Week 43 - ITF W75 Glasgow, Great Britain - Indoor Hard

Blue_Belle · Club Coach

RE: Week 43 - ITF W75 Glasgow, Great Britain - Indoor Hard

Var · Pro player

Blue_Belle wrote:
Crispy wrote:
I know we're all very excited by these youngsters, but since British tennis elite players have been plagued with injuries (I think Heather is the only top player who I can think of as being consistently fit/minor injuries in the last 20 years) I would rather these players focus on growing into their bodies and developing their games with that in mind, and think about where they could be in the future. It's a long running joke on TF that British players are made of glass...I don't think any additional pressure should be placed on them. Not that anyone here is - we all want the best for them!
And even Heather had that bout of glandular fever at one point

Agree Crispy et al. What is clear, despite our excitement we dont have a Mirra or a Coco here and there are similar aged youngsters ahead of all three in the senior WTA rankings , including 16 year old Iva Jovic, ranked at 235. Mimi around the 500s is the oldest at just turned 17, Hannah around 600 s with Mika. Despite Hannahs younger age she has gone backwards so far this year, which is to be expected . It all shows they need more experience at senior level to progress, within their capability. I dont think any of the big three will break through into the top 300s until next year at the absolute earliest. A few months doesnt make a massive amount of difference, it is still a lottery with injury concerns. I dont think on the mens side, we have another Andy in the mix yet. However there could be someone coming up who isnt on the radar who could take us all by surprise. Thats the beauty of this game. I still think Jack and Emma are our best bets going forward and of the two Rmma looks like she could get another slam.Not sure on Jack. Needs a bit more to sustain at the highest level.

-- Edited by Var on Friday 25th of October 2024 07:36:56 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Var wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
Crispy wrote:
I know we're all very excited by these youngsters, but since British tennis elite players have been plagued with injuries (I think Heather is the only top player who I can think of as being consistently fit/minor injuries in the last 20 years) I would rather these players focus on growing into their bodies and developing their games with that in mind, and think about where they could be in the future. It's a long running joke on TF that British players are made of glass...I don't think any additional pressure should be placed on them. Not that anyone here is - we all want the best for them!
And even Heather had that bout of glandular fever at one point
Agree Crispy et al. What is clear, despite our excitement we dont have a Mirra or a Coco here and there are similar aged youngsters ahead of all three in the senior WTA rankings , including 16 year old Iva Jovic, ranked at 235. Mimi around the 500s is the oldest at just turned 17, Hannah around 600 s with Mika. Despite Hannahs younger age she has gone backwards so far this year, which is to be expected . It all shows they need more experience at senior level to progress, within their capability. I dont think any of the big three will break through into the top 300s until next year at the absolute earliest. A few months doesnt make a massive amount of difference, it is still a lottery with injury concerns. I dont think on the mens side, we have another Andy in the mix yet. However there could be someone coming up who isnt on the radar who could take us all by surprise. Thats the beauty of this game. I still think Jack and Emma are our best bets going forward and of the two Rmma looks like she could get another slam.Not sure on Jack. Needs a bit more to sustain at the highest level.

-- Edited by Var on Friday 25th of October 2024 07:36:56 AM

Although not another Andy, I do see Jack as a top tenner for sure and quite possibly a grand slam winner at the right time, maybe a one off.

Jake is forging through and it will be fascinating to see how high rises and JoMo is showing similar signs of surging up the rankings. Jake has top 50 all over him and JoMo looks to me like a top 100 candidate.

Cam - who knows if he can climb back; Evo will get back to top 100, I think. He will make it his lifes work to do so! And Billy I think will claw his way into it at some point, maybe just for one week; Id also be not writing off Liam and Kyle one day getting back there, although both feel a long shot right now.

below that, theres a bunch of men or boys like Henry, Charlie, Oli , also, Oli T, Luca, etc that we should keep an eye on but no chance of telling if any of them will make it yet.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

And sorry this is the womens Glasgow thread so I wont post anymore about our mens prospects here!

DF · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
Today's singles results

L16:- Dominika Salkova (CZE) WR152 [1] def Hannah Klugman (GBR) WR610 [WC] 6-3 2-6 7-5
L16:- Amarni Banks (GBR) WR283 [8] def Ella McDonald (GBR) WR445 7-5 6-1
L16:- Amelia Rajecki (GBR) WR605 [WC] def Vivian Wolff (USA) WR407 6-1 6-3
L16:- Valentina Ryser (SUI) WR231 [7] def Freya Christie (GBR) WR733 [Q] 6-3 6-2
L16:- Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) WR332 def Tamira Paszek (AUT) WR353 7-6(3) 6-3
L16:- Mariam Bolkvadze (GEO) WR228 [6] def Sarah Beth Grey (GBR) WR387 6-4 6-0

*****

QF:- Dominika Salkova (CZE) WR152 [1] Amarni Banks (GBR) WR283 [8]
QF:- Amelia Rajecki (GBR) WR605 [WC] v Simona Waltert (SUI) WR205 [5]

QF:- Valentina Ryser (SUI) WR231 [7] v Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) WR332

Well done Jodie. QF: Jodie WINS 7-6(4) 7-5

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Nice match, some good tennis there from both, good win for Jodie

Crispy · Strong Club Player

3 wins on the trot is very good from JB. Going to be setting her up well for when she chooses to use her SRs next year

wales1994 · County player

JonH comes home wrote:
Var wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
Crispy wrote:
I know we're all very excited by these youngsters, but since British tennis elite players have been plagued with injuries (I think Heather is the only top player who I can think of as being consistently fit/minor injuries in the last 20 years) I would rather these players focus on growing into their bodies and developing their games with that in mind, and think about where they could be in the future. It's a long running joke on TF that British players are made of glass...I don't think any additional pressure should be placed on them. Not that anyone here is - we all want the best for them!
And even Heather had that bout of glandular fever at one point
Agree Crispy et al. What is clear, despite our excitement we dont have a Mirra or a Coco here and there are similar aged youngsters ahead of all three in the senior WTA rankings , including 16 year old Iva Jovic, ranked at 235. Mimi around the 500s is the oldest at just turned 17, Hannah around 600 s with Mika. Despite Hannahs younger age she has gone backwards so far this year, which is to be expected . It all shows they need more experience at senior level to progress, within their capability. I dont think any of the big three will break through into the top 300s until next year at the absolute earliest. A few months doesnt make a massive amount of difference, it is still a lottery with injury concerns. I dont think on the mens side, we have another Andy in the mix yet. However there could be someone coming up who isnt on the radar who could take us all by surprise. Thats the beauty of this game. I still think Jack and Emma are our best bets going forward and of the two Rmma looks like she could get another slam.Not sure on Jack. Needs a bit more to sustain at the highest level.

-- Edited by Var on Friday 25th of October 2024 07:36:56 AM
Although not another Andy, I do see Jack as a top tenner for sure and quite possibly a grand slam winner at the right time, maybe a one off.

Jake is forging through and it will be fascinating to see how high rises and JoMo is showing similar signs of surging up the rankings. Jake has top 50 all over him and JoMo looks to me like a top 100 candidate.

Cam - who knows if he can climb back; Evo will get back to top 100, I think. He will make it his lifes work to do so! And Billy I think will claw his way into it at some point, maybe just for one week; Id also be not writing off Liam and Kyle one day getting back there, although both feel a long shot right now.

below that, theres a bunch of men or boys like Henry, Charlie, Oli , also, Oli T, Luca, etc that we should keep an eye on but no chance of telling if any of them will make it yet.

It's great to have stars, but I do think on the womens side - this is the best it has ever looked. We have Katie in the top 30, Emma, Harriet and Sonay all in the top 100. Of the three I think Emma has the higher ceiling, but it's still great to have 4 women in the top 100. When I started watching tennis circa 2006 - we were all just hoping we could have ONE top 100 player. On top of this, we have Mika who has won a junior slam and just took a top 60 player to a final set tiebreak, she also beat Jovic - a incredibly promising junior on her way to the trophy in Flushing Meadows. Hannah has regressed this year but she has so much potential, she's still growing and is a very athletic / speedy player. Mimi has so much power on her shots and serve, again, she just needs experience.

Then you still have Heather showing that you can have a decent career spanning over 14 years, with 9 of those in the top 100 (she might not have reached the heights we hoped for, but she's had a fantastically long and successful career). Jodie was recently top 100 and hopefully she can get back there. Amrani Banks has a lot of potential too, same with Jones (but she's so hampered with her condition that she'll likely never have a consistent spell on tour - still could see her cracking the top 100 at some point.)

My point is, we have real depth with a great group of girls doing things we would've taken with both hands in the early 2000s. So it's a great place to be in!

indiana · Tennis legend

I think that's very well summarised, wales1994.

Apart from one previous week this is the first time this century ( and probably well before that ) that we have had 4 women in the top 100, with Sonay a best ranked #4 at WR 92, plus Jodie who was top 100 before injury. And yes, the early 2000s was another world.

Add our junior girls and these are historically really good times for GB women, with much to hopefully get excited about over the upcoming years.

And actually even at the very top end, cmon, we had a US Open champion just 3 years ago, and I do think that Emma might come back to at least where she was, and Katie isn't doing too badly.

We are indeed fortunate to be following GB women in these times.

scottie1 · Futures level

See Marni has won in two easy sets against Sulkova.
Marni looked to be the best player in tournament when I saw her yesterday against Ella.

Sheddie · administrator

All so true. I remember starting this forum in 2005, and I don't think there were any women in the top 100? Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong occasionally winning a round in a slam was a big cause for excitement. Our Fed Cup team never made it past the Euro-African Zone - anyone making it to round 3 of a slam was a genuine standout moment.

And that was the case for pretty much all the 2000s. When Baltacha and Keothavong actually made the top 100 and briefly sneaked inside the top 50, that was a huge moment. Heather winning a WTA title in 2012 was the first time any of our players had won a tournament above ITF level since 1988. I remember covering Wimbledon for the first time in 2013, Laura reaching the fourth round alongside Andy and BBC 5Live hailing it as a huge moment for British tennis.

The progress made in the last 20 years has been quite incredible really, having Jo Konta make the top 4 and spend several years as a serious slam contender, then Emma actually winning one, and Katie Boulter hoovering up several titles and reaching the top 30.

Over the next 3 years, it's quite foreseeable that we might have 6-7 top 100 players, and maybe 3-4 in the top 50. If Emma stays fit, she has the quality to be top 10 and a regular slam contender. I think Sonay could go on to be top 50. And I'm sure that at least one of the 3 highly talented teens is going to go on to have a seriously good career. Who knows, perhaps we could have a genuine tilt at winning the BJK Cup in the next few years.

We'd have been amazed at any of this back in the mid 2000s, when the pickings for a British tennis fan really were very slim.

the addict · Tennis legend

QF:- Amarni Banks (GBR) WR283 [8] def Dominika Salkova (CZE) WR152 [1] 6-2 6-1
QF:- Amelia Rajecki (GBR) WR605 [WC] lost to Simona Waltert (SUI) WR205 [5] 1-6 5-7
QF:- Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) WR332 def Valentina Ryser (SUI) WR231 [7] 7-6(4) 7-5

*****

SF:- Amarni Banks (GBR) WR283 [8] v Simona Waltert (SUI) WR205 [5]

SF:- Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) WR332 v Mariam Bolkvadze (GEO) WR228 [6]

the addict · Tennis legend

Doubles

SF:- Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) / Freya Christie (GBR) CR451 (395+156) [1] def Madeleine Brooks (GBR) / Amelia Rajecki (GBR) CR397 (152+245) [3] 3-6 6-3 12-10
SF:- Mariam Bolkvadze (GEO) / Isabelle Haverlag (NED) CR573 (419+154) [4] def Holly Hutchinson (GBR) / Ella McDonald (GBR) CR650 (346+304) 6-3 6-3

*****

F:- Jodie Anna Burrage (GBR) / Freya Christie (GBR) CR451 (395+156) [1] v Mariam Bolkvadze (GEO) / Isabelle Haverlag (NED) CR573 (419+154) [4]

Peter too · Tennis legend

We are having a good week this week with six girls in the QFs and four of them in the SFs.

Peter too · Tennis legend

We went for nine years without a woman in the top 100. I started commenting on the Rusedski site in 2006 before moving to here and the only interest was in the men's game, so I started commenting on the women players. My comments were initially treated as a bit of a joke, it was as if women played a different game. I think we have since had 13 women in the top 100. It is now very encouraging with four in the top 100 and Jodie and Heather with a chance of returning there.

As well as the three teenage stars there are several other young players moving up steadily, albeit at a slower pace but sometimes the tortoise does beat the hare, particularly in tennis with its risk of injury. Possible ones on the list are Amarni Banks 22, Mimi Xu 17, Ella McDonald 19, Ranah Stoiber 19, Hannah Klugman 15, Mika Stojsavljevic 15 and Hephzibah Oluwadare 16. The future of British women's tennis certainly looks bright for the next decade or so.

-- Edited by Peter too on Friday 25th of October 2024 04:35:59 PM