So here we are. The first of three rounds of votes to whittle our field down to one player of the season for 2023.
28 players, 14 women and 14 men, form 4 groups of 7. All the groups are evenly spread as far as possible and should be even in terms of type and level of player.
From the 7, the top 3 will proceed to the semifinals, 12 in total across the groups. IF there is a tie for being in the top 3, the tied players (however many) will be put into a subsequent rapid tie break vote to take place after this vote closes.
This vote will run through to SATURDAY 1005PM ( I have realised I am out Saturday night, haha).
The list of players is below in this Group is below - vote for one who you believe is the player of the season from the group, and please give a reason and tell us who you vote for, it helps draw attention to the voting process and is more interesting:
From this group, I was personally finding it the hardest to determine who I felt could be player of the month. Lots of depth but did anyone stand out?
Jack D - injury hit, reached a final of ATP 250 event and won a challenger; if he hadnt been hit by injury or had won his DC match in Spain two weeks ago, he might have got my vote. If he had won the title in the 250 final, he might have got it!
Maia - never have I enjoyed womens doubles so much as following Maia's battle to get to number one. Kudos to her, and a big ranking rise. She won 6 titles and deserves lots of credit but, ultimately, it doesnt attract my vote
Emilie - great end to the season and took two doubles titles, and got a PoM RU spot to boot; but there are others above her for me. Well done though.
Liam - he got there, he made the top 100!! Great effort and a career ambition achieved. Won a Challenger singles and a doubles title also. I am very tempted to vote for Liam!
Mimi - like Hannah, what a talent she is, and she won two J300 titles, plus did well in doubles. But I cannot rate her above some of the senior guys in my thinking.
George - did so well and again, kudos, he achieved a massive rankings rise and 3 M25 titles, winning May PoM along the way, well done to him
Jodie - a great year, won a decent level title, like Liam she made it into the top 100 and won a player of the month title and a RU award as well.
For me it comes down to Jodie or Liam - as I follow the mens game and know how much it meant to him, I have to vote for Liam!
I should have stated, as with all other votes, a player getting zero votes will not be able to progress to the next round. Zero votes do not make you a player of the season!
This is the only group left where that situation could arise, however unlikely, so I thought I would make that point clear here. So far 2 players have votes in this group
Oh I don't know....
I realise how serious and life-changing these votes are (!) so I won't stoop to getting out a pin, however much it's tempting.
I'll go for Liam.
Top 100 is such a big milestone that Jodie and Liam are the standout candidates for me here. I have a big soft spot for Jodie and enjoy watching her playing, even though her meltdowns are so frustrating. (I really hope she can get some help with sorting out her mental game.) So, sorry Liam, but Jodie got my vote.
If people are able to comment when they vote, I believe it attracts people to check the thread and maybe vote as well. You dont have to, of course, but I think it helps! Thank you!
-- Edited by JonH comes home on Friday 8th of December 2023 07:58:54 PM