Week 25 - LTA Wimbledon Wild Card Play Offs - Wimbledon (Grass)

Bagel · Lower Club Player

RE: Week 25 - LTA Wimbledon Wild Card Play Offs - Wimbledon (Grass)

Andy Parker · Club Coach

It is beginning to look as if Katy D will probably face Naiktha in the final of one half of the draw and Millie v Katie S in the other. It will be a massive advantage for any player who can win their quarter finals comfortably and a big disadvantage for anyone who ends up in a long 3 set match. I don't really see the logic of the play offs being over 2 days - for me, it would be much better if they played one match per day, so that players are not hampered by being in a long quarter finals match.

Anyway some very intriguing match ups today - no disrespect intended to any of the other 6 players, but I would have liked to have seen Millie and Katie S gaining the play off places and I think it is a shame that they are both in the same half of the draw and so cannot both qualify.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't feel that Katie Swan has been particularly hard done by, by coming up against Millie (or not being in qualis directly)

She's been out for quite a few months, hasn't played any events at all to show level or match fitness (not even a British Tour event or something) - and she obviously would have got into Surbiton or Ilkley qualis, say, at a minimum, if she'd wanted to

No criticism, and huge fan of Katie S, but it seems fine to me that she's here, taking the luck of the draw

I feel slightly more for Millie

But then you could also say, she was/could be given several 'rich' wildcards -

i.e. the higher level losers here stand a very strong chance of getting wilcards nextweek for Eastbourne, no? Which will be some consolation for not having Wimbly qualis ones

emmsie69 · Top national player

I think Naiktha was a little unlucky not to get a WC into the qualies given her recent form as was Millie and both deserve to be in the draw but Katie threw a spanner in the works by showing up.
We could of course blame Emma's team for their massive f*** up at Madrid. Without that there would be atleast 1 extra WC but equally, if Jodie had been fit, there would have been 1 less!
Can any of these players still get offered a WC into the draw after competing here. I wonder if they could move Sonay into the MD, freeing up a WC and then not play the Katie/Amelia match (assuming both make it through their next match)

ETA I don't think anyone thinks Katie has been hard done by. It's just a shame that the 2 with the best chance of getting through qualies have ended up drawn against each other for a place.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Friday 21st of June 2024 06:56:31 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I think a wildcard into Eastbourne (qualis, at least), though, is quite an attractive proposition

And Ella most certainly should get one (and Ranah) as they're the only ones who have been truly stymied

i.e. the argument would go that, yes, Millie 'should' have got a wildcard into Wimbly qualis, BUT if she can't qualify here, then actually she shouldn't (same applies to Naiktha) - if they can't beat the level here, then they shouldn't be in Wimbly qualis and have proved the selectors right

But Ella (and Ranah) never even got their chance - so give them something nice at Eastbourne, at least

And a Wimbeldon doubles wildcard

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 21st of June 2024 07:20:20 AM

Blue_Belle · Club Coach

Might someone get a WC into Bad Homburg? I know Katie S has played there and....Sonay? And might make sense since Wimbledon gave Kerber a WC (as well as being a former winner anyway).

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Just to clarify, I don't think that Katie S will feel hard done by, with her draw at all - 2 wildcards to face in the first 2 rounds and then probably Millie in the final round. I actually was intimating in my previous post that I think that Katie S may come through her semi final pretty comfortably, but I think that Millie's match will be pretty close and so if I am right (and admittedly it is quite a lot of crystal ball gazing), then I think that Katie S will be much fresher for the final round and so will have a big advantage over her opponent.

A lot of us on here have watched Katie S for years and feel that when fit for any length of time, she has a game that is good enough to make the top 100. Having been brilliant as a junior, she first went through a period when every time she lost, it caused her huge personal traumas and feelings of worthlessness as a person and tennis player - she spoke at length about that and about struggling to overcome mental issues to get herself in a better place. Then she picked up a succession of injuries which didn't help, but doctors diagnosed a problem of trapped nerves that was causing spasms and back problems and it was felt that her recent operation could cure her. With her ranking at 514, her career is really at a crossroads - she is still good enough and young enough to make the top 100 and have a great career, but there is also the real danger that many more setbacks will finish her as a tennis player.

I am really keeping my fingers crossed for her - along with Katie B and Emma, she is probably our best prospect, though l we do have lots of good 15 and 16 year olds, who may well hit the big time in 2 or 3 years time.

Anyway it is a good draw for Katie and really coming up first against 2 wildcards is actually an ideal way for her to get back on court again.

Var · Pro player

Andy Parker wrote:
Just to clarify, I don't think that Katie S will feel hard done by, with her draw at all - 2 wildcards to face in the first 2 rounds and then probably Millie in the final round. I actually was intimating in my previous post that I think that Katie S may come through her semi final pretty comfortably, but I think that Millie's match will be pretty close and so if I am right (and admittedly it is quite a lot of crystal ball gazing), then I think that Katie S will be much fresher for the final round and so will have a big advantage over her opponent.

A lot of us on here have watched Katie S for years and feel that when fit for any length of time, she has a game that is good enough to make the top 100. Having been brilliant as a junior, she first went through a period when every time she lost, it caused her huge personal traumas and feelings of worthlessness as a person and tennis player - she spoke at length about that and about struggling to overcome mental issues to get herself in a better place. Then she picked up a succession of injuries which didn't help, but doctors diagnosed a problem of trapped nerves that was causing spasms and back problems and it was felt that her recent operation could cure her. With her ranking at 514, her career is really at a crossroads - she is still good enough and young enough to make the top 100 and have a great career, but there is also the real danger that many more setbacks will finish her as a tennis player.

I am really keeping my fingers crossed for her - along with Katie B and Emma, she is probably our best prospect, though l we do have lots of good 15 and 16 year olds, who may well hit the big time in 2 or 3 years time.

Anyway it is a good draw for Katie and really coming up first against 2 wildcards is actually an ideal way for her to get back on court again.

I am backing Katie S as well. She must take inspiration from Katie B, who similarly had a glittering junior career but injuries hampered her progress. Fingers crossed for Katie.

simon381 · Lower Club Player

Katie S is clearly feeling good - won the first 10 games against Allegra.

SDL had set point but broken for 5-5 against Katy Dunne

Millie seemed to relax in the 2nd set which she lost but wins the final set 6-1 against Eliz Maloney

verveandsolley · Junior player

although slightly concerning Katie has now lost 3 games in a row! Hope it's just a blip and she hasn't picked up an injury...

Do we actually know how many Qual wildcards are going to be available from this pre-qual comp? Doesn't seem clear whether it is 1 or 2. Looks like it will be Katy, Katie, Milly and Issy/Naiktha in the last 4.

I'm pretty sure it's meant to finish today? So surely there can only be one further round to go?

I'm torn about who I want to qualify as I am going Tuesday. From selfish view I want to see Katie and Katy, but would be gutted for the others who have staked a pretty good claim for qualy consideration.

verveandsolley · Junior player

Katie has quickly won 2nd set 6-3, so looks like she's fine and it was indeed a blip

indiana · Tennis legend

verveandsolley wrote:
although slightly concerning Katie has now lost 3 games in a row! Hope it's just a blip and she hasn't picked up an injury...
Do we actually know how many Qual wildcards are going to be available from this pre-qual comp? Doesn't seem clear whether it is 1 or 2. Looks like it will be Katy, Katie, Milly and Issy/Naiktha in the last 4.
I'm pretty sure it's meant to finish today? So surely there can only be one further round to go?
I'm torn about who I want to qualify as I am going Tuesday. From selfish view I want to see Katie and Katy, but would be gutted for the others who have staked a pretty good claim for qualy consideration.

It's a guaranteed 2 each year. They never play a 'final'. Some years they have ultimately given more though no room left this year.

HarryGem · Club Coach

Coup Droit wrote:
I think a wildcard into Eastbourne (qualis, at least), though, is quite an attractive proposition

And Ella most certainly should get one (and Ranah) as they're the only ones who have been truly stymied

i.e. the argument would go that, yes, Millie 'should' have got a wildcard into Wimbly qualis, BUT if she can't qualify here, then actually she shouldn't (same applies to Naiktha) - if they can't beat the level here, then they shouldn't be in Wimbly qualis and have proved the selectors right

But Ella (and Ranah) never even got their chance - so give them something nice at Eastbourne, at least

And a Wimbeldon doubles wildcard

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 21st of June 2024 07:20:20 AM

But what is the level here and what is it supposed to be? Really Katie S being part of this gives the whole competition a false level. If she is fit to play she should have been given a wildcard into Wimbledon qualifiers without having to play this competition. You could argue that by being here in a competition she should frankly walk given her previous ranking and experience there is a risk of denying a wild card to the very level of player this is supposed to encourage.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

Katie v Millie - intriguing match up and will be fascinated to see who wins that. Good luck to both players - Millie is beginning to look like a very good prospect and rapidly improving player, whatever happens, and great to see Katie S back, of course.

simon381 · Lower Club Player

As has been pointed out with Katie S, she was injured, indicated only 2 weeks ago she was a few weeks off returning and has not played any lower level tournaments to demonstrate she was OK. I imagine she has entered here to see how it feels and see what her level is and I can understand her not getting a QWC directly. It would appear she is quite strong. Interesting final match then against Millie!