The road to the 2020 US Open

the addict · Tennis legend

The road to the 2020 US Open

LordBrownof · Futures level

According to Instagram Harriet is currently enjoying a staycation so it doesn't look like she's gearing up for the Open.

-- Edited by LordBrownof on Tuesday 18th of August 2020 10:26:35 PM

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

It would be a shame to withdraw from a slam main draw, especially one with far more 100-150 players than normal, and on a surface she is more used to, but it might make more sense for her to stay in Europe, if that is indeed what she is planning to do.

She did compete reasonably well in her Fed Cup defeats on clay earlier in the year, and she would be one of the higher seeds in Prague, plus it is pretty decent money just for showing up (although not as good as showing up in New York), and there's probably more chance of going on an extended run given the respective ranking, and could/should give her more clay practice ahead of RG qualifying.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

When it is suggested that an asterisk * is put against the winners name of the 2020 US Open you could say that about Sue Barker's win in Paris in 1976. Both Chrissie and Martina the finalists from 1975 were missing and also Olga Morozova the runner up from 1974. Added to that Sue only had to play 6 matches. The standard was way higher when Jo Durie reached the semi finals in Paris in 1983 as she beat the likes of Pam Shriver, Kathy Rinaldi and Tracy Austin in reaching the semi finals. The standard of players is way higher now than it was then even if 6 of the current top ten are absent. Seriously should Kiki Bertens have been higher seeded at the US Open than Serena or Naomi Osaka? It pains me to write this but it's only because of the current ranking system that Jo has got a high seeding. Sadly in reality she shouldn't be seeded at all. I appreciate that knee problems and the palpitations episode have accounted for her performances this year.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Polona Hercog is out, so that pushes Watson one place nearer the seeding places, but as a general tennis fan, looking forward to the event starting, I'd probably rather Hev wasn't seeded, although individually, losing a Hercog type won't affect my personal viewing, but a few of those seeds, like Muguruza (who's doubtful after withdrawing from Cincy) would.

Harriet will also be one spot nearer from getting in, if she still intends to play. I guess she'll have to make a final decision soon, assuming she hasn't already.

indiana · Tennis legend

Sam Murray ( entry ranking 180 ) is also one step closer

Seriously, I wouldn't be amazed if the last entry ranking went right out beyond 180 late on.

But clearly, if not in the US, it is surely not something that you would take any chance on ( debatable enough in say Harriet's 146 position ). So, as I saw previously surmised, there may end up being quite a few fairly lowly ranked locals getting in late on.

the addict · Tennis legend

Going to be a nice payday for some lucky ones then !

christ · Futures level

the addict wrote:
Going to be a nice payday for some lucky ones then !

Isn't that exactly how Rocky got started?

emmsie69 · Top national player

Apparently Tatjana Maria is pregnant, like 6-7 months pregnant so she won;t be playing, not sure why she is still on the list. I make Harriet 4 out now. Got to be worth a flight out there.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Wednesday 19th of August 2020 03:33:40 PM

PaulM · Tennis legend

The money in Prague is very good too, as the funding had been provided to make up for the loss of qualies and smaller doubles fields. Not the easiest decision if not guaranteed to make it into the field in New York.

brittak · Satellite level

indiana wrote:
Sam Murray ( entry ranking 180 ) is also one step closer

Seriously, I wouldn't be amazed if the last entry ranking went right out beyond 180 late on.

But clearly, if not in the US, it is surely not something that you would take any chance on ( debatable enough in say Harriet's 146 position ). So, as I saw previously surmised, there may end up being quite a few fairly lowly ranked locals getting in late on.

See that Sams husband is on the doubles acceptance list so perhaps not beyond the realms of possibility for Sam to play if the cut-off point ends up going that far down

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

brittak wrote:
indiana wrote:
Sam Murray ( entry ranking 180 ) is also one step closer

Seriously, I wouldn't be amazed if the last entry ranking went right out beyond 180 late on.

But clearly, if not in the US, it is surely not something that you would take any chance on ( debatable enough in say Harriet's 146 position ). So, as I saw previously surmised, there may end up being quite a few fairly lowly ranked locals getting in late on.
See that Sams husband is on the doubles acceptance list so perhaps not beyond the realms of possibility for Sam to play if the cut-off point ends up going that far down

Ooohh, smart thinking.....

Wouldn't it be amazing if Sam got in the main draw of the US Open.... smile

brittak · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
brittak wrote:
indiana wrote:
Sam Murray ( entry ranking 180 ) is also one step closer

Seriously, I wouldn't be amazed if the last entry ranking went right out beyond 180 late on.

But clearly, if not in the US, it is surely not something that you would take any chance on ( debatable enough in say Harriet's 146 position ). So, as I saw previously surmised, there may end up being quite a few fairly lowly ranked locals getting in late on.
See that Sams husband is on the doubles acceptance list so perhaps not beyond the realms of possibility for Sam to play if the cut-off point ends up going that far down
Ooohh, smart thinking.....
Wouldn't it be amazing if Sam got in the main draw of the US Open....

Yes - given how harshly she has been treated at Wimbledon a few times over the years, this would be a lovely outcome.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

We ought to have a competition on who will be the lowest ranked direct entrant by the time it starts. I previosly checked Sam Murray's ranking and did wonder if she would make it; my guess is that the cut off could end up around 180-190, 185 if you push me for a fun prediction. I am hopeless at predictions though.

I do agree with Rosamund though, that the standard of women's tennis is way higher and way more competitive now than it used to be and those making it in will still be good players. As a very old person, I can remember seeing the likes of Peanut Louis hopelessly outclassed in Grand Slams; players who nowadays would not I think get even a top 400 ranking, let alone a top 100. The professionalism and greater athleticism, strength and height, plus probably better coaching and training have all done their bit I think, and even the fact that players are noticeably getting taller and more powerful as the years go on. Six foot tall players were almost unheard of thirty years ago and for instance Helena Sukova at 6 foot 3 was way taller than anyone else in her era.

Could the likes of Amanda Coetzer, Peanut Louis and Kimiko Date be as successful now as they were in their eras - I genuinely doubt it, and whoever plays, I think the top 30 or 40 players in the women's game are so good that even if only two thirds of them are there, it will still be a quality field and a very hard to predict tournament.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

JonH comes home wrote:
ROSAMUND wrote:
indiana wrote:
It really is becoming the US Open 2020*

All the best to Harriet though. It does look as if she probably just has to stay upright to get in.
I heard Pam Shriver discussing 6 of the top 10 players pulling out. The world will cave in if Serena pulled out. It can stand losing the players who have pulled out and many others as well but I daresay it will survive as long as Serena and Coco play.
For Serena, asterisk or not, it is her chance to get that Slam win and take the record - so no way will she pull out if she has a choice!
That said, I wonder if Serena, Coco are getting large appearance fees to make sure they enter - no idea what the rules are, but suspect they will be (and quite possibly Djoko as well), and it raises the question of Andy? Given Rafa, Roger, Stan, Delpo of the established slam winners arent here, Andy is possibly the biggest world name after Djoko in the mens field

Whilst players have pulled out from other countries has anybody from the USA pulled out? I can't recall anybody and the only reason for a pull out of their players would be injury or actual illness nor fear of corona virus..