To be honest, when your ranking wasn't high enough to get into qualifying, most draws bar WC Haas and a low qualifier would have been tough - there was talk that the WC came about because of a mistake by the organisers with the Qs and Harriet hadn't made the cut despite being told she had, so this is a bonus in itself. As for Mladenovic, she has lost 4 in a row or 6 of her last 7 matches (obviously at a much higher level than Dart) so that is slightly encouraging, although the bad news is of her last few hard indoor events she has:

Won St Petersburg 2017
Won 1 and lost 1 at the Elite Trophy 2017
Made F of St Petersburg 2018

So she obviously can play indoors.

The comparisons are similar to Jo. Both playing well until around Wimbledon last year and then went on big losing streaks, Jo 5 and Kiki around 10 and both having ended the year in and around the top 10 have fallen to around 40-50 this year. Both have picked up a few wins here and there but bar a runner up event, haven't really been able to string wins together consistently in individual tournaments. Both also benefited by avoiding quals for some bigger events as part of their 'top 10' commitments.

flamingowings wrote:

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I would actually go as far as comparing Mlandenovic with Jack Sock as well as Jo, as she has had great success in doubles this year and is currently ranked doubles no.6 (CH 2) - she was always a good doubles player, again, like Sock.

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Yep, similarities there, although Sock has taken out-of-form singles to a new level this year - unbelievable. He lost again today, so is now 1-11 (1-12 if you count Kyle in the LC) and he has literally not been able to string back-to-back singles wins all season after doing so well at Bercy and the O2. 6-20 for the year and bear in mind, the vast majority of those events he would have been a seed given his strong end to last year. #159 in the O2 Race.

Just as well his doubles are going so well.

Linz is one of few WTA events where you can watch the Q matches. A couple of interesting matches coming up - Danilovic vs Smitkova plus the Russian youngster battle of Vikhylantseva vs Kalinskaya. Might watch a bit in the background to the football.

the addict wrote:

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Ace Ventura wrote:

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To be honest, when your ranking wasn't high enough to get into qualifying, most draws bar WC Haas and a low qualifier would have been tough - there was talk that the WC came about because of a mistake by the organisers with the Qs and Harriet hadn't made the cut despite being told she had, so this is a bonus in itself.

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I see from the official draw sheet that the last DA into qualifying is Grammatikopoulou WR172. Harriet is currently WR171, so must have been very close to getting in. Thiose two have been within a few points of each other for a few weeks.

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Hmm, maybe not then. It just seems like the most random WC you'll come across. She's not Austrian, not a potential phenom, has never played at the event - I just can't think of any connection at all. She's largely based in Istanbul as well, so it's not like she has a base in Austria either and giving something back that way. You do often here of these mix ups.

The young Greek girl has actually just put out Witthoeft (who is having a terrible year and will slip further down the rankings next week after Luxembourg) in QR1.

No Ace, I think you were probably right the first time. Harriet was right on the borderline, and someone must have made a mistake.

In addition, surprisingly, the unknown British Harriet Dart was provided with a "free ticket".

The final decision was made by Reichel after the Austrian Julia Grabher had been unable to accept an injury. There is an old agreement with the British association, which has now been redeemed for the 22-year-old Dart (WTA number 171), it said from the tournament office.


They seem as surprised as us 

flamingowings wrote:

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Ace Ventura wrote:

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That's very interesting CD - I wonder what that agreement was? It's not like the British to engage in this reciprocal stuff. Great opportunity for her though and I think just her 3rd main draw appearance outside of the UK.

That's a few times our players have benefited from surprise WCs this year - Boulter QWC in Miami, Swan MDWC in Washington (although Murray factor) and now this.

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 Eden Silva I think also got a MD WC somewhere?

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Yeah, was a 60k in France somewhere as she was part of the club or something and I remember some in France weren't too happy about it.

I was actually meaning WTA events, but forgot to mention that, but no, you are right there as well - it was either Dubai or Doha - Dubai I think, a QWC where she lost to Diyas.