Girls: Wimbledon 2018 - Grade A (Week 28)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Girls: Wimbledon 2018 - Grade A (Week 28)

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

That's an interesting decision if it's true. I'm surprised as I thought she was quite happy with her school/tennis balance (but I'm only reading that in from her FO interview).

She's well on my radar now, so I'll watch her progress with much interest. It'll be a shame if she doesn't play any more junior GSs, it would be sad if she missed out on winning one.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Interesting if true and I wouldn't be at all surprised it is a pretty sensible way forward and entirely consistent with the way she/her family have done things so far. Most importantly I think she is good enough to go pro at 15, how any GCSE's will be managed I don't know but, and it is an assumption given the school she is/was at she should be very close to the required standard already.

I think a major consideration is avoiding over playing (and perhaps also avoiding all the hype that goes with winning a junior slam). Each step up in difficulty has been very well managed for her, from this point there will only be a small number of junior girls who will challenge her, this means lots of travel and lots of relatively meaningless early rounds from a developmental perspective. By turning pro all games are competitive and there are more options closer to home or she can focus on a string of futures tournaments in Australia the Far East or North America meaning she can play less and get more value.

If you are good and have insight ie total focus on making the WTA tour, turning pro will allow her to develop under the radar until she begins to get main draw Wimbledon wild cards or win through qualifying. Even then it should stay in perspective. It will be interesting to see how things pan out but her career will continue to be very exciting to follow.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Pretty amazing that Leonie Kung has made the final.
She's a qualifier, jwr 509, ch 194.
Admittedly she's top 500 wta.
But still great to see someone who has not focused on juniors doing so well.

DavidC · Tennis legend

All the four semifinalists are ranked inside the WTA top 500, but it is the two Chinese ones that miss out. Iga Swiatek edging two tight sets in the other semi

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

DavidC wrote:
All the four semifinalists are ranked inside the WTA top 500, but it is the two Chinese ones that miss out. Iga Swiatek edging two tight sets in the other semi

Yes. But the other three are (or were) top juniors too.

Kung is the only one who never bothered. Wonder when the last time a qualifier made the final.....

DavidC · Tennis legend

Doubles QF

(4) Carle/Gauff (ARG/USA) d. (WC) Allen/Martins 7-5 6-3

DavidC · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
DavidC wrote:
All the four semifinalists are ranked inside the WTA top 500, but it is the two Chinese ones that miss out. Iga Swiatek edging two tight sets in the other semi
Yes. But the other three are (or were) top juniors too.
Kung is the only one who never bothered. Wonder when the last time a qualifier made the final.....

I didn't know the answer to your question, and didn't have any time to research it yesterday. However the ITF has saved me the bother. Their article on the semis (which also includes quotes from Jack) says that the last qualifier to make the final was Anna Chakvetadze (who went on to a peak WTA ranking of 5) losing the 2003 final to Kirsten Flipkens. The full article is at https://www.itftennis.com/news/288558.aspx

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Many thanks David

DavidC · Tennis legend

Iga Swiatek wins the girls title - she broke early on, lost the break when serving for the set, but immediately rebroke to take it 6-4. The second set was a comfortable 6-2, converting her first matchpoint

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Excellent display and a very bright future ahead.

That'll very likely be one of the MDWCs wrapped up already for next year - she's in the top 350 now and there's been a big buzz about her for a while now so I'd be shocked if she wasn't in the top 200 this time next year (and therefore a QWC like the last couple of years wouldn't be needed). Of course, if she is in the top 100 then the WC wouldn't be needed.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Hill LJ wrote:
Very Proud of Sasha Hill

Took opportunity of wildcards to Roehampton grade 1 and Junior Wimbledon grand slam and mixed with some of the top tennis players in the World.

Huge steps in her tennis development.

Dear Proud Parent,

Mega congrats to Sasha on her run in Dublin this week to the ITF 15k final (and maybe to the title, who knows......)

Been great to watch her at Surbiton (for junior G1 qualis) and Roehampton and then to see the results in the women's event this week.

You must be even prouder smile smile smile

Hope she's enjoying it and not too exhausted !