Who is your favourite post 1968 & not currently ranked GB player? WOMEN - FINAL PLAY-OFF

Michael D · All-time great

RE: Who is your favourite post 1968 & not currently ranked GB player? WOMEN - FINAL PLAY-OFF

indiana · Tennis legend

Slowly ( I suspect too slowly ) but surely the gap closes.

One hour left to vote.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I was wondering, as someone who's never really followed womens tennis, how good, high ranked Bally could have reached if it hadnt been for her illnesses that hit her career and subsequently losing her life so young? She reached 49 in the world, and third round at Wimbledon. What was her real potential, top 30, 20? Qf at a slam.? Anyone who followed her closely, I'd be really interested to get s view

brittak · Satellite level

12 - 8 with 20 minutes left

indiana · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
Most of the reallocated votes have gone to Ginny, which I would have expected, especially the Ann Jones votes... if it had been a 3-way play off it could have been much closer! But as noted, Bally has consistently attracted late votes...

I must admit that these were my thoughts as to a likely scenario as soon as it was a 2-way tie with the Ann Jones votes to be redistributed

I tried to keep up a positive front re Bally's chsnces.

But it will soon be congrats to Ginny !

brittak · Satellite level

Ok its 4pm so its time to declare a 12-8 win for Virginia Wade. Many congratulations to her on a hard-fought win!

Ballys supporters took this all the way to the wire and in many ways that represents the indomitable fighting spirit that we all remember her for so thanks to them.

A great week of voting and a worthy winner at the end so thanks!

-- Edited by brittak on Sunday 10th of May 2020 03:19:44 PM

Michael D · All-time great

JonH comes home wrote:
I was wondering, as someone who's never really followed womens tennis, how good, high ranked Bally could have reached if it hadnt been for her illnesses that hit her career and subsequently losing her life so young? She reached 49 in the world, and third round at Wimbledon. What was her real potential, top 30, 20? Qf at a slam.? Anyone who followed her closely, I'd be really interested to get s view

I may not be fully correct Jon, but I'm not sure that Bally's career was that much affected. She and Annie K were born within a month of each other in Aug and Sept 1983, and their careers followed similar trajectories. They both retired too in 2013, and actually it was Anne that retired first in July 13, and Bally only retired in November 13, to focus on her academy. She was then diagnosed with cancer just two months later in Jan 14, a few weeks after marrying Nino, and died in May. It was frighteningly quick.

Bally's CH 49 she achieved in Sept 10, aged 27, Anne's CH 48 she achieved some 18 months earlier in Feb 09, at 26. Neither progressed beyond the 3R of a grand slam - Bally reached the 3R at the Aus Open and Wimbledon, Anne did it at the US Open. I remember them as being very similar to each other in that I wouldn't say that one was better than the other, and their records tend to bear this out. So I don't actually think that Bally had potential that she missed out on (unlike Laura), it was really that she was committed to her academy and to helping others... and didn't live to realise that part of her dream, though Nino has carried the work on.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
I was wondering, as someone who's never really followed womens tennis, how good, high ranked Bally could have reached if it hadnt been for her illnesses that hit her career and subsequently losing her life so young? She reached 49 in the world, and third round at Wimbledon. What was her real potential, top 30, 20? Qf at a slam.? Anyone who followed her closely, I'd be really interested to get s view
I may not be fully correct Jon, but I'm not sure that Bally's career was that much affected. She and Annie K were born within a month of each other in Aug and Sept 1983, and their careers followed similar trajectories. They both retired too in 2013, and actually it was Anne that retired first in July 13, and Bally only retired in November 13, to focus on her academy. She was then diagnosed with cancer just two months later in Jan 14, a few weeks after marrying Nino, and died in May. It was frighteningly quick.
Bally's CH 49 she achieved in Sept 10, aged 27, Anne's CH 48 she achieved some 18 months earlier in Feb 09, at 26. Neither progressed beyond the 3R of a grand slam - Bally reached the 3R at the Aus Open and Wimbledon, Anne did it at the US Open. I remember them as being very similar to each other in that I wouldn't say that one was better than the other, and their records tend to bear this out. So I don't actually think that Bally had potential that she missed out on (unlike Laura), it was really that she was committed to her academy and to helping others... and didn't live to realise that part of her dream, though Nino has carried the work on.

Thanks Michael, didnt Bally have a lifelong debilitating fight with a liver condition though which had previously taken her out of the game at times and , I may be wrong, but her subsequent cancer may well have been linked to that life long condition ?

Michael D · All-time great

Yes she did have Jon, that's correct.

Anne also had two anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus knee injuries, one in 2004, and the other in the other knee in 2009, the year she achieved her CH.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
Yes she did have Jon, that's correct.

Anne also had two anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus knee injuries, one in 2004, and the other in the other knee in 2009, the year she achieved her CH.

smile fair dos ! Maybe both didnt quite get to the heights they may have done!

ROSAMUND · Futures level

JonH comes home wrote:
I was wondering, as someone who's never really followed womens tennis, how good, high ranked Bally could have reached if it hadnt been for her illnesses that hit her career and subsequently losing her life so young? She reached 49 in the world, and third round at Wimbledon. What was her real potential, top 30, 20? Qf at a slam.? Anyone who followed her closely, I'd be really interested to get s view

From a health point of view unfortunately Bally was living in the Ukraine at the time of the Chernobyl disaster when she was only 2.5 years old. In Grand Slams Bally's record was better than Anne's in terms of wins. Additionally along with Johanna Konta she is the only British woman in the 21st century to win at least one round in all the Grand Slams. However in WTA tournaments Anne was more successful reaching semi finals on several occasions. Indeed in 2007 Anne reached the semi finals in Kolkata becoming the 1st British woman to reach a Tour semi final since Jo Durie in 1992. Neither I feel had the potential of Laura.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

ROSAMUND wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
I was wondering, as someone who's never really followed womens tennis, how good, high ranked Bally could have reached if it hadnt been for her illnesses that hit her career and subsequently losing her life so young? She reached 49 in the world, and third round at Wimbledon. What was her real potential, top 30, 20? Qf at a slam.? Anyone who followed her closely, I'd be really interested to get s view
From a health point of view unfortunately Bally was living in the Ukraine at the time of the Chernobyl disaster when she was only 2.5 years old. In Grand Slams Bally's record was better than Anne's in terms of wins. Additionally along with Johanna Konta she is the only British woman in the 21st century to win at least one round in all the Grand Slams. However in WTA tournaments Anne was more successful reaching semi finals on several occasions. Indeed in 2007 Anne reached the semi finals in Kolkata becoming the 1st British woman to reach a Tour semi final since Jo Durie in 1992. Neither I feel had the potential of Laura.

Is it likely Ballys health was linked, impacted by her young years near Chernobyl?

Michael D · All-time great

JonH comes home wrote:
ROSAMUND wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
I was wondering, as someone who's never really followed womens tennis, how good, high ranked Bally could have reached if it hadnt been for her illnesses that hit her career and subsequently losing her life so young? She reached 49 in the world, and third round at Wimbledon. What was her real potential, top 30, 20? Qf at a slam.? Anyone who followed her closely, I'd be really interested to get s view
From a health point of view unfortunately Bally was living in the Ukraine at the time of the Chernobyl disaster when she was only 2.5 years old. In Grand Slams Bally's record was better than Anne's in terms of wins. Additionally along with Johanna Konta she is the only British woman in the 21st century to win at least one round in all the Grand Slams. However in WTA tournaments Anne was more successful reaching semi finals on several occasions. Indeed in 2007 Anne reached the semi finals in Kolkata becoming the 1st British woman to reach a Tour semi final since Jo Durie in 1992. Neither I feel had the potential of Laura.
Is it likely Ballys health was linked, impacted by her young years near Chernobyl?

That's interesting because I hadn't known that before... or had long forgotten that part of Bally's history.

The answer to your question Jon, is highly likely.

https://www.sundaypost.com/news/uk-news/chernobyl-linked-to-elena-baltacha-cancer/

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Michael D wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
ROSAMUND wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
I was wondering, as someone who's never really followed womens tennis, how good, high ranked Bally could have reached if it hadnt been for her illnesses that hit her career and subsequently losing her life so young? She reached 49 in the world, and third round at Wimbledon. What was her real potential, top 30, 20? Qf at a slam.? Anyone who followed her closely, I'd be really interested to get s view
From a health point of view unfortunately Bally was living in the Ukraine at the time of the Chernobyl disaster when she was only 2.5 years old. In Grand Slams Bally's record was better than Anne's in terms of wins. Additionally along with Johanna Konta she is the only British woman in the 21st century to win at least one round in all the Grand Slams. However in WTA tournaments Anne was more successful reaching semi finals on several occasions. Indeed in 2007 Anne reached the semi finals in Kolkata becoming the 1st British woman to reach a Tour semi final since Jo Durie in 1992. Neither I feel had the potential of Laura.
Is it likely Ballys health was linked, impacted by her young years near Chernobyl?
That's interesting because I hadn't known that before... or had long forgotten that part of Bally's history.
The answer to your question Jon, is highly likely.
https://www.sundaypost.com/news/uk-news/chernobyl-linked-to-elena-baltacha-cancer/

That is so sad and distressing. Thanks for the information, Michael and Rosamund.