the addict wrote:

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Doubles

L16:- Emily Arbuthnott (GBR) / Chelsea Vanhoutte (BEL) (627+720) [1] v Julie Gervais (FRA) / Samia ???? (FRA) (756+ ???)

(I'll try and find out who Samia is later in the week - they aren't on the OOP for Tuesday according to sofascore)

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 There is Sammari Ame a young Tunisian (former Fench colony) - but other than that I couldn't find anybody except
Samia Maaroufi who seems to be German.  The draw now shows her to be Samia MEDJAHDI - a retired Algerian tennis player, 

-- Edited by Strongbow on Tuesday 24th of August 2021 03:00:25 AM

Strongbow wrote:

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 There is Sammari Ame a young Tunisian (former Fench colony) - but other than that I couldn't find anybody except
Samia Maaroufi who seems to be German.  The draw now shows her to be Samia MEDJAHDI - a retired Algerian tennis player, 

 -- Edited by Strongbow on Tuesday 24th of August 2021 03:00:25 AM

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 I looked up Samia Medjahdi on the ITF website linking through from livescores, and she shows as French and aged 36, but with no match or ranking history at all. Clearly the link must be wrong, and the Algerian player (who is also on the ITF players list, but with her surname in capitals !) has to be the correct player, with a singles CH of370 (Aug 2006) and doubles CH of 505 (August 2005)

Good to see Emily back on the tour again. I hope she cans string a few wins together and start getting her ranking back up.

It was a 48 draw in qualifying, so 2 points for a first round win. Small steps in the right direction !

the addict wrote:

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R1: ARBUTHNOTT, Emily (GBR) 1058/297 (CH=551/283) def VANHOUTTE, Chelsea (BEL) 899/159 (CH=867/154 2020) 6-0 7-5

Pity these two had to play each other, since they are partners in the doubles this afternoon.

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 That happens quite often, i suspect it is a deliberate policy by some of the players. If they are having to partner someone they have never seen before then why not choose to play with their opponent in the singles. At least they will then get some idea of each others strengths and weaknesses before they partner each other in the doubles.  

Interesting thought Peter, but not sure if that can actually happen, as isn't the doubles sign-in deadline usually midday on the day before the main draw starts - and the main draws are often not published until later in the day ?

Christine - no, it isn't random. They choose their partners, with an eye on the rankings to make sure they get into the draw.