British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

the addict · Tennis legend

Week 12 – ITF W15 Monastir, Tunisia - Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

Alicia steadily replacing her one-point counters, and moving up the rankings. Predicted to rise around 30 places on Monday to a new CH - and should rise again once the points from this current week go on.

the addict · Tennis legend

SF:- Alicia Dudeney (GBR) [1] WR405 def Milana Zhabrailova (***) WR620 [8] 7-5 6-2

the addict · Tennis legend

F:- Alicia Dudeney (GBR) [1] WR405 v Malaika Rapolu (USA) WR580 [5]

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

First set to Alicia in a TB

DF · Tennis legend

Squeaky bum time in the second set TB

the addict · Tennis legend

F:- Alicia Dudeney (GBR) [1] WR405 v Malaika Rapolu (USA) WR580 [5] 7-6(4) 7-6(6)

Alicia was a double break up early in both sets, but was pegged back and then failed to serve both out at the first time of asking.

DF · Tennis legend

Another title biggrin Well done.

wales1994 · County player

Great! This time last year Alicia was unranked - even though her rise feels like it has stalled, that's a huge jump. Hopefully she can push on over the coming months.

the addict · Tennis legend

The points from this week don't go on yet, but even so she is now at a new CH of 375, above Naiktha, Millie, Ranah and other players who are regularly playing.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I think there is a big gulf between 15k and 35k tournaments.
We have quite a lot of players in that 350 -600 range, who do well at 15k, but struggle when they move up.
Alicia, Ranah, Vic, Esther, Alice - probably a whole load more...

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
I think there is a big gulf between 15k and 35k tournaments.
We have quite a lot of players in that 350 -600 range, who do well at 15k, but struggle when they move up.
Alicia, Ranah, Vic, Esther, Alice - probably a whole load more...

Yes

But some of those have the tennis potential to move up and some don't

It's always the tennis that matters

indiana · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
paulisi wrote:
I think there is a big gulf between 15k and 35k tournaments.
We have quite a lot of players in that 350 -600 range, who do well at 15k, but struggle when they move up.
Alicia, Ranah, Vic, Esther, Alice - probably a whole load more...
Yes
But some of those have the tennis potential to move up and some don't
It's always the tennis that matters

Yes, tbh while well done to Alicia on these W15 titles I am fairly underwhelmed by them - just more nice to get the wins and move up the rankings.

I am partly underwhelmed because I do though think she may well have that potential to properly move on at higher levels and yes it will be her ongoing tennis that will then matter

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
paulisi wrote:
I think there is a big gulf between 15k and 35k tournaments.
We have quite a lot of players in that 350 -600 range, who do well at 15k, but struggle when they move up.
Alicia, Ranah, Vic, Esther, Alice - probably a whole load more...
Yes
But some of those have the tennis potential to move up and some don't
It's always the tennis that matters
Yes, tbh while well done to Alicia on these W15 titles I am fairly underwhelmed by them - just more nice to get the wins and move up the rankings.
I am partly underwhelmed because I do though think she may well have that potential to properly move on at higher levels and yes it will be her ongoing tennis that will then matter

Yes - I agree, in that there's nothing particularly exciting (unless you're sixteen years old, maybe) about a WI5 title (as per Henry this week too)

In fact, if you continue to be underwhelmed by both, and they both carry on winning, that would be just great biggrin

But, no, the titles these past two weeks have nothing really to do with my views

Just to be clear, I don't agree with paulisi that they're all a homogenous group. It's easy just to follow ranking - which is fair, in a way, as you are where you are for a reason

But I think Ranah, for instance, has the potential to be miles higher - and will break out of his 350-600 group with no problem (assuming she doesn't give up, or have physical or mental health issues)

It's the age, the tennis, the junior level, the highest wins, the style of losses - but, always, coming back to the tennis

I think Alicia will break out of the group too (although I wouldn't put her up with Ranah, whose ceiling is higher). She's young - only been on the pro tour for a short time, has good coaching behind her, and has the skills to cause problems

Emily Appleton is another one (although a bit older)

I don't think Esther or Vic or Alice (or Millie) are in the same box (although everyone can make a jump up - it's amazing how you only need a few tournaments to go your way, and things look very different). (NB I'm a big fan of Alice - I made a lot of money betting on her when she was in the unranked group with Frankie and all those players). But I can't see her at WR 250.

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Monday 30th of March 2026 11:27:32 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Not disagreeing with you CD about Ranah and Emily App, and you watch the ladies much more than I do, but I have the feeling with both thay they are maybe in need of linking up and receiving help from people who really believe in them.

Emily almost seemed to have too many LTA bods watching out for her at an earlier age but seems to be much more just left to plow her own furrow these days?

I appreciate that Ranah at 20 yo is significantly younger with still plenty time on her side, and reports of her at her best look good ( and I am also one for who their best is always of interest ). But she appears to spark little LTA enthusiam, indeed weren't some negative comments overheard? I worry about her drifting and ultimately achieving very much less than she is capable of?