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JonH · Tennis legend

British Tennis Forum March 2026 Player of the Month Award - Nominations thread

JonH · Tennis legend

Ill see how Henry goes in Greece and take a call later!

the addict · Tennis legend

Same here with Alicia. Also waiting for the new rankings to come out, might be a late adjustment.

JonH · Tennis legend

Ok- I think Ill just wait until Monday and start the vote then. Eaasleir all around !

JonH · Tennis legend

Titles for Emile, Millen, Alicia. Henry to come tomorrow.

Ill wait for Henry to be done and put the vote up later on tomorrow evening now. Lets call the nominations deadline 5 pm Monday.

the addict · Tennis legend

Nomination and reason:

1.Sonay Kartal. Outstanding at Indian Wells including a second round win over injury, home crowd and #20 seed Emma Navarro. After dominating the first set completely her back was having issues from the early part of a tight second set during which time she had a full time out. After she lost that set not many gave her any chance of progressing especially when Navarro twice served for the match. But Sonay kept battling and prevailed in the end in a 3rd set tiebreak.
She then followed that up with an even better performance, coming from behind to beat #15 seed Keys to reach R16 , where she put up another good fight against Rybakina before the injury finally became too much. Great tournament for her and whatever the rankings say she is clearly our best performing player at the moment.

2. Toby Samuel - follows up his Portugal M25 title the previous week ( yes, last month ) by starting this month with a couple of Challenger 50 titles in Crete, extending to a run of 15 successive wins, dropping just one set along the way. Risen 73 places to WR 171 and GB #7. Actually now ranked higher than his CH win of 181. Been comfortably dealing with players in the 200s, looking forward to seeing him against higher ranked opposition.

3.Jack Draper - In his first big tournament since his long term injury a truly great win over Novak in an epic match at Indian Wells to reach the quarters following impressive wins against Bautista and Cerundulo. Already a better than anticipated run in what is effectively his comeback event.

4. Cam Norrie- Another Brit with a fine performance at Indian Wells, reaching the quarters without dropping a set, including a great win over 6th seed De Minaur. Cam will move back to British number one at the end of IW, congrats to him for his efforts in getting back up to this level.

5. Esther Adeshina - winning her first ITF singles title, and taking the doubles title as well, at the W15 in Victoriaville in Canada. This will give her a new CH of around 547 when the points go on.

6. Alfie Hewett - a welcome return to form for Alfie as he won the Miami 500 event, unseeded, and beating world number one, Oda, in straight sets in the final. He put icing on the cake by winning the doubles title with Gordon Reid. Alfie has won bigger titles but the manner of this and return to beating the best after falling to third in the rankings is most welcome and deserving.

7. Alica Dudeney - winning back to back W15 titles in Monastir and a doubles W15 in Hagetmau. Points from the early weeks in the month will lift her to a projected new singles CH of 375 and close to her doubles CH of 222

JonH · Tennis legend

Nomination and reason:

1.Sonay Kartal. Outstanding at Indian Wells including a second round win over injury, home crowd and #20 seed Emma Navarro. After dominating the first set completely her back was having issues from the early part of a tight second set during which time she had a full time out. After she lost that set not many gave her any chance of progressing especially when Navarro twice served for the match. But Sonay kept battling and prevailed in the end in a 3rd set tiebreak.
She then followed that up with an even better performance, coming from behind to beat #15 seed Keys to reach R16 , where she put up another good fight against Rybakina before the injury finally became too much. Great tournament for her and whatever the rankings say she is clearly our best performing player at the moment.

2. Toby Samuel - follows up his Portugal M25 title the previous week ( yes, last month ) by starting this month with a couple of Challenger 50 titles in Crete, extending to a run of 15 successive wins, dropping just one set along the way. Risen 73 places to WR 171 and GB #7. Actually now ranked higher than his CH win of 181. Been comfortably dealing with players in the 200s, looking forward to seeing him against higher ranked opposition.

3.Jack Draper - In his first big tournament since his long term injury a truly great win over Novak in an epic match at Indian Wells to reach the quarters following impressive wins against Bautista and Cerundulo. Already a better than anticipated run in what is effectively his comeback event.

4. Cam Norrie- Another Brit with a fine performance at Indian Wells, reaching the quarters without dropping a set, including a great win over 6th seed De Minaur. Cam will move back to British number one at the end of IW, congrats to him for his efforts in getting back up to this level.

5. Esther Adeshina - winning her first ITF singles title, and taking the doubles title as well, at the W15 in Victoriaville in Canada. This will give her a new CH of around 547 when the points go on.

6. Alfie Hewett - a welcome return to form for Alfie as he won the Miami 500 event, unseeded, and beating world number one, Oda, in straight sets in the final. He put icing on the cake by winning the doubles title with Gordon Reid. Alfie has won bigger titles but the manner of this and return to beating the best after falling to third in the rankings is most welcome and deserving. https://x.com/miamiopen/status/2037604289783189980?s=46&t=Bvtg7M7Hc8gNhFe9rQksUw

7. Alica Dudeney - winning back to back W15 titles in Monastir and a doubles W15 in Hagetmau. Points from the early weeks in the month will lift her to a projected new singles CH of 375 and close to her doubles CH of 222

JonH · Tennis legend

Nomination and reason:

1.Sonay Kartal. Outstanding at Indian Wells including a second round win over injury, home crowd and #20 seed Emma Navarro. After dominating the first set completely her back was having issues from the early part of a tight second set during which time she had a full time out. After she lost that set not many gave her any chance of progressing especially when Navarro twice served for the match. But Sonay kept battling and prevailed in the end in a 3rd set tiebreak.
She then followed that up with an even better performance, coming from behind to beat #15 seed Keys to reach R16 , where she put up another good fight against Rybakina before the injury finally became too much. Great tournament for her and whatever the rankings say she is clearly our best performing player at the moment.

2. Toby Samuel - follows up his Portugal M25 title the previous week ( yes, last month ) by starting this month with a couple of Challenger 50 titles in Crete, extending to a run of 15 successive wins, dropping just one set along the way. Risen 73 places to WR 171 and GB #7. Actually now ranked higher than his CH win of 181. Been comfortably dealing with players in the 200s, looking forward to seeing him against higher ranked opposition.

3.Jack Draper - In his first big tournament since his long term injury a truly great win over Novak in an epic match at Indian Wells to reach the quarters following impressive wins against Bautista and Cerundulo. Already a better than anticipated run in what is effectively his comeback event.

4. Cam Norrie- Another Brit with a fine performance at Indian Wells, reaching the quarters without dropping a set, including a great win over 6th seed De Minaur. Cam will move back to British number one at the end of IW, congrats to him for his efforts in getting back up to this level.

5. Esther Adeshina - winning her first ITF singles title, and taking the doubles title as well, at the W15 in Victoriaville in Canada. These points have given her a new CH of 548

6. Alfie Hewett - a welcome return to form for Alfie as he won the Miami 500 event, unseeded, and beating world number one, Oda, in straight sets in the final. He put icing on the cake by winning the doubles title with Gordon Reid. Alfie has won bigger titles but the manner of this and return to beating the best after falling to third in the rankings is most welcome and deserving. https://x.com/miamiopen/status/2037604289783189980?s=46&t=Bvtg7M7Hc8gNhFe9rQksUw

7. Alica Dudeney - winning back to back W15 titles in Monastir and a doubles W15 in Hagetmau. Points from the early weeks in the month have lifted her to a new singles CH of 375, with a further jump to come, and close to her doubles CH of 222

8. Emile Hudd - a first ITF singles title in Japan, an m15 title to follow a RU and semi earlier in the month and a 13-2 win loss record for the month. Thats a decent month and welcome to being a singles champ, Emile.

JonH · Tennis legend

I hope Ive not got that wrong re Emile, the ITF site shows several doubles but no singles title: previously

JonH · Tennis legend

In case anyone has come looking for the PoM poll, theres still a mens singles final to be played tomorrow, so Ill hold off the poll until tomorrow once the final is over and time it to run the poll through until Wednesday evening.

Good but small set of nominees this month, should be an interesting vote.

-- Edited by JonH on Monday 30th of March 2026 07:00:09 AM

JonH · Tennis legend

I think the last action is done for the week with Henry winning the title in Greece.

I will post the vote sometime this afternoon, schedule allowing, so please get in any last minute nominations by midday please!

Julia Carrot · All-time great

I would like to nominate Henry Searle for holding his nerve and taking his first title in Greece this week, taking his first championship point with an Ace. May it be the first of many.

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Monday 30th of March 2026 09:20:18 AM

JonH · Tennis legend

Thanks Julia - I thought and hoped someone would add him in if he won, hence waiting overnight!

JonH · Tennis legend

Nomination and reason:
1.Sonay Kartal. Outstanding at Indian Wells including a second round win over injury, home crowd and #20 seed Emma Navarro. After dominating the first set completely her back was having issues from the early part of a tight second set during which time she had a full time out. After she lost that set not many gave her any chance of progressing especially when Navarro twice served for the match. But Sonay kept battling and prevailed in the end in a 3rd set tiebreak.
She then followed that up with an even better performance, coming from behind to beat #15 seed Keys to reach R16 , where she put up another good fight against Rybakina before the injury finally became too much. Great tournament for her and whatever the rankings say she is clearly our best performing player at the moment.

2. Toby Samuel - follows up his Portugal M25 title the previous week ( yes, last month ) by starting this month with a couple of Challenger 50 titles in Crete, extending to a run of 15 successive wins, dropping just one set along the way. Risen 73 places to WR 171 and GB #7. Actually now ranked higher than his CH win of 181. Been comfortably dealing with players in the 200s, looking forward to seeing him against higher ranked opposition.

3.Jack Draper - In his first big tournament since his long term injury a truly great win over Novak in an epic match at Indian Wells to reach the quarters following impressive wins against Bautista and Cerundulo. Already a better than anticipated run in what is effectively his comeback event.

4. Cam Norrie- Another Brit with a fine performance at Indian Wells, reaching the quarters without dropping a set, including a great win over 6th seed De Minaur. Cam will move back to British number one at the end of IW, congrats to him for his efforts in getting back up to this level.

5. Esther Adeshina - winning her first ITF singles title, and taking the doubles title as well, at the W15 in Victoriaville in Canada. These points have given her a new CH of 548

6. Alfie Hewett - a welcome return to form for Alfie as he won the Miami 500 event, unseeded, and beating world number one, Oda, in straight sets in the final. He put icing on the cake by winning the doubles title with Gordon Reid. Alfie has won bigger titles but the manner of this and return to beating the best after falling to third in the rankings is most welcome and deserving. https://x.com/miamiopen/status/2037604289783189980?s=46&t=Bvtg7M7Hc8gNhFe9rQksUw

7. Alica Dudeney - winning back to back W15 titles in Monastir and a doubles W15 in Hagetmau. Points from the early weeks in the month have lifted her to a new singles CH of 375, with a further jump to come, and close to her doubles CH of 222
8. Emile Hudd - a first ITF singles title in Japan, an m15 title to follow a RU and semi earlier in the month and a 13-2 win loss record for the month. Thats a decent month and welcome to being a singles champ, Emile.
9. Henry Searle - for holding his nerve and taking his first title in Greece this week, taking his first championship point with an Ace. May it be the first of many.

Any changes to narratives etc or any final nominations by midday please

indiana · Tennis legend

Updated Toby ranking info ...

Nomination and reason:

1.Sonay Kartal. Outstanding at Indian Wells including a second round win over injury, home crowd and #20 seed Emma Navarro. After dominating the first set completely her back was having issues from the early part of a tight second set during which time she had a full time out. After she lost that set not many gave her any chance of progressing especially when Navarro twice served for the match. But Sonay kept battling and prevailed in the end in a 3rd set tiebreak.
She then followed that up with an even better performance, coming from behind to beat #15 seed Keys to reach R16 , where she put up another good fight against Rybakina before the injury finally became too much. Great tournament for her and whatever the rankings say she is clearly our best performing player at the moment.

2. Toby Samuel - follows up his Portugal M25 title the previous week ( yes, last month ) by starting this month with a couple of Challenger 50 titles in Crete, extending to a run of 15 successive wins, dropping just one set along the way. Ended the month having risen 72 places to WR 172 and GB #8. Actually now ranked higher than his CH win of 181. Been comfortably dealing with players in the 200s, looking forward to seeing him against higher ranked opposition.

3.Jack Draper - In his first big tournament since his long term injury a truly great win over Novak in an epic match at Indian Wells to reach the quarters following impressive wins against Bautista and Cerundulo. Already a better than anticipated run in what is effectively his comeback event.

4. Cam Norrie- Another Brit with a fine performance at Indian Wells, reaching the quarters without dropping a set, including a great win over 6th seed De Minaur. Cam will move back to British number one at the end of IW, congrats to him for his efforts in getting back up to this level.

5. Esther Adeshina - winning her first ITF singles title, and taking the doubles title as well, at the W15 in Victoriaville in Canada. These points have given her a new CH of 548

6. Alfie Hewett - a welcome return to form for Alfie as he won the Miami 500 event, unseeded, and beating world number one, Oda, in straight sets in the final. He put icing on the cake by winning the doubles title with Gordon Reid. Alfie has won bigger titles but the manner of this and return to beating the best after falling to third in the rankings is most welcome and deserving. https://x.com/miamiopen/status/2037604289783189980?s=46&t=Bvtg7M7Hc8gNhFe9rQksUw

7. Alica Dudeney - winning back to back W15 titles in Monastir and a doubles W15 in Hagetmau. Points from the early weeks in the month have lifted her to a new singles CH of 375, with a further jump to come, and close to her doubles CH of 222

8. Emile Hudd - a first ITF singles title in Japan, an m15 title to follow a RU and semi earlier in the month and a 13-2 win loss record for the month. Thats a decent month and welcome to being a singles champ, Emile.

9. Henry Searle - for holding his nerve and taking his first title in Greece this week, taking his first championship point with an Ace. May it be the first of many.