So, here we go - 16 players nominated this month and it could be a very interesting vote.
Remember, if you feel able , please say who you vote for and why, it makes it more interesting than me just droning on!
I will give the odd status update (as I always do) but wont give the voting scores away until close to the end.
Vote will close at 6.50 pm on Tuesday evening, 4th April
Here are the nominees and the reasons why:
1. Georgina Hays - aged 16 - for beating WTA 537 Xinxin Yao in ITF France 25k, QR1
2. Annabel Hristova - aged 14 - she won the singles AND the doubles in the J60 in Norway. Her first event at this level. Only her 7th ITF tournament ever.
3. Tamara Kuti - aged 15 - winning the doubles in Senegal J60.
4. Jack Draper - returned from injury to reach the last 16 at Indian Wells and beat Dan Evans and then Andy Murray in the process, both in straight sets.
5. Emma Raducanu - beat Linette and Haddad Maia, two circa top 20 players, in a run to the last 16, winning 3 matches in one event of this level for only the first time since her US Open triumph in 21.
6. Oliver Bonding - reached the final of the J300 Indian Wells, seeded 5th, and entered the JR Top 50 as a 2007 born player
7. Gordon Reid - after a season dogged by injury, Gordon reached the semis of the Super Series Cajun Classic, beating two seeded players in doing so. He re-enters the singles top 10 at WR9; also won the Cajun Classic and Georgia Open doubles in partnership with Alfie Hewett and goes back to WR 2 in doubles after falling to 6
8. Billy Harris - For reaching his first ever Challenger Final and his first ever win against a Top 100 player.
9. Liam Broady - For his ongoing consistently high level and reaching another Challenger Final
10. Charlie Robertson (born 2006) - for reaching two consecutive J200 finals in the Dominican Republic and winning the second.
11. Benjamin Gusic Wan (born 2007) - for winning two consecutive J100 titles on home soil in Loughborough.
12. Jan Choinski - for repeated progress - down to 692 last August - take a look at him now. Into semis of ATP Challenger 125 in Mexico City. About about to break into top-200
13. Ben Jones - having drifted around the ATP 1300s or so for several years, Ben suddenly had a lightbulb month - making the final of a 25k in singles, in Canada, and smashing into the top-900
14. Joel Pierleoni & Matt Howse - as wildcards, out of nowhere, from unranked, this month the duo have been runners-up and now champions in Egypt 15k doubles
15. Jodie Burrage - winning the W60 in France - her biggest title to date - and reaching a new CH in the process (WR109 to be confirmed). RU doubles in same event.
16. George Loffhagen - winning the 25k in India - only 21 - talented - been away for a while - he's back with a title !
So, for me, the candidates I felt I could vote for narrowed down to:
Charlie Robertson and Ben GW - both did good things and repeated performances in more than one week;
Similarly, Joel and Matt impressed me for the same reason
Gordon Reid had a great month and came back from his injuries to perform at the highest level in his category
Jodie did excellently this week and was my second vote, if I had two I would have given her the second vote for sure.
But one player really got my excitement going this month and, as i dont wish to be too mechanical about it all, I decided it was Billy who is getting my vote this month
Special mentions from me for Billy, Liam, Emma and Jodie.
But my vote goes to George. Just the one week but what a statement week. Comprehensive win over the top 250 ranked #1 seed in R1 of his India M25 and then going all the way to the title. Super to see.
Special mentions from me for Billy, Liam, Emma and Jodie.
But my vote goes to George. Just the one week but what a statement week. Comprehensive win over the top 250 ranked #1 seed in R1 of his India M25 and then going all the way to the title. Super to see.
Yes, and I should probably have added George in my list of 6 (or 7) for sure. Too many candidates!!
So so hard this month for all the right reasons but I've gone for George, honourable mention to Billy and Jodie, hopefully there'll be an opportunity to vote for them both another time.
Plenty of good candidates, but I choose Jodie as she has made a big improvement in recent weeks, winning her biggest title and showing the mental strength that we thought was lacking. A new CH about to be confirmed and only a small step into the top 100 and slam main draws.
Edited for typos and autocorrect
-- Edited by the addict on Monday 3rd of April 2023 06:30:35 AM
29 votes now in with 12 hours gone. Although it usually slows down from here, thats a great start. The most votes a Pom vote has had is 45 from the November 2022 vote, player of the season 2022 got 46. Would be great to get somewhere close to that (Jan 23 got 42 and Feb 23 got 44).