A full article in The Sunday Times by Hugh Daniel and Stuart Fraser

Rose wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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dodrade wrote:

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Great stuff! When I first heard about Mika on this forum there was some suggestion IIRC that she was overly favoured by the LTA but she's certainly proving her potential now.

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 I recall that discussion as well, maybe 12/18 months ago! 

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 Yes, I think there were some people whose daughters used to beat Mika who didn't receive the same help - which is always difficult to explain to parents (and can be open to abuse by the authorities) - it's saying we go by potential (in our eyes), not by results, it's the tennis that matters, not the score

I wasn't in that camp but I put my hand up completely to saying she looked rather 'taught', that she had a lot of problems when the ball came in a schema of play outside her comfort zone, she wasn't the most natural ball player, or runner, say.

But I remember saying that Maria Sharapova was exactly the same in that regard - indeed, their games are very similar and it wasn't at all surprising to read that Mika was inspired by Maria and tried to base her game on hers

David Brewer (I think the commentators say it is) should also have his credit here too - he's taken her on as Mika moved to Loughborough this year - and the change in her game has been really marked. Not the basics obviously, but he's helped so much in working on the weaknesses while giving her the confidence to really focus on her power. 

Indeed, the change in venues is interesting. I honestly think that Hannah Klugman has suffered, having made the move in Jan to be fulltime at the NTC (and I can see why, given the set-up there). Conversely, having moved away, to Loughborough, Mika has come into ther own. Mind you, they're both/all very young still, there's a long way to go.

But that first set against Iva Jovic will go down in history, I think. The best set of tennis, against the clear favourite, I've ever seen.

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 Mika won the 14U grass national championships a couple of years ago. Lost to Teegan bush in the round robin boxes (11-9 in the 3rd tiebreak) on a match that was played on clay due to rain. Went through box in second and went on to win with some fantastic tennis. Watched all her matches and you are absolutely right - when the ball was in her hitting zone she was unbeatable. When she was on the run the story was completely different. The potential was always there and the improvement over the last couple of years has been huge.

Moving to the national academy - surrounded by other young players and going to school with them and travelling with them seems by far the best set up for a young player. I would imagine that Hannah, in comparison, would be quite isolated and might possibly have been the wrong decision for her. I hope Mika stays at the academy for a bit rather than go onto the pro programme as the current set up is definitely working for her!

 

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 Thanks, Rose - glad I wasn't mad 

And, yes, every time I go to the NTC it seems quite a 'lonely' place, it's got a rarefied atmopshere, not 'real', like a house which you've put on the market and you're expecting potential buyers to come round for a visit in half an hour, and it's all titivated up with special flowers and bread baking in the oven, just for the aroma, not that anyone's going to eat the bread - I couldn't in a million years picture any 15 year-old enjoying spending their time there 24/7

Like you, I hope this title doesn't immediately change Mika's plans - as you say, what she's doing is obviously working so well for her, and she's still so young 

Coup Droit wrote:

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DavidC wrote:

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Lambda wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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Lambda wrote:

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By my reckoning Mimi moves up to JWR 8, Mika moves up to JWR 11 ahead of Hannah who falls to JWR 13.

Mika would take the JWR 8 ahead of Mimi if she wins tomorrow.

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 Any idea where they might sit in the race to the junior tour finals with these results? 

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These are the rankings for qualification. Top 7 qualify - the 8th place is reserved for a Chinese girl - so they'll need someone ahead of them to decide not to take up their place to make it to the junior tour finals.

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 I agree with your calculations - ie I expect Mika to be 8th and Mimi 9th when the new and final rankings come out. However the situation regarding the 8th place is more nuanced.  It is reserved for a Chinese player, only if there is a Chinese player in the top 25 (and none in the top 7). No Chinese player meets the criteria, so 8th (Mika) should receive a direct invite.  Also the alternate position would go to a Chinese player if there were one ranked inside 75 (there won't be).  So Mimi should receive an invite as alternate, which would be upgraded if anyone in the top 8 pulls out.

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 Gosh, yes, that's quite subtle

Thanks, David 

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 But sad for Hannah as she has been leading the charge if Mika and Mimi qualify but still plenty of time. 

Coup Droit wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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dodrade wrote:

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Great stuff! When I first heard about Mika on this forum there was some suggestion IIRC that she was overly favoured by the LTA but she's certainly proving her potential now.

---

 I recall that discussion as well, maybe 12/18 months ago! 

---

 Yes, I think there were some people whose daughters used to beat Mika who didn't receive the same help - which is always difficult to explain to parents (and can be open to abuse by the authorities) - it's saying we go by potential (in our eyes), not by results, it's the tennis that matters, not the score

I wasn't in that camp but I put my hand up completely to saying she looked rather 'taught', that she had a lot of problems when the ball came in a schema of play outside her comfort zone, she wasn't the most natural ball player, or runner, say.

But I remember saying that Maria Sharapova was exactly the same in that regard - indeed, their games are very similar and it wasn't at all surprising to read that Mika was inspired by Maria and tried to base her game on hers

David Brewer (I think the commentators say it is) should also have his credit here too - he's taken her on as Mika moved to Loughborough this year - and the change in her game has been really marked. Not the basics obviously, but he's helped so much in working on the weaknesses while giving her the confidence to really focus on her power. 

Indeed, the change in venues is interesting. I honestly think that Hannah Klugman has suffered, having made the move in Jan to be fulltime at the NTC (and I can see why, given the set-up there). Conversely, having moved away, to Loughborough, Mika has come into ther own. Mind you, they're both/all very young still, there's a long way to go.

But that first set against Iva Jovic will go down in history, I think. The best set of tennis, against the clear favourite, I've ever seen.

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 I guess different players prefer or benefit from different set ups. Isn't Hannah working with Ben Haran? They seem to (and I'm sure she's mentioned) that they have a good bond. I hope she can stay with him and maybe have him as a full time coach?