It''s that quiet time of the year where we try and predict the top 10 GB singles rankings for next year. If anyone fancies throwing in doubles rankings for a bit of amusement that's fine.
Who will defect, who will stay fit, who will finish/go to college etc
I'll have a bit think about this over te next few days and make my initial picks (subject to change), hopefully not too clogged up by doubles, would have preferred that being kept seperate.
I doubt anyone will defect (to or from) this year, but you never know, 2019 saw a new top 300 player join on both sides.
Hopefully a much more successful year overall as the majority of players (for a variety of reasons) performed a lot lower than their average 2019 pick, particularly the younger generation.
At what date do we have to have predicted our top 10. I am writing this at the moment because the news on Jo Konta is not good as it was reported in yesterdays papers she still had knee problems. It would ironical if Jo did not travel to Australia and Heather took her place in the main draw of the Australian Open.
At what date do we have to have predicted our top 10. I am writing this at the moment because the news on Jo Konta is not good as it was reported in yesterdays papers she still had knee problems. It would ironical if Jo did not travel to Australia and Heather took her place in the main draw of the Australian Open.
Started thinking about this today and It worries me that Fran hasn't played for such a long time. Has anyone any inkling what's happening - is she ill, injured, studying? She has such determination that I can't see her just giving up so feel rather concerned for her.
Started thinking about this today and It worries me that Fran hasn't played for such a long time. Has anyone any inkling what's happening - is she ill, injured, studying? She has such determination that I can't see her just giving up so feel rather concerned for her.
I raised about what had happened to Fran on December 6th. Sadly none the wiser.She retired in a match in week 31 and that was the last time she played. There was news of her getting a bursary at the beginning of November but that 's all I have read.
I'll think I'll see the Entry lists before I decide It's going to be a hard one this year with soo many out injured. Depends on who comes back in strength.
edited for context
-- Edited by Strongbow on Sunday 22nd of December 2019 10:28:19 PM
Here goes. Initial picks, I may slightly amend before the end of the year, but with the season starting a week later, unlike last year, there'll be no actual match results to justify those possible amends:
I see that no one has mentioned Katy Dunne so far - is she fit and expected to play?
She has posted a couple of photos of herself in practice and at the moment is shown on the entry list for a 15K in Tunisia on 6th January. Of course she may yet withdraw, but I'm assuming she's hoping to be fit to start competing again in the New Year.
Of the 3 predictions thus far (albeit a very very small sample) the same 9 players feature in the 1-9 picks (in different orders), and I'd imagine that will probably be fairly prominent in picks going forward, certainly in those not deliberately picking tactically, although time will tell.
I was debating between Fran (who I picked in 2019), Katy and Gabi for my tenth, and went with the latter, mainly because of the new coach situation.
A lot will obviously depend on how the first 5 months of the season go, but generally speaking, with Naiktha a more established Brit, and Emma emerging (and hopefully Katie B active), Katy will probably be further down the summer WC priority order this year, given she'll be 25 in a couple of months, and her CH not being as high as pretty much all of the younger contingent, so little things like that could make a difference.
Looking forward to seeing more predictions in due course.
I see that no one has mentioned Katy Dunne so far - is she fit and expected to play?
She has posted a couple of photos of herself in practice and at the moment is shown on the entry list for a 15K in Tunisia on 6th January. Of course she may yet withdraw, but I'm assuming she's hoping to be fit to start competing again in the New Year.
No-one has also mentioned Mandy C so far, despite her (re-)rise from nowhere to GB #12 this year! She and Fran have identical points at the moment. Maia has also been left out of everyone's picks even though she is GB #9 at the moment, so there is clearly an assumption that she has not much of an upside to go... even though she played a limited schedule since she has still been at uni.
Of players outside the current top 10, everyone is plumping for Emma, not surprisingly, and Fran, with one vote for a Gabi re-emergence too, who showed in 2018 that she has considerably more to her game than she demonstrated last year - and she is back with the coach who brought her success in 2018 too. Starting with a W15 in Tunisia might not seem the most auspicious start for her though, but could be a wise one initially, since she needs wins under her belt again.
And yes Katy D is also still GB #10, and definitely has more to her game too, with a lot of time out injured last year.
-- Edited by Michael D on Wednesday 25th of December 2019 09:04:37 AM