2022 BJK Cup Qualifiers - Czech Republic vs GB - 15-16 April - plus pre Finals preamble

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

RE: 2022 BJK Cup Qualifiers - Czech Republic vs GB - 15-16 April

indiana · Tennis legend

Bagel wrote:
dodrade wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Emma out. No surprise. Not sure it really impacts our chances, although it makes the tie against Spain harder - Harriet won't beat Badosa but she had a realistic prospect of winning at #2 and taking it to doubles.
That's a shame given she seems to have been working hard on her fitness with Jez Green the past few weeks. Presumably Jodie and Sonay to come in then (if Katie Swan isn't fit either).
I would much prefer Lily (especially with her recent win on the courts) to Jodie any day!

Lily maybe but instead of Sonay rather than instead of Jodie. The Jodie of recent months is a rather different Jodie and to me would definitely come into contention before Sonay and possibly before Lily.

Though if Katie Swan is not an option I'd be tempted to find a spot for Lissey and/or Olivia in the 5 allowed.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 28th of October 2022 11:27:21 PM

dodrade · Futures qualifying

indiana wrote:
Bagel wrote:
dodrade wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Emma out. No surprise. Not sure it really impacts our chances, although it makes the tie against Spain harder - Harriet won't beat Badosa but she had a realistic prospect of winning at #2 and taking it to doubles.
That's a shame given she seems to have been working hard on her fitness with Jez Green the past few weeks. Presumably Jodie and Sonay to come in then (if Katie Swan isn't fit either).
I would much prefer Lily (especially with her recent win on the courts) to Jodie any day!
Lily maybe but instead of Sonay rather than instead of Jodie. The Jodie of recent months is a rather different Jodie.
Though I'd be tempted to find a spot for Lissey or Olivia in the 5 allowed.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 28th of October 2022 11:23:20 PM

Jodie has certainly improved this year but is still inconsistent, Lily even more so given her 1st round defeat to a junior this week after winning in Glasgow. Katie Swan hitting the gym this week so might still make the squad.

Now there are two vacant spots on the team Lissey and Liv could be brought in but it will probably be Heather and Harriet on doubles duty.

indiana · Tennis legend

By the way, while Lily did win the recent W60 title in Glasgow, that was at the Scotstoun Leisure Centre.

The BJK Cup Finals will, with all due respect to Scotstoun, be at the rather more impressive Emirates Arena, very different in more ways than probably court surface.

HarryGem · Club Coach

Steve J wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Not sure it really impacts our chances, although it makes the tie against Spain harder - Harriet won't beat Badosa but she had a realistic prospect of winning at #2 and taking it to doubles.
The same applies to the tie against Kazakhstan. Rybakina/Putintseva is arguably as strong as Badosa/Parrizas-Dias.

I am going to be a bit more optimistic. This is a bit of an unusual event. Right at the end of the season and who knows how fit or motivated any of the players really are.

Baroda and Putintseva have both been terrible at times this year and with home support you never know.

Losing Emma does not help but, she has also been terrible at times this year and Harriet would quite likely beat her at this time.

Shhh · Challenger level

HarryGem wrote:
Steve J wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Not sure it really impacts our chances, although it makes the tie against Spain harder - Harriet won't beat Badosa but she had a realistic prospect of winning at #2 and taking it to doubles.
The same applies to the tie against Kazakhstan. Rybakina/Putintseva is arguably as strong as Badosa/Parrizas-Dias.
I am going to be a bit more optimistic. This is a bit of an unusual event. Right at the end of the season and who knows how fit or motivated any of the players really are.
Baroda and Putintseva have both been terrible at times this year and with home support you never know.
Losing Emma does not help but, she has also been terrible at times this year and Harriet would quite likely beat her at this time.

Really?

RainDelay · Pro player

Shhh wrote:
HarryGem wrote:
Steve J wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Not sure it really impacts our chances, although it makes the tie against Spain harder - Harriet won't beat Badosa but she had a realistic prospect of winning at #2 and taking it to doubles.
The same applies to the tie against Kazakhstan. Rybakina/Putintseva is arguably as strong as Badosa/Parrizas-Dias.
I am going to be a bit more optimistic. This is a bit of an unusual event. Right at the end of the season and who knows how fit or motivated any of the players really are.
Baroda and Putintseva have both been terrible at times this year and with home support you never know.
Losing Emma does not help but, she has also been terrible at times this year and Harriet would quite likely beat her at this time.
Really?

Agree with this

Shhh · Challenger level

Where has Emma been terrible this year?

She's had several losses but mainly against top 100 players and I dont remember any tremendous snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory moments amongst them? We have all been disappointed when shes pulled up injured but "she has been terrible at times this year"?

I just dont see it?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree.

Emma's had a couple of really poor matches. Been way too passive, whatever.

But so have nearly all the players (I had to endure Harriet's attrocious match firsthand at Surbiton, and I can think of several other clear examples for other players)

Last year, I remember calculating where Emma would be if she'd made the quarters of the US Open, i.e. that winning it was a bit flukey, in terms of distorting her ranking, but she obviously was playing hugely better than a quali player so let's go for quarters.

And I think she's played about WTA 50-100 all year. Her ranking is fair. It's the result of a passable year. Nothing great, obviously disappointing in terms of injuries, and without the golden girl gloss of last year. But nothing horrendous.

SuperT · Futures level

RainDelay wrote:
Shhh wrote:
HarryGem wrote:
Steve J wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Not sure it really impacts our chances, although it makes the tie against Spain harder - Harriet won't beat Badosa but she had a realistic prospect of winning at #2 and taking it to doubles.
The same applies to the tie against Kazakhstan. Rybakina/Putintseva is arguably as strong as Badosa/Parrizas-Dias.
I am going to be a bit more optimistic. This is a bit of an unusual event. Right at the end of the season and who knows how fit or motivated any of the players really are.
Baroda and Putintseva have both been terrible at times this year and with home support you never know.
Losing Emma does not help but, she has also been terrible at times this year and Harriet would quite likely beat her at this time.
Really?
Agree with this

Well she may have been "terrible" but she's still the best we've got. Look at the race rankings and she's 61 in the world on 755 points, followed by Harriet WR 71 with 622 points and Heather WR 97 with 408 points. All of which suggests she'll be missed in the team.

Having said that, after all the injury this year I'd rather see her have a proper break to recover, followed be a really good off season training block to set her up for Australia. I can't see us winning the BJ King cup so there's no sense her risking further injury at this time.

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

I reckon all the players would play the BJK Cup finals if they had the chance, because playing in the national team is the pinnacle, especially in front of a home crowd. There's a lot of pressure on the so-called top players in these tournaments, but Anne Keothavong said before the last tie, that all the players were equally matched. The team captain has a bit more leeway in terms of the daily match-ups at these finals, is that right? Raducanu's injury came at a bad time, but she must be absolutely in need of a break after the last 18 months whirlwind. I hope that Anne feels able to share out the singles matches amongst all the designated singles players in the squad. Experience in these competitions comes only in the heat of battle, and Anne needs to keep one eye on the squad development, whilst also trying to get the best out of the players in this contest.

-- Edited by foobarbaz on Saturday 29th of October 2022 08:01:21 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

foobarbaz wrote:
I reckon all the players would play the BJK Cup finals if they had the chance, because playing in the national team is the pinnacle, especially in front of a home crowd. There's a lot of pressure on the so-called top players in these tournaments, but Anne Keothavong said before the last tie, that all the players were equally matched. The team captain has a bit more leeway in terms of the daily match-ups at these finals, is that right? Raducanu's injury came at a bad time, but she must be absolutely in need of a break after the last 18 months whirlwind. I hope that Anne feels able to share out the singles matches amongst all the designated singles players in the squad. Experience in these competitions comes only in the heat of battle, and Anne needs to keep one eye on the squad development, whilst also trying to get the best out of the players in this contest.

-- Edited by foobarbaz on Saturday 29th of October 2022 08:01:21 PM

I think Anne can select who she wants but they have to play in ranking order ie she cant promote a lower ranked player and make them number one, they would have to be singles 2 if they played and the other player selected had a higher rank. But she can choose whoever she feels is best for each tie

PaulM · Tennis legend

Lissey and Liv take the final two slots.

Seems an odd choice to me to take *both*. Heather is a very good doubles player and I would have rather had Jodie in as a third singles player option (and arguable she's a better pick at #2 than Katie B just now?).

Anyway, great experience for them to round off an excellent 12 months.

indiana · Tennis legend

PaulM wrote:
Lissey and Liv take the final two slots.

Seems an odd choice to me to take *both*. Heather is a very good doubles player and I would have rather had Jodie in as a third singles player option (and arguable she's a better pick at #2 than Katie B just now?).

Anyway, great experience for them to round off an excellent 12 months.

I'm fine wirh that. Can take a look at both and how say they each gel with Heather and /or Harriet, knowing that they can play as a pair. Though I would also have been OK with Jodie plus one of them.

Unless I've missed a further withdrawal l(?) we still have 3 singles players ie Harriet, Katie B and Heather so have singles and doubles options.

the addict · Tennis legend

Anne was at Shrewsbury, watching Jodie (and presumably Katie as well). After Jodie's performance I'm surprised she hasn't been selected.

Great end to the year for Lssey and Liv though.