9vicman wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Oscariyan wrote:

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Thanks for the information - looking forward to this.

Just out of interest, do other countries have their own National Champs?

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 France does, not sure about others

Generally, it's very important for the younger categories but the 18U, for instance, doesn't usually have the best players in it - they're supposed to have moved up by that point and also it usually clashes with the US Open so the older ones are over there 

NB In France, you HAVE to play your own category, and only that category - no doubling up

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 I am old enough to remember a very full LTA National Junior Championship schedule:

Covered Courts (carpet):

18/U: Queen's

Hard Courts (shale):

18/U: Wimbledon

16/U: Bournemouth 

14/U, 12/U: Edinburgh

Grass Courts:

16/U, 12/U: Eastbourne

18/U, 14/U: Eastbourne

Big crowds, covered by the media, but GB stopped producing world class players in the 80s, and the LTA eventually cut the 12/U nationals and reduced the other age-groups to a single hard court event. Much more low key, but we are now producing players.

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 That's so fascinating to hear 9vicman, hopefully we can produce even higher numbers of world class players in the future if the foundations are laid correctly.

Rose wrote:

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Oscariyan wrote:

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9vicman wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Oscariyan wrote:

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Thanks for the information - looking forward to this.

Just out of interest, do other countries have their own National Champs?

---

 France does, not sure about others

Generally, it's very important for the younger categories but the 18U, for instance, doesn't usually have the best players in it - they're supposed to have moved up by that point and also it usually clashes with the US Open so the older ones are over there 

NB In France, you HAVE to play your own category, and only that category - no doubling up

---

 I am old enough to remember a very full LTA National Junior Championship schedule:

Covered Courts (carpet):

18/U: Queen's

Hard Courts (shale):

18/U: Wimbledon

16/U: Bournemouth 

14/U, 12/U: Edinburgh

Grass Courts:

16/U, 12/U: Eastbourne

18/U, 14/U: Eastbourne

Big crowds, covered by the media, but GB stopped producing world class players in the 80s, and the LTA eventually cut the 12/U nationals and reduced the other age-groups to a single hard court event. Much more low key, but we are now producing players.

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 That's so fascinating to hear 9vicman, hopefully we can produce even higher numbers of world class players in the future if the foundations are laid correctly.

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 Theyve bought them back now though - to some extent at least 

Grade 1 National championships on all 4 surfaces throughout the year for all ages from 11U-14U and a lot of National Grade 2s as well 

Think its the 12U that are at the AELTC for their grass nationals this year 

 

 

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 This could work well especially as those in the younger age groups aren't quite old enough for many/any ITFs and may not even be playing Tennis Europe, therefore creates some healthy competition and experience for them ready for international matches later.

Coup Droit wrote:

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The 'upset' sp far today is (q) Aran Selvaraasan beating (5) Alex Mirrington in two sets

Aran is 2010, but very late in the year (born Nov. 2010)

Tall lad, who gets very good depth, sees the court well and applies himself well (unlike Alex, for instance, who does the dying duck act every time he misses a shot)

Which also is rather what Grace Watson is doing at the moment

I'm suprised - I thought she was a more focused, calmer player - but she's got herself in a real tizz - probably because she's being outplayed, but all the same

I looked over my notes for Dani Britton and the very original ones say: good arm, gets power, very good at taking the ball out of the air, but rather flat-footed......

And it's great to see that she's really worked on her speed and footwork - you can see it's not a complete natural, but it's so much better. And, of course, the good arm has also got better

Hollie Smart has put on some muscle and filled out a bit. It's a nice match with Rosie Cho - only 6 months in age between them so basically the same year now

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 Im a huge fan of Grace but that behaviour is normal for her. In 11U and 12U she was so emotional on court and would often have meltdowns and tantrums. Seeing her in tears was more or less expected at some point in every match. Shes worked so so hard at controlling her emotions and is so much better than she used to be. I think today was partly to do with the fact she has faced her training partner (they are both at West Hants and do a lot together) so early in the tournament. Daniella knows how to play Grace and I think Grace would have fancied her chances against some of the others.

I cant seem to like Daniellas tennis but I dont know why. I dont think its particularly exciting or inspiring. I also dont like what she posts on social media - eg video of her laughing throughout the national anthem at the summer, a video that showed Megan in tears when she lost in the final to Daniella at a grass event last year etc. I really hope thats just immaturity rather than anything else. I think she will beat April though and I think she could beat Hollie on the outside hard surface