I'm not totally clear what Anna is doing in a G5-she has a decent WTA ranking now, and G5 seems a bit unchallenging. Still, the SF against the 2nd seed will be a but more of a challenge
SF: vs RAYKOVA, Tanya (BUL) 2 (Junior ranking 390, no senior).
FITZPATRICK (GBR) / ULLATHORNE (GBR) went out in the QF of the doubles.
Maybe she putting her seniors ranking on hold. and possibly trying to get into the top 100 of the juniors is her aim for now. maybe she wants to start off slowly before challenging/qualifying G1 and G2 tournaments.
She's entered into 25K qualifying which will start on sunday. I don't know how similar the surfaces are, but I guess she feels it will be good practice. I can't say I'm convinced.
Oddly, Anna's junior record is not good. This run, even at G5, will significantly improve her junior ranking. She appears to have bloomed lately-with the terrific futures run in August.
But she is only a junior for 6 months more.... so can't see she'll be that bothered, as the main circuit beckons.... I guess, if in town for a 25K, then play a warm up tournament.
Ah, I was wondered why Anna had entered a junior tournament for the first time in ages. I reckon it was a good idea to play a warm-up tournament as playing in the States is so different - they use Wilson balls which really shoot off the court compared to the Slazengers used in Europe.
Unfortunately Anna lost in the semis of El Paso to the 2nd seeded 15 year old Bulgarian Tanya Raykova: 6-2, 6-1. Raykova is only ranked 390 in juniors and is unranked in seniors so this was quite a surprising loss.
