, especially with that final wildcard seemingly on the line.

Thanks Ace - much appreciated!

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

I've just booked my train and day tickets for this year (just need the accommodation). Going Thu-Sat this year instead of Fri-Sun, so I won't see the final, but should get to see all 8 R16 matches on the Thursday instead (obviously some of them will clash), and there'll be much more chance to see a Brit or two (hopefully...).

I couldn't get last year unfortunately, but I thoroughly enjoyed it in 2018:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Fuzion_100_Ilkley_Trophy_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Singles#Finals

Some of that main draw field have come a long way in the past 20 months:

Andreescu obviously needs no explanation
Yastremska won 3 WTA titles and on the fringes of the top 20
Bencic - was mainly here due to injury, but back in top 10 now
Alexandrova - won a WTA title the other week and now inside top 30
Jabeur - AO QF
Bouzkova - made a P5 SF last year and is/was on the brink of the top 50

Oh, and Naiktha has seen the light smile

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Sunday 2nd of February 2020 08:33:09 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Ace Ventura wrote:
I've just booked my train and day tickets for this year (just need the accommodation). Going Thu-Sat this year instead of Fri-Sun, so I won't see the final, but should get to see all 8 R16 matches on the Thursday instead (obviously some of them will clash), and there'll be much more chance to see a Brit or two (hopefully...).

I couldn't get last year unfortunately, but I thoroughly enjoyed it in 2018:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Fuzion_100_Ilkley_Trophy_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_Singles#Finals

Some of that main draw field have come a long way in the past 20 months:

Andreescu obviously needs no explanation
Yastremska won 3 WTA titles and on the fringes of the top 20
Bencic - was mainly here due to injury, but back in top 10 now
Alexandrova - won a WTA title the other week and now inside top 30
Jabeur - AO QF
Bouzkova - made a P5 SF last year and is/was on the brink of the top 50

Oh, and Naiktha has seen the light

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Sunday 2nd of February 2020 08:33:09 PM

Sadly I'm only going on the sunday otherwise I'd have suggested saying hello!

Have a good few days, I'm amazed you can book train tickets so far in advance, I thought it was 3 months max? Anyway, good for you and enjoy !

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Thanks Jon, yeah would have been good to say hello if we were there at the same time. Anyone else not a million miles away on the forum (like A131), I'd recommend getting themselves there.

Last year I couldn't book the trains this early, and had to do it a month or two later, like at the end of March, but they must have changed things now. Pretty much the same price as it was 2 years ago, £64 return from Newcastle.