A very good day for the GB women overall, I reckon

Of the three that I thought had a chance of a big upset, Bronte managed to pull it off, and both Sarah and Emma took it to three sets, so a really decent effort

Mega congrats to Sophie Bekker which took me by surprise. And Brooke's was a lot closer than I'd expected.

I thought Isa would lose, unfortunately, so no real surprise there, but even Ciara and Ellie B posted very respectable scores too

Good show

Deucebag wrote:

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Mervatron2 wrote:

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Probably hoping for some bigger ones later in the year and get some match practice in.

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 But from what I gather, if you are on a Man/Womens program or psp you should receive around 4-6 per year But if you win your first match, once given a wildcard, I think that you still have the full amount, as you have made good use of the wildcard or something like that.

I cant make heads or tails of it as a lot of wildcards last year were given to players who I dont think really deserved them when other players who I believe deserved them did not get anything. I dont know if there is a written rule somewhere but it would be good to have a bit of transparency.  

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Women can have 3 main draw wild cards a year across all W35 to W100 events, plus up to 3 'merit' main draw wild cards (1 for each ITF event they get a win at as a main draw wild card). Wild cards only count towards this allowance when they get WTA ranking points. So as 1 pt is given to 1st round losers in a W50 and higher it means they would automatically use up 1 main draw wild card in those events. In a W35 it is effectively a free hit, as if they lose it doesn't count and if they win, it uses a WC but they would get a merit WC. So in a W50, W75, W100 they need to have a strategy of where best to use them - it is usually a risk v reward judgement where to request a wild card.

What we never know is if the player didn't request a WC or the LTA didn't grant that request. It may be that Ranah didn't request to have a main draw WC this week, or she may have requested a WC across both weeks and the LTA may have decided that across the 2 W50s she will have a WC next week. Or she may not have requested one in either week.

I'd agree the WC choices this week are a little curious, as I would have 8 women in consideration for the 4 WCs in Roehampton (Ranah, Isabelle, Hannah, Mimi, Mika, Eden, Katy D and Beth) whereas there is very little choice this week and Ranah would probably have made better use of it this week.

The LTA does have a published WC policy, which basically says that WCs in W35 are for 21 and under (primarily on a LTA programme) or to reward players with good recent results. W75 and above are for players likely to reach the top 100 or those that are likely to be able to compete at the level. It's not clear where W50s fit in between these as the policy has been the same for a few years with the year updated.

Bronte drops the first set 2-6

Bronte lost in three

Lambda wrote:

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Deucebag wrote:

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Mervatron2 wrote:

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Probably hoping for some bigger ones later in the year and get some match practice in.

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 But from what I gather, if you are on a Man/Womens program or psp you should receive around 4-6 per year But if you win your first match, once given a wildcard, I think that you still have the full amount, as you have made good use of the wildcard or something like that.

I cant make heads or tails of it as a lot of wildcards last year were given to players who I dont think really deserved them when other players who I believe deserved them did not get anything. I dont know if there is a written rule somewhere but it would be good to have a bit of transparency.  

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Women can have 3 main draw wild cards a year across all W35 to W100 events, plus up to 3 'merit' main draw wild cards (1 for each ITF event they get a win at as a main draw wild card). Wild cards only count towards this allowance when they get WTA ranking points. So as 1 pt is given to 1st round losers in a W50 and higher it means they would automatically use up 1 main draw wild card in those events. In a W35 it is effectively a free hit, as if they lose it doesn't count and if they win, it uses a WC but they would get a merit WC. So in a W50, W75, W100 they need to have a strategy of where best to use them - it is usually a risk v reward judgement where to request a wild card.

What we never know is if the player didn't request a WC or the LTA didn't grant that request. It may be that Ranah didn't request to have a main draw WC this week, or she may have requested a WC across both weeks and the LTA may have decided that across the 2 W50s she will have a WC next week. Or she may not have requested one in either week.

I'd agree the WC choices this week are a little curious, as I would have 8 women in consideration for the 4 WCs in Roehampton (Ranah, Isabelle, Hannah, Mimi, Mika, Eden, Katy D and Beth) whereas there is very little choice this week and Ranah would probably have made better use of it this week.

The LTA does have a published WC policy, which basically says that WCs in W35 are for 21 and under (primarily on a LTA programme) or to reward players with good recent results. W75 and above are for players likely to reach the top 100 or those that are likely to be able to compete at the level. It's not clear where W50s fit in between these as the policy has been the same for a few years with the year updated.

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 It is a fine balancing act as Matt James has already alluded to. Given that Hannah K and Mimi may have some JE to use as well, it is less of a dilemma, but for the likes of Ranah, Ella, Talia and Isabelle, who are not flying through the rankings then they need to pick and choose.

FQR:- Sophie Bekker (GBR) [WC] LOST TO Pemra Ozgen (TUR) WR573 [12] 5-7 1-6
FQR:- Bronte Murgett (GBR) WR1345 LOST TO Julie Belgraver (FRA) WR847 2-6 6-4 5-7
FQR:- Ranah Akua Stoiber (GBR) def Mara Guth (GER) WR541 [7] 6-1 7-6(1)

Wildcards to:
Eliz Maloney
Danielle Daley
Gabby P
Alice Gillan