This notion that Sonay only play British events or rarely travels is very unfair on her. Last year 13 of her 20 events were overseas. Her only British events were the winter swing at the beginning of the year and the grass series. She skipped the spring and summer swings, choosing to play elsewhere. This year she played overseas in January, then was out due to her health scare and played 2 of her 3 events on her return overseas before the grass season. The only time in the last 18 months when her choice to play domestic events instead of travelling overseas can be questioned is the last month. I'm sure she had her reasons for choosing to play in GB instead of travelling this summer.
She is provisionally entered for France or Portugal for week 37.
I think what most people mean - and is 100% right - is that Sonay is not an 'adventurous' traveller
You say she's played a lot 'overseas' - which is correct in terms on non-Brit but implies to most people something a little more farflung
Whereas Sonay basically only plays in Europe
She's been to the US for the US Open, and once to Australia for the Australian Open
But that's it
This trip to the US is the first time she's left Europe (to play tennis) since Jan 2023
Most certainly. It's $100k this year and $52k for FQR
Does a lucky loser definitely get first round losers cash even if they lose in first round?
Technically yes, but effectively no. They get main draw prize money only, but they don't get full prize money. If the withdrawing player they replace is eligible for 50% of 1st round prize money then the Lucky Loser will receive prize money for the round they reached less the 50% of 1st round prize money paid to the player they replaced. So a lucky loser replacing a player who received 50% first round prize money, who lost in the first round would get about the same prize money than if they were not a LL.
Is Lily's ranking high enough to give her any chance of making it as a lucky loser?
I'm pretty sure that Sonay has no chance of that route, but Lily was a low seed for the qualies, so I'm wondering if she has a chance.
She definitely has a chance, having ended up being the 3rd highest-ranked player to go out in the final qualifying round:
(1) Rakhimova
(3) Baptiste
(31) Miyazaki
Since Jabeur's withdrawal was known about before qualifying finished, the top five highest-ranked losers in qualifying (i.e. the three above plus the two highest-ranked unseeded FQR losers) will have gone into the draw to decide the order of priority for lucky loser places. Rakhimova must have won that because she has already got a lucky loser place. Lily may need anything between 1-4 more withdrawals in order to get in.
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Is Lily's ranking high enough to give her any chance of making it as a lucky loser?
I'm pretty sure that Sonay has no chance of that route, but Lily was a low seed for the qualies, so I'm wondering if she has a chance.
She definitely has a chance, having ended up being the 3rd highest-ranked player to go out in the final qualifying round:
(1) Rakhimova
(3) Baptiste
(31) Miyazaki
Since Jabeur's withdrawal was known about before qualifying finished, the top five highest-ranked losers in qualifying (i.e. the three above plus the two highest-ranked unseeded FQR losers) will have gone into the draw to decide the order of priority for lucky loser places. Rakhimova must have won that because she has already got a lucky loser place. Lily may need anything between 1-4 more withdrawals in order to get in.
As there was only one withdrawal before the end of qualifying I think it's still only four names in the hat.
Many thanks for the replies - sorry it took a while for me to say thanks - my excuse was that a very elderly person was dancing all day to Fat Boy Slim and Baby Queen at a music festival.
I do think its really up to Sony snd every player to compete wherever they like and if its in Eutope only, thats up to them. Travelling is hard enough so win in Europe! Why fly to USA or Asia?? She has nothing to prove. Maybe she prefers it that way
Of course. However, if she continues to climb the rankings as she is, she will have to travel more.
Yes. Presumably she DOES prefer it that way, as newby says, otherwise she wouldn't do it.
And a lot of the players are still very young - some will be 'younger' than others too, no matter what their age is.
Beth Grey said a while back that it took her a long time to really get conifdent enough to travel and play - and this is pretty common - from what I've seen, too, it's more of an issue for young women (although Oli Golding is a classic male case of the same)
It can take a while but, as Merv says, it goes with the territory - if you're going to aim high, you're going to have to get your head round the travelling
And travelling when you get to wta level is 5* but travelling itf level can be brutal, expensive and lonely. Surrounded by a team..great. Alone because of funds, not great. This is a sport for the wealthy.