After last week's Grade 2 we move up to a Grade 1, so only Ranah Stoiber is a direct entry. Contrasting fortunes for our girls and boys. Mingge Xu, Sarah Tatu and Talia Neilson-Gatenby all made it through qualifying (Sarah nicking her final qualifier 12-10 in the match tiebreak). In the boys Henry Searle, Matt Rankin and Luca Pow have been eliminated (though Luca reached the final qualifying, so might still pick up a Lucky Loser spot) while Louis Bowden has still to play his final qualifier.
That's a little unfortunate for our players to get drawn against the top seed AND the second seed
(although I guess there are four of them - sure someone clever could work out the odds..... )
I had a similar thought when I first saw the draw, but closer investigation of their records suggested that there were more dangerous seeds particularly than Zelnickova who is 3-7 in recent tournaments including a loss to Kylie Bilchev (by comparison last week's winner Andreeva is 44-8). And so it transpired (the other three girls play tomorrow)
Girls R1 (L32)
Ranah Akua Stoiber d. (2) Radka Zelnickova (SVK) 6-3 6-3
No further joy in round 1 but Ranah has already played her round 2 and battled through, thus ensuring she breaks into the top 100. Of possible concern is that she and partner retired later on from their doubles. Her quarter-final opponent has only dropped a handful of games so far.
Girls R1 (L32)
(1) Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) d. (Q) Mingge Xu 6-4 6-3
Lucia Peyre (ARG) d. (Q) Talia Neilson-Gatenby 6-2 6-4
Karolina Kozakova (SUI) d. (Q) Sarah Tatu 7-5 6-0
R2
Ranah Akua Stoiber d. Alevtina Ibragimova (RUS) 3-6 7-6(2) 6-2
A convincing win, but the semi should be a tougher challenge. Her Czech opponent was a Roehampton finalist, beating Ranah, the second seed here (Zelnickova) and the JWR1
QF
Ranah Akua Stoiber d. (7) Anca Alexia Todoni (ROU) 6-4 6-0
The Czech girl repeated her win over Ranah, but it is still a 4th high point scorer for Ranah in the second half of the year, setting her up well for Grand Slam entry next year
SF
(4) Linda Klimovicova (CZE) d. Ranah Akua Stoiber 7-6(5) 6-1
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