Lambda wrote:

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But deucebag, there are very few top juniors on the PSP or any other top LTA programme here. There is only Ella on the PSP and Hannah Rylatt at a National Academy are on a LTA development program. There's nobody else here that as far as I'm aware is supported by the LTA.

On the PSP there is Jodie, Mimi and Hannah K (Hannah just been promoted to the programme this year, unsurprisingly) all in Australia and Sonay in the main draw here. On the MWP there is Ranah in the main draw here and Isabelle in Australia. The remaining girls at the National Academy are either in Australia (Hep, Mika), in Glasgow (Daniella, Hollie, Ruby) or, presumably injured (Talia, Abby Kelliher). Abby is from the other side of the Tyne so I would have expected here to play here if fit.

As for the wider conversation on why don't the LTA hold W15s. Let me be devil's advocate for a second. It's been pretty clear for several years now the LTA's mindset is to focus their professional player resources on those that have the potential to reach the top 100 rather than create a big pool of players to increase the chances of having top players emerging from unexpected places. The view may be if you've got that potential to get to the top 100 you should be competitive at W35 qualifying. It may be the LTA want to discourage players that will never make it from spending a fortune chasing dreams that they will never achieve and, for those without the resources, putting themselves in financial hardship, as the ITF tried to do with the changes a few years ago. The LTA would rather have a healthy domestic programme for those players with the best on the domestic scene being given opportunities at international events. Furthermore, W15s in the UK are likely to be strong and as only the last 16 will get WTA ranking points, they offer a poor return on investment.

This is just one potential view on the lack of 15ks, it may not be the LTAs and it isn't necessarily my view.

-- Edited by Lambda on Monday 15th of January 2024 07:47:39 AM

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 Im not convinced that this is the view that the Lta take on what level tournaments they host, and I dont believe they care at all on what any out of favour players spend their money on and where they would spend it.
I was kind of aiming towards Ella, but did not want to be cruel and name her as underachieving or anything, but I think she has 5 wins in her last 24 matches Which is well below Par considering she is on a PSP programme.

I had high hopes for her, especially with my roots being from Scotland, but sometimes I wonder if she is really that interested, but again as I said in a previous post, you never know if they could be dealing with something else outside of tennis.

Not surprisingly, all defeats today in the singles.

R1:- Kathinka von Deichmann (LIE) WR283 [1] def Eliz Maloney (GBR) WR593 (Q) 6-2 6-4
R1:- Julia Middendorf (GER) WR382 def Alice Gillan (GBR) WR779 (WC) 6-4 6-4
R1:- Valentina Ryser (SUI) WR291 [3] def Bronte Murgett (GBR) WR1365 (WC) 6-2 7-6(4)
R1:- Adithya Karunaratne (HKG) WR543 (Q) def Emma Wilson (GBR) WR987 (WC) 6-2 (3)6-7 6-3
R1:- Lois Boisson (FRA) WR324 [4] def Freya Christie (GBR) WR695 (Q) 6-3 6-1

the addict wrote:

 

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R1:- Laura Hietaranta (FIN) WR476 v Sarah Beth Grey (GBR) WR422

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 R1:Beth won 6-4 6-1