Week 23 - ITF (W100) - Surbiton, Great Britain - Grass

Michael D · All-time great

Week 23 - ITF (W100) - Surbiton, Great Britain - Grass

Michael D · All-time great

...which means Naiktha, Katy D, Maia and Jodie are probably in the MD, together with Heather, following Harriet's withdrawal.

the addict · Tennis legend

Looks like Radwanska at A11 is the lowest direct qualifier. So Jody, Katy and Naiktha not in the Q draw

PaulM · Tennis legend

Not sure Appleton deserves a WC over players who've actually won matches but there we go.

Field much, much stronger than its been in previous years.

Michael D · All-time great

Don't expect to see any wins here, sadly Vic has the toughest draw.

QR1: Kimberly BIRRELL (AUS) [2] 157 (CH:154) vs Emily APPLETON (GBR) 711
QR1: Danielle LAO (USA) [3] 163 (CH:152) vs Victoria ALLEN (GBR) 676
QR1: Ann LI (USA) [4] 168 (CH:167) Born 2000 (JCH:12 Jan 18) vs Naomi BROADY (GBR) 406
QR1: Eden SILVA (GBR) 429 vs Caty MCNALLY (USA) [7] 192=CH Born 2001 (JCH:6 March 19)

Michael D · All-time great

PaulM wrote:
Not sure Appleton deserves a WC over players who've actually won matches but there we go.

Field much, much stronger than its been in previous years.

That no doubt is because of her sky scholarship, but no, there are many others still not in who were plenty more deserving - Lissey, Beth, Tara, EWS, Sam, Ella, and Mandy were all still on the acceptance list. Assume Maia is in the MD.

SuperT · Futures level

Michael D wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Not sure Appleton deserves a WC over players who've actually won matches but there we go.

Field much, much stronger than its been in previous years.
That no doubt is because of her sky scholarship, but no, there are many others still not in who were plenty more deserving - Lissey, Beth, Tara, EWS, Sam, Ella, and Mandy were all still on the acceptance list. Assume Maia is in the MD.

I would like to have seen Mandy get the WC. Not only has she been winning matches, but and after losing her ranking after such a long time out, she could certainly do with a helping hand to get it back up again. Can't see another more deserving case.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Disappointing really.

We had 20 players involved last year, but just 9 here, and it's hard to see where a win will come from in those qual matches. I was actually thinking Lao might have been the best opponent, but it's still a mighty task for Vic. Li is a former Wimbledon Jr runner up and pretty sure she beat Naomi last year in North America (she definitely beat Heather, but might have been both) and both she and McNally are both very good prospects - not sure what McNally's capabilities are like on grass, but she's had an excellent time recently on the ITF scene. Birrell took full advantage of the opportunities her nationality brings over the Aussie Swing and massively cut her ranking, but has also struggled badly in recent weeks - problem is she is facing Emily, so while that might have been OK normally, I'm not expecting anything.

The main draw cut off was 223 last year, whereas, assuming Martincova is last in, it'll be 154 here. With Harriet out and no SEs used, it looks like 3 further players have withdrawn from Martincova up in the 'Acceptance List' - Babos and Zhang will be 2 due to their RG doubles commitments, but not sure who the 3rd will be. There were originally 13 players in the Wimbledon draw, which will be down to 12 without Zhang, and depending on who the mystery withdrawal is, we're looking at 11 or 12 plus the 4 Brits (and any unlikely GB qualifier) winning if that potential Wimbledon MDWC is to stay in-house, so that's one positive at least and the chances should be high and hopefully Jodie or someone will benefit from that.

Injuries and health obviously can't be helped, but it's also a real shame that we have 4 young players in Dart, Boulter, Swan and G Taylor and these events are absolutely ideal for that level of player, yet none will feature and some were defending SF and QF points.

Fair play to Rodionova, she was playing in a W25 final today, but is still in the Q draw so has no qualms playing a further 2 matches tomorrow - I was thinking she would have withdrawn.

indiana · Tennis legend

But Mandy, along with Sam and Em who have been doing this winning thing of late are sooo old. From experience no surprise to me to see these not given any priority here.

Gee, some of the others mentioned are knocking on through their 20s too.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 2nd of June 2019 06:56:07 PM

flamingowings · All-time great

I wonder if the cut off for all pre-Wimbledon events in grass (both UK and Europe) is higher than last year?

scottie1 · Futures level

Mandy is not really a grass court player I cannot see any reason for giving her wildcard into this event.

Barefoot · Lower Club Player

Michael D wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Not sure Appleton deserves a WC over players who've actually won matches but there we go.

Field much, much stronger than its been in previous years.
That no doubt is because of her sky scholarship, but no, there are many others still not in who were plenty more deserving - Lissey, Beth, Tara, EWS, Sam, Ella, and Mandy were all still on the acceptance list. Assume Maia is in the MD.

Surely its more because its her home event and shes still young? I see a lot of mention of the Sky scholarship here but I doubt it has all that much influence.

Not suggesting there arent more appropriate candidates mind.

Strongbow · All-time great

Given the number of events I'm sure they'll move the WC's around. Given that the LTA are sensible wink

-- Typo

-- Edited by Strongbow on Sunday 2nd of June 2019 11:04:51 PM

Strongbow · All-time great

I assume (perhaps wronly) that those in rieceipt of wildcards (or not) would be told so they could plan, or is this just me being silly?

Michael D · All-time great

scottie1 wrote:
Mandy is not really a grass court player I cannot see any reason for giving her wildcard into this event.

Mandy's perfectly competent on grass and when she has played before she's done well. And she was still on the acceptance list along with the other 'oldies' I mentioned. She hasn't played more grass because she doesn't get into the tournaments, not necessarily because she didn't want to. However, she will go back to clay now as she has entrance into a clay W25 either next week or the week thereafter.