British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

I watched most of Mikas match today and thought the difference in her movement, shot consistency and shot placement was streets ahead of what I saw at RG and Wimbledon in the juniors - I presume shes benefitted from almost 100% tennis training and tournaments for the last 3 months and the uptick in quality is terrific. Incredible the improvements that can be achieved with a very young player in such a short period of time. I thought the commentator made a great point - clearly Mika is playing superbly at the moment, but the true test of a genuinely top player is whether they can find a way to win on their bad days too. Anyway, having enjoyed watching Hannah Klugman at Wimbledon live (a match she won), I think Mika has moved up a notch or three in absolute and relative terms, and is now well and truly ahead - hopefully some friendly competition will benefit both players over the next couple of years. A great tournament for the Brits, and I thought the standard of play overall of the matches I nipped in and out of online was really high. Great way to start the latter weeks of the season. Onwards!

-- Edited by korriban on Thursday 23rd of October 2025 04:32:31 PM

Very interesting, korriban, most of which I agree with.

Not sure Hannah has similarly been concentrating on her game, certainly not lately, but FWIW I suspect all being equal that Mika would probably now be a bit ahead. But both have so much time on their side, and yes will hopefully benefit each other.

One point I would respond to is the true test of a player being finding a way to win on their bad days. It's a nice line from the commentator but how relevant at 16 yo?Actually to my mind, certainly at young ages the biggest thing is how good are they at their best. The bad days can be worked on and I would only be concerned a few years down the line, if there then seemed to remain some real issues in getting over the line on off days.

I'd still say this, if to a lesser extent about a bit older players, referencing recent discussions about Ranah Stoiber. Older yes, and not nearly such an ultimate prospect but folk here seem agreed she is very good at her best. But she struggles at other times, and the vibes I was getting were that she has not been given that much LTA help to be all she could be. And how good any player could be is more related to how are they at their best. But Ranah yes does need that help now.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 23rd of October 2025 05:07:33 PM

Doubles results - all four went to MTB's. 39 points to the winners and 21 points to the losers.

QF:- Elena Malygina (EST) / Kajsa Rinaldo Persson (SWE) UNR (745+UNR) def Julia Avdeeva (***) / Katarina Kuzmova (SVK) (CR780 (546+234) 6-4 3-6 10-6
QF:- Amarni Banks (GBR) / Valentina Ryser (SUI) CR1632 (1207+425) def Alicia Dudeney (GBR) / Laura Hietaranta (FIN) CR910 (538+372) 3-6 6-0 10-8

QF:- Ella McDonald (GBR) / Mimi Xu (GBR) CR578 (189+389) def Naima Karamoko (SUI) / Jessika Ponchet (FRA) CR367 (165+202) [3] 6-4 3-6 10-6
QF:- Freya Christie (GBR) / Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (GBR) CR503 (187+316) def Camilla Rosatello (ITA) / Eden Silva (GBR) CR297 (112+185) [2] 3-6 6-1 10-8

*****

SF:- Elena Malygina (EST) / Kajsa Rinaldo Persson (SWE) UNR (745+UNR) v Amarni Banks (GBR) / Valentina Ryser (SUI) CR1632 (1207+425)

SF:- Ella McDonald (GBR) / Mimi Xu (GBR) CR578 (189+389) v Freya Christie (GBR) / Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (GBR) CR503 (187+316)

paulisi wrote:

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I see the doubles final is on Sunday, so anyone hoping to play Glasgow qualifiers will need a MDWC - there are a few still in the doubles who havent made MD yet.

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 Lily and Marni are fine. So should Mimi and Ella be one way or another, DE (possible yet for Mimi), SE or MD WC. Which leaves Freya ...

That was just looking at the Brits!