British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

Var wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Not directly relevant to Wimbly wildcards but:

Just to say that Mika has entered Wimbledon Juniors (and made the MD on her adult ranking)

But Hannah Klugman hasn't

Well done, Mika - and Hannah, what are you thinking?

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 Hannah is maybe going to take a bit longer to mature. I still think she is a more natural player for the game. Mika is much taller and has that power in her serve so that is currently giving her the advantage. Mimi needs a bit more time to get back to her best after such a long lay off. I would put Hannah in the QWCD and Mika in the MD. Mimi Im not sure but I am pretty certain the powers that be will put them all in the MD. 

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 Yes

But the bit above is about juniors

If Hannah is going to take longer to mature, all the more reason she should play juniors, no? 

I'm surprised that one has entered and not the other - although there's no reason they have to act in consort, of course

And, yes, I've always been a Hannah-supporter - but that was probably because I was wrong about Mika, as a 13-14 year-old  

But, yes, bringing it back to adults, Hannah in adult qualis would make sense, especially if there's pressure on places. I still feel they'll want to try and find a space in adults for her, if they can

sammmm wrote:

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In terms of qualifying wildcards, are they more likely to go based on rankings so Lily, Naiktha, Emily A, Jodie and Heather under protected ranks or would they go for some of the teenagers who are finding their feet like Allegra, Brooke and Tegan?

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 I agree with Indy - I don't see Allegra, Brooke or Tegan in the mix - although good chance they'll be in the wildcard playoffs one way or another 

Naiktha and Emily App have traditionally done well on grass, Lily's CH gives her kudos etc 

Ranah is a good bet because she's still a lot younger than players like Naiktha and has a 'better' relationship with the LTA, I would say

But Ella has now upped her chance and, given her previous exploits as a junior, is also more likely than Naiktha, I think 

Coup Droit wrote:

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Not directly relevant to Wimbly wildcards but:

Just to say that Mika has entered Wimbledon Juniors (and made the MD on her adult ranking)

But Hannah Klugman hasn't

Well done, Mika - and Hannah, what are you thinking?

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 Totally agree with this.

Winning Wimbledon Juniors would make a huge difference to the public profile of both/either.

Mika may have already won the US Open Juniors, but this doesnt much count with the UK general sports fan.

For Laura Robson, Wimbledon juniors is her major claim to fame; whereas Heather's US Open Juniors title is a minor footnote.

And while Hannah remains slightly underpowered for the adult game, Wimbledon Juniors would be her best chance she gets of winning a life-changing title in the immediate future, and her last chance until she becomes a genuine contender for adult major WTA titles - which is not at all guaranteed to ever happen.

sammmm wrote:

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So for qualis they're more likely to value experience and rankings than go with lower teenagers coming through now?

I think Jodie needs matches and confidence and her form doesn't warrant a MDWC but at the same time I can't see her winning 3 rounds of qualis. I'm expecting MDWCs to go to Harriet, Katie S, Mika, Mimi and Alicia with Hannah or Heather hoping they get lucky (I'd go Heather if it were to be her last wimbledon)

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I think they're also thinking of who's most likely to win a match

After all, those lower teenagers you mention might not, in fact, be coming through - we've had lots of lower teenagers who haven't 

It's a little controversial to side with the possibles over those who have far more chance

And, after all, Ella and Ranah, say, are still very young. Emily Appleton is not old , still just about on the right side of her prime, based on WTA figures. 

They have Dani in there as their youngster ringer (as earned by her in nationals)

And there will also be the two wildcard playoff players - that's the time for Brooke et al to make their statement - that's precisely what the event is for - so all the lower guys can, fair and square, battle for the places

Leaving the ones in the 250-500 for your normal pool of WCs

Interesting one of the many considetations the AELTC outline for MD WCs is junior rankings.

Hannah has been JWR 1 and until quite recently still JWR 2. But now with her 2025 Milan and RG points having come off, she is down to JWR 21. So her really high junior rankings are more historical.

She has been more concentrating on the adult game and for whatever reasons often appeared rather lacklustre. Though she has shown just this week with a very decent losing performance in Queen's qualifying ( taking the WR 64 to 3 sets ) the very big talent she continues to have. She's a bit of a conundrum.

My gut feeling remains that Hannah will get a MD WC.