Decent list. There were a lot of in play retirements at last years event, so I think I'd honestly rather attend Ilkley that week if I was to choose one. Last weeks Ilkley list was very strong, you had:

Océane Dodin 46 1
Viktorija Golubic 69 2
E Alexandrova 76 3
Evgeniya Rodina 80 4
Madison Brengle 83 5
Andrea Petkovic 84 6
Julia Boserup 87 7
Kurumi Nara 89 8

Plus the likes of AVU, Krunic, T Maria, Allertova, Diyas, Rybarikova who are all now in the top 100 and would have been in and around there last year.

4 WCs - Robson, Dart, Robson, Christie

Then promising youngsters like Sakkari and Sabalenka who are top 50 now, so won,t be here this year, but there will probably be there equivalents this time around.

JonH wrote:

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Entry list out this week, excellent quality - I recall when Birmingham was clearly the poor cousin to Eastbourne. 

 

3 top 10 and 10 top 20 players

 

https://www.lta.org.uk/major-events/nature-valley-classic/event-guide/player-entry-list/

 

 

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With now 3 weeks between RG and Wimbledon that middle week 2 Premier is no doubt quite attractive to many as against the Eastbourne week 3 Premier. When just the 2 weeks certainly those who had gone deep at RG probably thought Week 2 better for them than Week 1.

As well as being better timed for many has Birmingham not also upgraded to a Premier in recent years ?

I assume Hev will get a wildcard and either Naomi or Katie Boulter, the remainder will have to decide between Ilkley and QWC.

Helen40 wrote:

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I don't see why Hev should get a WC when there are three girls who have done better than her this year who are more deserving.

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It's an interesting one, but I'd still give her the WC here, certainly over Broady who I assume was one of your 3 (unless you meant Dart in addition to Katie B and Gabi). She's been in shocking form and it may turn out to be a walking bye, but she is still ranked in the top 100, has a good grass pedigree and is always there for Fed Cup where she could have picked up points in some 60-100k ITF events instead. I'm surprised she didn't hang around Japan and play the ITFs there instead of Prague, easy to say in hindsight, but I was saying that at the time and would have been a good, convenient way to hopefully pick up some wins and confidence.

With Birmingham starting 2 weeks after Surbiton, I guess they could probably delay selection until they see how that pans out and the girl who makes the most impact there could get the WC?

No, that's Manchester.

I don't think there's anywhere outside the North West (or even there to be honest) where Naomi would out rank Heather in marketing or name recognition.

On form, obviously, Heather is fifth in the YTD ratings amongst British women, and that only just ahead of Harriet.

Ace Ventura wrote:

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Helen40 wrote:

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I don't see why Hev should get a WC when there are three girls who have done better than her this year who are more deserving.

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It's an interesting one, but I'd still give her the WC here, certainly over Broady who I assume was one of your 3 (unless you meant Dart in addition to Katie B and Gabi). She's been in shocking form and it may turn out to be a walking bye, but she is still ranked in the top 100, has a good grass pedigree and is always there for Fed Cup where she could have picked up points in some 60-100k ITF events instead. I'm surprised she didn't hang around Japan and play the ITFs there instead of Prague, easy to say in hindsight, but I was saying that at the time and would have been a good, convenient way to hopefully pick up some wins and confidence.

With Birmingham starting 2 weeks after Surbiton, I guess they could probably delay selection until they see how that pans out and the girl who makes the most impact there could get the WC?

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 Yes Broady was one of my three, although Harriet is only 5 points behind her in the race. I like the idea of waiting until after Surbiton, that seem to be the fairest way.

It would have been good for her to have stayed with the pack in Asia IMHO, but who knows how these things are decided, or by whom. I am assuming coach and sponsor have some say in the matter too. saying that, if her form doesn't pick up soon, it might have been her last opportunity to play on the WTA circuit for a while.

If this tournament and Eastbourne are of the same status, why is the prize money different?