Firstly, and for no real reason, I saw a bit of the first set of Honey Robinson v Lainee Ngassam
Which was a pretty poor match, although they're very young, these players, but even for U11s....
And I saw Hermione Korpanec-Davies, on Rosie's nod, v Katie Randall
This was a very good match - although it's the U14s and you naturally expect a far higher technical level
Katie was the player with the best serve in girls I've seen this week - nice to see someone at this age actually have a serve that is a weapon. (Note - I've only been dipping into the 'other' girls' matches, not Megan, Dani etc - leave that for the latter stages). And she won, and deservedly so, playing good tennis
However, Katie is 2010, and Hermione is 2011, which is important to note. Hermione put out some decent tennis too, good fitness, well trained, but a little prone to slap the ball.
Katies mum is a tennis coach and even from 8U/9U has been really keen to make sure Katie has developed game for older years. Shes never just tapped the ball to get it in. Lost matches because of it in orange and green ball but paying off now. Yes, I like Hermione KD a lot. Like her fight and movement. Prefer Grace but still think Hermione will go a long way. We shall see!
There's a lot of youngsters who play the 'get the ball in at all cost' sort of game - and it largely goes nowhere
Grace Watson is definitely a fave - I was really impressed when I saw her (albeit on livestream) a few months ago in whichever event it was - I marked her down
(Not convinced about Hermione, but she's got a serious tennis family behind her which will certainly help)
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Wednesday 21st of August 2024 09:16:02 AM
And Rosie and I might have smiles - super win for 2011-born Grace Watson against 2010-Daisy Wootton - it was a very decent, enjoyable match
Also, just to note, the matches I've seen recently have been very fairplay - there were several balls that both Daisy Wootton and Katie Randall 'could' have called out, if they'd been that way inclined - the balls were definitely 'in' but I've seen other players call such balls out
(the other girls were absolutely fair too, but these two has several balls that struck me)
And Rosie and I might have smiles - super win for 2011-born Grace Watson against 2010-Daisy Wootton - it was a very decent, enjoyable match
Also, just to note, the matches I've seen recently have been very fairplay - there were several balls that both Daisy Wootton and Katie Randall 'could' have called out, if they'd been that way inclined - the balls were definitely 'in' but I've seen other players call such balls out
(the other girls were absolutely fair too, but these two has several balls that struck me)
Im not saying it will be yet but I think Grace is going to be the strongest female player to have come from Dorset/west Hants club for a while. Same club and county as Daniella but I think in a year or two Gracie is going to be beating her.
(I'm hoping Gracie's wings will spread a little wider than 'best propsect in Dorset/West Hants' )
Katie Randall won her QF quite easily, from what I saw in the first set
Ginny had an MTO at one point, and looked rather down and dejected
And then I think she retired - hope she's OK
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Wednesday 21st of August 2024 11:18:51 AM
Yes I probably didnt phrase that very well!!!
I was comparing her favourably to Dani (who is currently the top ranked 14U girl in GB) as they are at the same club, with the same coaches and from the same county. I do think Grace will be the better of the two so will also be top GB/Europe in time. I just didnt make it sound like that!
NB You're call on the U11s is spot on - the match between Sahara and Coco is a super match for U11s
(And I know that Sahara is only 2014, 10 years old)
Coco plays a tight, nice, correct game - far better than quite a lot of the U12s
And Sahara is far more fluid, a bit of everything, but some really surprising skills
I should have had more faith in Coco definitely beating Chloe. I knew if she did then she would push Sahara but as Coco has been injured this year (had to withdraw from a couple of big events) I wasnt sure how her fitness would hold up. Shes not striking quite as freely as usual and is making some uncharacteristic mistakes but theres still a lot to like. Trains there at Nottingham alongside Hollie Ruck and Evie Pritchard. Evie never got out the box stage and that has been the only big surprise to me in the 11U girls so far.
-- Edited by Rose on Wednesday 21st of August 2024 03:05:50 PM
In the midst of all this, a big mega congrats to Scott Watson who is our GB U14 National Champion 2024
A tight, three-set match, not much in it, really; both boys put on a good performance, feel a little sorrt for Eric as he lost the final last year, I think, too
But Scott played well - earlier this year I'd remarked that he played good shots but didn't really play them at the right time - he's getting a little more strategic in his play now, pleased to say, better schemas of play
As CD indicated it was the second successive defeat for Eric in the under 14 finals - last year Niall Pickerd-Barua, the other member of the World Junior Tennis U14 squad, was the beneficiary (explaining also why he wasn't here)
Boys U14 F
(2) Scott Watson d. (1) Eric Lorimer 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4
U11 F
Max Hodkinson v Cameron Rae
Girls U14 SF
(1) Daniella Britton v (7) Grace Watson
(6) Katie Randall v (2) Megan Knight
Excited by the extremely natural tennis that Sahara puts out there, especially being one year young, only having turned 10 this year
Megan is also one year young (as is Grace) - looking forward to that final - Megan looks a lot stronger, growing up, putting on muscle - it's good to see