I think it's dreadful.

And I think it shows poor management by the LTA.

If you want to grow the sport at spectator level, you need your 'show' players to take part.

And the LTA should do what other federations do and put pressure on the players to take part.

If Katie B and Harriet want wildcards to Wimbledon, they should play the home events that are their level (unless there are specially agreed circumstances first).

I don't really blame Katie B and Harriet - they have to look after their own careers, end of.

But the federation has the bigger picture to take care of, and it's not difficult to negotiate.

Helen40 wrote:

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the addict wrote:

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Emma Raducanu withdrew yesterday. Wonder if she has a QWC ?

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 Doesn't she have to be in it to get a QWC?

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 I don't think so. It's not how I interpret the rules anyway.

Massive shame for the tournament. They did a great job late last year and you can tell they were putting a lot of effort into it with their constant social media updates and all the initiatives this year like the entertainment, evening sessions etc. I bet it feels like a kick in the teeth.

It's just a big let down and to think I was quite pleased when the likes of Frech, Rus, Bonaventure, Tomova and Kalinskaya, those ranked 100-150, all withdrew as I thought it might make it easier for a few of our players to get a few extra wins. I had ambitiously hoped to have 9 or 10 in the main draw, now I'll be happy with 5 or 6 as it wouldn't be a huge surprise if there were more pulls outs.

In hindsight, it would have been better if those foreign withdrawals had all stayed in as at least it would have added a few slightly more familiar names to the fray. It was never an option, but like JonH, I'd have been pretty disappointed if I had planned to go. Can't see the LTA rushing to get more 60-80k events on going forward.

JonH wrote:

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Whilst it is probably great that the players have flexibility around scheduling, if I was looking to purchase tickets I would be very cross at the field changing constantly. What are the rules around this?

I am going to the Ilkley Challenger in June and have finals tickets. But I had thought of going earlier in the week also and it would disturb me a lot if many of the marquee initial entries that had attracted me then pulled out

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I know exactly what you mean.

I also echo Canda's post and I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ilkley last year. Travelled (a lot of miles) for the quarters, semi and final (Fri-Sun) and it was brilliant. Well run, weather helped, too hot if anything and it was a very good field, as it always will be with Wimbledon just around the corner. The likely Wildcard for the winner (assuming they are not British or already in the main draw like Riske at Surbiton) adds another dimension to the matches and Yastremska-Smitkova had a genuine big feel to it (as it was effectively a Wimbledon WC decider) and it proved to be an excellent, close match.

Would definitely go there again.

paulisi wrote:

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No - you don't need to be on the entry list to get a wildcard.

Emma will probably get a MDWC if she intends to play with Naomi, Katy D and Jodie.

I plan to be there on Tuesday.

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 That's good. I'm hoping to go Tuesday or Wednesday too depending on who's playing when.

Coup Droit wrote:

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Yes. But, as said, the LTA can't just sulk and say 'fine, we won't put on any more if you don't come'.

It's up to them to 'make' them come. For the success of the event, and all the knock-on benefits that brings.

That's what running the tennis industry in the UK means.

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Just to add that the French have just put in a new system for wildcards for RG (both MD and Quali) whereby certain cards will be given to the player with the most points from a list of ten domestic tournaments.

Svitolina, Wozniacki, Jabeur and Al Nabhani announced as the Qatar wildcards, so any outside chance of that for Harriet can be ruled out.