Week 37 - WTA250 - Jasmin Open, Monastir, Tunisia - Hard

dodrade · Futures qualifying

RE: Week 37 - WTA250 - Jasmin Open, Monastir, Tunisia - Hard

steven · Tennis legend

9vicman wrote:
indiana wrote:
Superb, well done Sonay

I make it that on Monday it will be only the 2nd week this century that we will have had 4 women in the singles top 100. And, given that on the previous occasion GB #4 was precisely WR 100, it will be the best ranked GB #4 we will have had.

I don't know how far back it would be since we had more than 4 in the top 100 or a better ranked GB #4.

Anyway, that previous occasion was 16/07/2012:
WR 71 Heather Watson
WR 76 Anne Keothavong
WR 91 Laura Robson
WR 100 Elena Baltacha
Think that's one for Stephen. Am guessing it might be sometime in the 80s. We had up to 6 Top 100 players at one stage.

I can't answer that fully now, the WTA data are too sketchy, though I'm hoping I'll have a better chance later this year - it would be the 1980s though, I'm pretty certain. We had 4 at the end of 1984 (Durie at 24, Hobbs at 59, Wade at 61, Croft at 82) and at the end of 1986 (Durie at 24, Gomer at 59, Croft at 82 and Hobbs at 99) - source Tennisabstract, which has year-end WTA singles rankings going back to 1984.

I think we probably last had more than 4 WTA top 100 players in the 1970s rather than the 1980s, but the last time we had a higher-ranked no. 4 looks like it must have been sometime between the end of 1984 (when we definitely did - see above) and late 1986 or early 1987 if Anne Hobbs moved up a bit before dropping back again.

My own year-end records went back all the way to 1975 (I got them before the WTA wiped them from their site) but they are on a backup disk either here or in the US that I need to find.

Some others stats for you - I think today will be the start of the 4th period in the Open era when GB has had 4 players who have each won at least 1 WTA singles title active in singles at the same time.

1983-1984 - Wade, Barker, Durie & Hobbs (Barker retired at the end of 1984)

1985 - Wade, Durie, Hobbs & Croft (Wade retired from singles at the end of 1985, though she played doubles in 1986)

1988-1989 - Durie, Hobbs, Javer, Gomer (Javer won her title in April 1988 just a few weeks after Croft had retired, and Gomer won her title in July 1988 - famously the last Brit to win a WTA singles title until Heather won Osaka 24 years later! Hobbs retired in 1989)

2024 - Watson, Raducanu, Boulter & Kartal

* Durie & Hobbs both won their first WTA titles in 1983 (Durie 2 of them), the last time GB has won 3 WTA titles in the same year - sports statistician Max Wadsworth tweeted this and he's correct.

Also, having won no WTA singles titles for 24 years between July 1988 and October 2012, GB has now won 13 (12 'normal' WTAs + 1 slam) in half that time - 4 each for Jo Konta and Heather Watson, 3 for Katie Boulter, 1 each for Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal.

Brendan F · Lower Club Player

indiana wrote:
Yes, was just watching highlights too.

youtu.be/6t6zOOGdrCg

Curious watching these highlights. Apart from Sonay winning set point and match point, every other point seemed to be won by Sramkova. I'm not sure what, if anything, to make of that.

Spireman · Club Coach

steven wrote:
9vicman wrote:
indiana wrote:
Superb, well done Sonay

I make it that on Monday it will be only the 2nd week this century that we will have had 4 women in the singles top 100. And, given that on the previous occasion GB #4 was precisely WR 100, it will be the best ranked GB #4 we will have had.

I don't know how far back it would be since we had more than 4 in the top 100 or a better ranked GB #4.

Anyway, that previous occasion was 16/07/2012:
WR 71 Heather Watson
WR 76 Anne Keothavong
WR 91 Laura Robson
WR 100 Elena Baltacha
Think that's one for Stephen. Am guessing it might be sometime in the 80s. We had up to 6 Top 100 players at one stage.
I can't answer that fully now, the WTA data are too sketchy, though I'm hoping I'll have a better chance later this year - it would be the 1980s though, I'm pretty certain. We had 4 at the end of 1984 (Durie at 24, Hobbs at 59, Wade at 61, Croft at 82) and at the end of 1986 (Durie at 24, Gomer at 59, Croft at 82 and Hobbs at 99) - source Tennisabstract, which has year-end WTA singles rankings going back to 1984.
I think we probably last had more than 4 WTA top 100 players in the 1970s rather than the 1980s, but the last time we had a higher-ranked no. 4 looks like it must have been sometime between the end of 1984 (when we definitely did - see above) and late 1986 or early 1987 if Anne Hobbs moved up a bit before dropping back again.
My own year-end records went back all the way to 1975 (I got them before the WTA wiped them from their site) but they are on a backup disk either here or in the US that I need to find.
Some others stats for you - I think today will be the start of the 4th period in the Open era when GB has had 4 players who have each won at least 1 WTA singles title active in singles at the same time.
1983-1984 - Wade, Barker, Durie & Hobbs (Barker retired at the end of 1984)
1985 - Wade, Durie, Hobbs & Croft (Wade retired from singles at the end of 1985, though she played doubles in 1986)
1988-1989 - Durie, Hobbs, Javer, Gomer (Javer won her title in April 1988 just a few weeks after Croft had retired, and Gomer won her title in July 1988 - famously the last Brit to win a WTA singles title until Heather won Osaka 24 years later! Hobbs retired in 1989)
2024 - Watson, Raducanu, Boulter & Kartal
* Durie & Hobbs both won their first WTA titles in 1983 (Durie 2 of them), the last time GB has won 3 WTA titles in the same year - sports statistician Max Wadsworth tweeted this and he's correct.
Also, having won no WTA singles titles for 24 years between July 1988 and October 2012, GB has now won 13 (12 'normal' WTAs + 1 slam) in half that time - 4 each for Jo Konta and Heather Watson, 3 for Katie Boulter, 1 each for Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal.

-- Edited by Spireman on Monday 16th of September 2024 11:28:09 AM

Priesty · Challenger level

dodrade wrote:
Priesty wrote:
scottie1 wrote:
the addict wrote:
For the record

F: (Q) Sonay Kartal WR151 def Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) WR136 6-3 7-5

Predicted ranking is WR96

What a week !
Thought Sramkova looked very po faced at end of the match with briefest of hand shakes .
Yes, and I also noticed how she started her runner-up speech by saying well done to "my opponent" rather than naming Sonay and that didn't sit right with me. Sonay on the other hand referred to her as "Rebecca" and pointed out that she had beaten Sonay last year which I thought was a lot nicer and more gracious.
Well done Sonay!! Who would have seen this coming just 3 months ago?
Perhaps she didn't remember Sonay and/or how to pronounce her name?

I would have thought that after being at the same tournament as someone for a whole week you would know their name, especially towards the end when there were only a few players still left, and also that you would look up information about their record and playing style as part of your pre-match preparation.Having said that Ive never been a professional tennis player so its just an assumption on my part.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

To be honest, Im always in awe of how these players post match actually sound so together and confident, even when English is a foreign language.

Ive spoken in front of a few hundred folks on a few occasions, maybe 4 or 5 (and Im 59) and even with prepared slides, its nerve wracking. You obviously put game face on and its all a show, but post a match, having lost , without having too much prep (I cant imagine the players are prepping their speech the night before!) it impressive how well most of them come over - and many of these guys are late teens, early 20s. My daughter is 23 and she is terrified of speaking to a group of peers let alone on TV and to thousands on the arena and millions on TV.

So I cut them a lot of slack in these moments!

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Re year end rankings not sure what John Barretts world of tennis yearbooks show for the early years.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

JonH comes home wrote:
To be honest, Im always in awe of how these players post match actually sound so together and confident, even when English is a foreign language.

Ive spoken in front of a few hundred folks on a few occasions, maybe 4 or 5 (and Im 59) and even with prepared slides, its nerve wracking. You obviously put game face on and its all a show, but post a match, having lost , without having too much prep (I cant imagine the players are prepping their speech the night before!) it impressive how well most of them come over - and many of these guys are late teens, early 20s. My daughter is 23 and she is terrified of speaking to a group of peers let alone on TV and to thousands on the arena and millions on TV.

So I cut them a lot of slack in these moments!

Well I was in awe at the French championships when Marion Bartoli (French) conducted a full interview in English with the rising star Jasmine Paolini(Italian)._

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

Spireman wrote:
steven wrote:
9vicman wrote:
indiana wrote:
Superb, well done Sonay

I make it that on Monday it will be only the 2nd week this century that we will have had 4 women in the singles top 100. And, given that on the previous occasion GB #4 was precisely WR 100, it will be the best ranked GB #4 we will have had.

I don't know how far back it would be since we had more than 4 in the top 100 or a better ranked GB #4.

Anyway, that previous occasion was 16/07/2012:
WR 71 Heather Watson
WR 76 Anne Keothavong
WR 91 Laura Robson
WR 100 Elena Baltacha
Think that's one for Stephen. Am guessing it might be sometime in the 80s. We had up to 6 Top 100 players at one stage.
I can't answer that fully now, the WTA data are too sketchy, though I'm hoping I'll have a better chance later this year - it would be the 1980s though, I'm pretty certain. We had 4 at the end of 1984 (Durie at 24, Hobbs at 59, Wade at 61, Croft at 82) and at the end of 1986 (Durie at 24, Gomer at 59, Croft at 82 and Hobbs at 99) - source Tennisabstract, which has year-end WTA singles rankings going back to 1984.
I think we probably last had more than 4 WTA top 100 players in the 1970s rather than the 1980s, but the last time we had a higher-ranked no. 4 looks like it must have been sometime between the end of 1984 (when we definitely did - see above) and late 1986 or early 1987 if Anne Hobbs moved up a bit before dropping back again.
My own year-end records went back all the way to 1975 (I got them before the WTA wiped them from their site) but they are on a backup disk either here or in the US that I need to find.
Some others stats for you - I think today will be the start of the 4th period in the Open era when GB has had 4 players who have each won at least 1 WTA singles title active in singles at the same time.
1983-1984 - Wade, Barker, Durie & Hobbs (Barker retired at the end of 1984)
1985 - Wade, Durie, Hobbs & Croft (Wade retired from singles at the end of 1985, though she played doubles in 1986)
1988-1989 - Durie, Hobbs, Javer, Gomer (Javer won her title in April 1988 just a few weeks after Croft had retired, and Gomer won her title in July 1988 - famously the last Brit to win a WTA singles title until Heather won Osaka 24 years later! Hobbs retired in 1989)
2024 - Watson, Raducanu, Boulter & Kartal
* Durie & Hobbs both won their first WTA titles in 1983 (Durie 2 of them), the last time GB has won 3 WTA titles in the same year - sports statistician Max Wadsworth tweeted this and he's correct.
Also, having won no WTA singles titles for 24 years between July 1988 and October 2012, GB has now won 13 (12 'normal' WTAs + 1 slam) in half that time - 4 each for Jo Konta and Heather Watson, 3 for Katie Boulter, 1 each for Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal.

Apologies but I know Heather is doing well in Seoul currently but where you put 2024 it should be Dart instead of Watson!

What is the meaning of this? Harriet Dart has never won a main tour title to the best of my recollection. Watson certainly has - she was the player breaking the 20+ year duck that Steven referred to.

the addict · Tennis legend

Harriet has won 5 singles titles, but the highest level was ITF W25 - nothing above that.

seagull · Hall of fame

Brendan F wrote:
indiana wrote:
Yes, was just watching highlights too.

youtu.be/6t6zOOGdrCg
Curious watching these highlights. Apart from Sonay winning set point and match point, every other point seemed to be won by Sramkova. I'm not sure what, if anything, to make of that.

Not too surprising. Sonay was super solid getting everything back deep. Sramkova did hit some really nice winners but also a lot more errors than Sonay.

Spireman · Club Coach

Jeff Stelling wrote:
Spireman wrote:
steven wrote:
9vicman wrote:
indiana wrote:
Superb, well done Sonay

I make it that on Monday it will be only the 2nd week this century that we will have had 4 women in the singles top 100. And, given that on the previous occasion GB #4 was precisely WR 100, it will be the best ranked GB #4 we will have had.

I don't know how far back it would be since we had more than 4 in the top 100 or a better ranked GB #4.

Anyway, that previous occasion was 16/07/2012:
WR 71 Heather Watson
WR 76 Anne Keothavong
WR 91 Laura Robson
WR 100 Elena Baltacha
Think that's one for Stephen. Am guessing it might be sometime in the 80s. We had up to 6 Top 100 players at one stage.
I can't answer that fully now, the WTA data are too sketchy, though I'm hoping I'll have a better chance later this year - it would be the 1980s though, I'm pretty certain. We had 4 at the end of 1984 (Durie at 24, Hobbs at 59, Wade at 61, Croft at 82) and at the end of 1986 (Durie at 24, Gomer at 59, Croft at 82 and Hobbs at 99) - source Tennisabstract, which has year-end WTA singles rankings going back to 1984.
I think we probably last had more than 4 WTA top 100 players in the 1970s rather than the 1980s, but the last time we had a higher-ranked no. 4 looks like it must have been sometime between the end of 1984 (when we definitely did - see above) and late 1986 or early 1987 if Anne Hobbs moved up a bit before dropping back again.
My own year-end records went back all the way to 1975 (I got them before the WTA wiped them from their site) but they are on a backup disk either here or in the US that I need to find.
Some others stats for you - I think today will be the start of the 4th period in the Open era when GB has had 4 players who have each won at least 1 WTA singles title active in singles at the same time.
1983-1984 - Wade, Barker, Durie & Hobbs (Barker retired at the end of 1984)
1985 - Wade, Durie, Hobbs & Croft (Wade retired from singles at the end of 1985, though she played doubles in 1986)
1988-1989 - Durie, Hobbs, Javer, Gomer (Javer won her title in April 1988 just a few weeks after Croft had retired, and Gomer won her title in July 1988 - famously the last Brit to win a WTA singles title until Heather won Osaka 24 years later! Hobbs retired in 1989)
2024 - Watson, Raducanu, Boulter & Kartal
* Durie & Hobbs both won their first WTA titles in 1983 (Durie 2 of them), the last time GB has won 3 WTA titles in the same year - sports statistician Max Wadsworth tweeted this and he's correct.
Also, having won no WTA singles titles for 24 years between July 1988 and October 2012, GB has now won 13 (12 'normal' WTAs + 1 slam) in half that time - 4 each for Jo Konta and Heather Watson, 3 for Katie Boulter, 1 each for Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal.

Apologies but I know Heather is doing well in Seoul currently but where you put 2024 it should be Dart instead of Watson!
What is the meaning of this? Harriet Dart has never won a main tour title to the best of my recollection. Watson certainly has - she was the player breaking the 20+ year duck that Steven referred to.

Apologies, after a long thread of quotes I muddled up the four on top 100 with four having won main draw titles, as four in top 100 was mentioned higher up.

9vicman · Satellite level

At the end of 1981, there were 6 British women in the Top 100: Barker, Wade, Durie, Hobbs, Coles, Jevans. So certainly into 1982 more than 4 in the Top 100.

9vicman · Satellite level

And Sonay already out of Top 100 on live rankings.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

9vicman wrote:
And Sonay already out of Top 100 on live rankings.

Can't we enjoy Sonay's success for more than a couple of days? She's a Top 100 player for at least a week, live rankings are constantly in flux (and aren't used for tournament entries or seedings) so are neither here nor there.