After Aldershot Sarah Tatu moves swiftly to East European clay, but will need to overcome the local third seed to progress (albeit this is not a strong Grade 2, as the third seed is ranked outside 150)
Doubles doesn't appear to suit Sarah at present (though she did win a couple of Grade 5s last year)- a fifth consecutive tournament without a win
R2
Lavinia Morreale (ITA) v Sarah Tatu
Talking of doubles, I wondered what the thoughts are of those into the Junior game on the combined singles / doubles ranking system in juniors. I realise it is 1/4 points but I wondered how much it skewed the rankings at any level and what the logic of having doubles is within the same ranking system? I assumed it was two fold - to encourage doubles as a game at junior level so that any players not making it in singles have some experience to perhaps play pro level doubles? Or b, perhaps it is to keep costs down by not having doubles specialists popping up and taking places in the draws at events - effectively the singles and doubles fields would be the same or, indeed, perhaps they are intended to be the same?
I am guessing it is more the latter that drives it but that the narrative is more likely to be pointed towards encouraging doubles as a game - with the real reason being tournament costs??
Talking of doubles, I wondered what the thoughts are of those into the Junior game on the combined singles / doubles ranking system in juniors. I realise it is 1/4 points but I wondered how much it skewed the rankings at any level and what the logic of having doubles is within the same ranking system? I assumed it was two fold - to encourage doubles as a game at junior level so that any players not making it in singles have some experience to perhaps play pro level doubles? Or b, perhaps it is to keep costs down by not having doubles specialists popping up and taking places in the draws at events - effectively the singles and doubles fields would be the same or, indeed, perhaps they are intended to be the same?
I am guessing it is more the latter that drives it but that the narrative is more likely to be pointed towards encouraging doubles as a game - with the real reason being tournament costs??
More the former. They used to have separate rankings for singles and doubles, but combined the two in 2004, mainly to encourage a rounded approach to development, playing both singles and doubles. This is from a press release at the time: "The ITF Board of Directors have approved the introduction of a combined singles and doubles junior world ranking with effect from 1st January 2004. The Combined Junior Ranking will replace the Junior Singles and Junior Doubles Rankings and will be the sole junior ranking published by the ITF. The introduction of the Combined Junior Ranking aims to encourage the doubles game at junior level and subsequently at professional level. It is also believed that it will encourage a more rounded game among junior players." I think it was a good move.
Talking of doubles, I wondered what the thoughts are of those into the Junior game on the combined singles / doubles ranking system in juniors. I realise it is 1/4 points but I wondered how much it skewed the rankings at any level and what the logic of having doubles is within the same ranking system? I assumed it was two fold - to encourage doubles as a game at junior level so that any players not making it in singles have some experience to perhaps play pro level doubles? Or b, perhaps it is to keep costs down by not having doubles specialists popping up and taking places in the draws at events - effectively the singles and doubles fields would be the same or, indeed, perhaps they are intended to be the same?
I am guessing it is more the latter that drives it but that the narrative is more likely to be pointed towards encouraging doubles as a game - with the real reason being tournament costs??
More the former. They used to have separate rankings for singles and doubles, but combined the two in 2004, mainly to encourage a rounded approach to development, playing both singles and doubles. This is from a press release at the time: "The ITF Board of Directors have approved the introduction of a combined singles and doubles junior world ranking with effect from 1st January 2004. The Combined Junior Ranking will replace the Junior Singles and Junior Doubles Rankings and will be the sole junior ranking published by the ITF. The introduction of the Combined Junior Ranking aims to encourage the doubles game at junior level and subsequently at professional level. It is also believed that it will encourage a more rounded game among junior players." I think it was a good move.
Ok, cool, thanks DavidC. I was therefore being a little cynical!
