Looking at the men, with five 25ks going on this week, the level is really pretty weak, although quite a marked difference across the board.
There are nice points to be had for next year, both ATP points and very good ITF points to make the reserved ITF places in the Challenger main draws.
Ignoring any SEs that might come along and looking at (a) top seed, (b) eighth seed, (c) ranking of number 20 entrant, you get:
Ecuador = 431: 1076: 1606
Ireland = 594: 856: 1369
America = 480: 724: 1171
Germany = 316: 477: 866
Italy = 279: 507: 797
So well done to all the British lads who entered Ireland - not a difficult decision, I know but....
For Evan and Luke J to be seeded in a 25k, and Alex Jhun, say, to make the main draw, that's great.
Although maybe another reason why you want to be a man playing tennis....
As well as the difference in entry fees (as per equality thread)
Mind you, it all changes next year so, in theory, we'll have 500-750 of pro ranked players each (men and women), and any number of ITF ranked, and it'll look a lot more balanced.
But otherwise a nice sprinkling of new/not often names - nice to see the women giving it a go....
Freya, Alicia and Emma Rad seem to have wildcards.
Good to see Emilie Lindh Gallagher in particular stayed in, particularly from her usual unpromising place on the list. She and Ola Pitak could get their 3rd counter but still have WR 533 and WR 653 in their respective qualifying brackets.
So far this week we've got:
unranked 16 year-old player Jack Draper getting his first ranking point;
unranked Jonathan Binding getting his first ranking point for a while; and
unranked Ema Lazic getting a second ranking point to try and get to that magic three (or magic for this year at any rate).
Unranked Ewen Lumsden, also a junior, is currently trying to get his first ranking point in the last 12 months too. Has taken the first set.
(Sasha Hill is still to play and has an outside chance too).
For the list of half-Brits, just to note the success this week of Italian, Nastassja BURNETT, ex-WTA 121, currently 735, who's made the final of the ITF event in Italy.
Her father is English, hence the name (mother Polish, but born in Italy).