Qualifying for the under 18s starts tomorrow with the draw here Qualifying features 3 Brits ranked inside 500 ITF (Given Roach, Flora Johnson and Sarah Tatu) with Given being in the same section as top qualifying seed Millie Skelton. The wildcards on offer (copied from Lambda's post) are:
18U Girls Singles Winner Wild card for Wimbledon Championships - Qualifying Wild card for Wimbledon Junior Championships - Main Draw Wild card for 1 x ITF W25 event (April/May 2022) - Main Draw Wild card for ITF W100 Ilkley (June 2022) - Main Draw Wild card for ITF J1 Roehampton - Main Draw
18U Girls Singles Finalist Wild card for Wimbledon Junior Championships - Main Draw Wild card for 1 x ITF W25 event (April/May 2022) - Main Draw Wild card for ITF W100 Ilkley (June 2022) - Qualifying Wild card for ITF J1 Nottingham & Roehampton - Main Draw
16U Girls Singles Winner Wild card for Wimbledon Junior Championships - Main Draw Wild card for 1 x ITF W25 event (April/May 2022) - Main Draw Wild card for ITF J1 Nottingham & Roehampton - Main Draw Wild card for ITF J2 (April 2022) - Main Draw
16U Girls Singles Finalist Wild card for Wimbledon Junior Championships - Qualifying
18U Girls Doubles Winners Wild card for Wimbledon Junior Championships - Main Draw
Straight sets wins for the 4 girls mentioned above, but CD's fave Daniela Piani lost 1 & 3 to Emma Cohen
The results that stood out for me was a nice easy win for Brooke Black (another 2007-er in that good batch of ones who are not up with Hep and Mimi but may well break out later) and Ruby Cooling who beat Abby Kelliher. Again, both 2007 youngsters, and interesting to follow them, again as part of the same cohort....
To be honest, Hannah K shouldn't be in this event, IMO.
And nor should Hep or Mimi, really, although I suppose they're Y1 of the category below, so I guess one category down is just about OK. (Although I'd still ban it - I like the French approach - you play your category - you can play up in all other tournaments - ITF doesn't care - but for Nationals, you aim to be champion of your category, end of).
No Eva Shaw - so obviously still injured.
And no Matilda, nor Jasmine.
Again, I wouldn't fund/support any junior who doesn't participate in the Nationals.
Again, as per in Europe - play with pride to be National Champion - if you don't want to play the game, then fine, but neither should the federation then.
(If Jasmine's withdrawn because she's injured, that's different, of course. And she did have a rather heavy loss last week, so it's possible)
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 2nd of April 2022 04:18:34 PM
Do you not see it as 18 and Under championships though, CD, rather than 16-18, 14-16 etc as I think youd rather them do it , CD.
Personally, Id rather see who is our best 18 and under player, whatever age they actually are, much more interesting. Effectively an open Junior class
So then would you allow them to also take part in the U16 and the U14s ? Or whatever other category/ies they fit?
Mmm. Id probably like Indy make 18s open to all and then make them play just their age group below. Or perhaps limit each player to one selected age group regardless. But Id be quite happy to let them play up if theyre good enough.
To be honest, Hannah K shouldn't be in this event, IMO.
And nor should Hep or Mimi, really, although I suppose they're Y1 of the category below, so I guess one category down is just about OK. (Although I'd still ban it - I like the French approach - you play your category - you can play up in all other tournaments - ITF doesn't care - but for Nationals, you aim to be champion of your category, end of).
No Eva Shaw - so obviously still injured.
And no Matilda, nor Jasmine.
Again, I wouldn't fund/support any junior who doesn't participate in the Nationals.
Again, as per in Europe - play with pride to be National Champion - if you don't want to play the game, then fine, but neither should the federation then.
(If Jasmine's withdrawn because she's injured, that's different, of course. And she did have a rather heavy loss last week, so it's possible)
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 2nd of April 2022 04:18:34 PM
I suspect (Grand Slams apart) that Matilda is already done with Junior Tennis.