Absolutely. She obviously knows that it is not playing matches as such that makes you improve.
So why isn't she working on improving her tennis, in blocks, and then trying it out in competition, like most players her age?

She may do well here but it's going back down to 15ks. Which is appropriate but it can't feel good......

Oakland2002 wrote:

---

Yes its hard to guess. But perhaps she has some targets to hit ... ranking? or tournament wins by a fixed date.

---

Perhaps indeed and if that were the case the combination of whoever is setting these targets and such a response would appear not to be helpful in developing her tennis longer term. Targets can be very good for many if used sensibly but there is that bigger picture.

I guess she got that first singles title as top seed in the Dublin 15K while the Woking 25K was on and she might pick up further relatively good points as top seed out here but ...

Able to add points at 15K and improve her ranking is not the argument and she is pretty good at beating ( often thumping ) players lower ranked than herself, and she can expect some players much lower than her in 15K draws offering questionable challenges. Although maybe in some ways that is the argument if the collecting points is to do with targets.

Ranking is more understandable for James as his general aims are more short term than Emily's should be. And development is clearly not a particular issue.