Whatever became of whatsis(er)name?

ROSAMUND · Futures level

RE: Whatever became of whatsis(er)name?

ROSAMUND · Futures level

ROSAMUND wrote:
indiana wrote:
Shhh wrote:
No woman has qualified for 20 years? Thats a shocking stat, hopefully that run ends soon
It's a wee bit of a shock. But as ROSAMUND says you have to make allowance for Wimbledon MD WCs. Just about any GB top 250 ranked player or really top class younger player has been awarded such a WC, leaving our qualifying contestants to be a!most entirely only in the qualifying competition as QWCs, often nowhere remotely near the qualifying draw cut-off. Stll, not one ...
Until they revised the book in 2019 the annual Wimbledon Compendium gave a list of qualifiers going back to 1925 for the ladies singles. We can make allowances for wildcards but.... Karen Cross has been mentioned as the last qualifier in 1997 and 2001. Prior to that Mandy Wainwright who was mentioned before we moved the thread to general tennis discussion qualified in 1995. You have to go back to 1988 when Karen Hunter qualified and then Lesley Charles in 1979. Lesley Charles is in a select group of British women in the Open era having played in a Wimbledon final ,the mixed with Mark Farrell in 1973.However 5 qualifiers in 41 Wimbledon's is somewhat under whelming and is poor compared with men. In the 21st century Luke Milligan,Jaime Delgado(twice),Josh Goodall, Lee Childs, Chris Eaton, Marcus Willis and Alex Ward(now Heather's coach )have qualified.

We had a qualifier every year from 1968 to 1973. From 1974 to 1978 the only British female to qualify was Corinne Molesworth in 1975 and 1976 and Anthea Cooper was a lucky loser in 1976. So basically in 46 Wiimbledon's just 5 British women have ever managed to qualify. .

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Not quite on topic but history nonetheless.

tennis abstract has been compiling results from past years across the womens game and created quite an astounding data base of past events and results. They are using and referencing information from tennis forums, and presumably will find a way to do mens at some point.

This link is to 1957 results and we will see lots of Brits mentioned - Rosamund will have a field day.

All years more recent than 1957 up to the open era have a similar page - often with 2500-3000 plus results in them with finals of all tournies

www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2021/01/28/recreating-the-1957-womens-tennis-season-in-2600-easy-steps/

One thing that struck me is the British season - clearly many more than these days but through March to end May, the number of outdoor clay events played - clearly red shale as it was, but the outdoor part struck me - and also outdoor events in France in February, largely in Cannes.

The weather back in the 50's and 60's must have been much more predictable, i would be doubtful of much outdoor play these days around that time, in the UK at least!

Christine · Intermediate Club Player

From my memories of childhood and teenage holidays in 50s & 60s British summers were no more predictable than they are now. Memories of sitting in bus shelters in the pouring rain as thrown out of B&B after breakfast until teatime. I have a photo of us all on the beach in macs and wooly hats!!!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Christine wrote:
From my memories of childhood and teenage holidays in 50s & 60s British summers were no more predictable than they are now. Memories of sitting in bus shelters in the pouring rain as thrown out of B&B after breakfast until teatime. I have a photo of us all on the beach in macs and wooly hats!!!

Brrr. Perhaps the amateur players in those days had a hardy disposition!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Roehampton on shale 1st April

www.tennisabstract.com/cgi-bin/wtourney.cgi

emmsie69 · Top national player

JonH comes home wrote:
Christine wrote:
From my memories of childhood and teenage holidays in 50s & 60s British summers were no more predictable than they are now. Memories of sitting in bus shelters in the pouring rain as thrown out of B&B after breakfast until teatime. I have a photo of us all on the beach in macs and wooly hats!!!

Brrr. Perhaps the amateur players in those days had a hardy disposition!

My son has played outside since he was 7, generally he would miss the same number of lessons each term Winter and Summer. Coaches plan so that the children aren't stationary too much when it's cold.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

emmsie69 wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
Christine wrote:
From my memories of childhood and teenage holidays in 50s & 60s British summers were no more predictable than they are now. Memories of sitting in bus shelters in the pouring rain as thrown out of B&B after breakfast until teatime. I have a photo of us all on the beach in macs and wooly hats!!!

Brrr. Perhaps the amateur players in those days had a hardy disposition!
My son has played outside since he was 7, generally he would miss the same number of lessons each term Winter and Summer. Coaches plan so that the children aren't stationary too much when it's cold.

I remember the old bournemouth hardcourt event outside then, it snowed one year!

to be fair. I play outdoors happily, its just the idea of planning to get an international event played at that time! Feels like a risky strategy !

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Mentioning outdoor clay courts of the 1950's reminds one it must have been a good training ground for our female champions. Between 1955 and 1961Angela Mortimer, Shirley Brasher, Christine Truman and Ann Jones all won the French. Mortimer and Brasher were also runners up as well.It was obviously the amateur days but a successful few years.

I must look at what historical records have been put on tennis abstract.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

ROSAMUND wrote:
Mentioning outdoor clay courts of the 1950's reminds one it must have been a good training ground for our female champions. Between 1955 and 1961Angela Mortimer, Shirley Brasher, Christine Truman and Ann Jones all won the French. Mortimer and Brasher were also runners up as well.It was obviously the amateur days but a successful few years.
I must look at what historical records have been put on tennis abstract.

There are lots and lots of results every year from 57 onwards through late 60s.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Tennis Abstract has now logged every season from 1952 onwards for the womens game, quite a remarkable feat. So you can now find the result of any player you wish in any given year, so long as the match is recorded.

tennisabstract.com/seasons/1952_Womens_Season.html

I am hoping they will do the mens as that really interests me more!

results close to where I live in Harrogate, at Ilkley and Chapel Allerton are fascinating to see!

Priesty · Challenger level

Interesting to read about what some of our former players are up to now, thanks Rosamund biggrin

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

With thanks to SC for tracking down the right thread:

James Marsalek is now - Senior Manager, Strategic Projects & Event Operations at ATP Tour

Good on him !

GBJ · Club Coach

Didn't Katie Swan qualify a year or two ago?!

GBJ · Club Coach

From Katie's Wikipedia page:

"2021
Swan qualified for Wimbledon, defeating Arina Rodionova 60, 64 in the final qualifying round. In the first round of the main draw, she lost to 23rd seed Madison Keys."