Hephzibah Oluwadare

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Hephzibah Oluwadare

Strongbow · All-time great

Coup Droit wrote:
I know she's terribly young to have her own thread but I think this forum is going to be talking about Hephzibah an awful lot in the years to come so I'm starting a thread for her now.
Having just turned 13 ten days ago (born 31 October 2017), she is an extremely impressive player and athlete - a strong girl, aggressive tennis, good technique, someone who makes heads turn, and has done so from the age of 10 or 11, on the Tennis Europe circuit. We've talked about her a fair bit on this forum already, in the Open Auray, for instance.
She's playing her first ITF junior event this week, the J4 in Cyprus, came through qualifying and has just won her round one match, 6-0 6-1. So she should be ranked next week which will make her the youngest by far as we don't even have any 2006-ers yet, let alone any 2007-ers (and only two 2005-ers).
Although Hep comes from Herts, and unless anything's changed, she's up at the new elite LTA academy in Stirling at the moment, with Hannah Read, Millie Skelton, Ella McDonald and Talia Neilson-Gatenby (and a couple of boys)

I seem to recall you mentioning her before in another thread but I can't remember which one. Born 2017 - false news. Look forward to further mentions in the Juniors threads.

Well done to Hephzibah and well spotted CD. smile

Found it -

"And if you're going for a real youngster, put your money on Hephzibah Oluwadare." - April 2019

-- Edited by Strongbow on Wednesday 11th of November 2020 02:43:23 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Thanks, Strongbow. She hasn't done anything really yet (too young still) so I'll bide my time for the great 'Yeh! Told you so!' moment smile

Here's hoping, anyway.

And, tx, I've edited the year, age 3 would be pushing it a bit biggrin

ROSAMUND · Futures level

Coup Droit wrote:
I know she's terribly young to have her own thread but I think this forum is going to be talking about Hephzibah an awful lot in the years to come so I'm starting a thread for her now.
Having just turned 13 ten days ago (born 31 October 2007), she is an extremely impressive player and athlete - a strong girl, aggressive tennis, good technique, someone who makes heads turn, and has done so from the age of 10 or 11, on the Tennis Europe circuit. We've talked about her a fair bit on this forum already, in the Open Auray, for instance.
She's playing her first ITF junior event this week, the J4 in Cyprus, came through qualifying and has just won her round one match, 6-0 6-1. So she should be ranked next week which will make her the youngest by far as we don't even have any 2006-ers yet, let alone any 2007-ers (and only two 2005-ers).
Although Hep comes from Herts, and unless anything's changed, she's up at the new elite LTA academy in Stirling at the moment, with Hannah Read, Millie Skelton, Ella McDonald and Talia Neilson-Gatenby (and a couple of boys)

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Wednesday 11th of November 2020 08:15:17 AM

Assuming the above hasn't changed why is a prospect from Herts being sent to train at Stirling? Would she be getting the benefit of Judy Murray training in Stirling ? She does live close to London which for training purposes one would think would be handier than Stirling.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The LTA set up two elite academies a couple of years ago.

One in Loughborough and one in Stirling.

The best of the young talent have been divided between the two, based on age and level, I assume. No choice.

(NB It's not compulsory, of course, I understand that some of the boys who were selected didn't take up the offer. But practically all the girls did)

ANd nothing to do with Judy Murray, it's just where the LTA have located the academies.

LordBrownof · Futures level

Coup Droit wrote:
I know she's terribly young to have her own thread but I think this forum is going to be talking about Hephzibah an awful lot in the years to come so I'm starting a thread for her now.
Having just turned 13 ten days ago (born 31 October 2007), she is an extremely impressive player and athlete - a strong girl, aggressive tennis, good technique, someone who makes heads turn, and has done so from the age of 10 or 11, on the Tennis Europe circuit. We've talked about her a fair bit on this forum already, in the Open Auray, for instance.
She's playing her first ITF junior event this week, the J4 in Cyprus, came through qualifying and has just won her round one match, 6-0 6-1. So she should be ranked next week which will make her the youngest by far as we don't even have any 2006-ers yet, let alone any 2007-ers (and only two 2005-ers).
Although Hep comes from Herts, and unless anything's changed, she's up at the new elite LTA academy in Stirling at the moment, with Hannah Read, Millie Skelton, Ella McDonald and Talia Neilson-Gatenby (and a couple of boys)

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Wednesday 11th of November 2020 08:15:17 AM

Hey CD - is the Cyprus tourny a J4 or J5 (you've added it as a J4 here but J5 in junior thread)?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Darn - I didn't think anyone really read the juniors that closely smile biggrin

Sorry, LordB, it's a J4, I'll change it.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Took the first set and SO close in the second but Hephzibah lost out in the end to the top-500 player. But a promising first week. May there be many more.....

Cyprus J4, R2: (4) Luca Vocke (GER) JWR 480, age 16 def. Hephzibah Oluwadare (GBR) UNR age 13, born 2007 5-7 7-6(5) 6-2

LordBrownof · Futures level

Coup Droit wrote:
Darn - I didn't think anyone really read the juniors that closely

Sorry, LordB, it's a J4, I'll change it.

Ha. Sorry, I wasn't trying to point out a mistake - I just wanted to know how impressed I should be! :)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

In her second ever ITF event, Hep (just turned 13) made it all the way through qualis and into the final of the singles in Israel, J5.

But ended up losing in the three sets to the top seed.

Great week. The titles will come

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well, that didn't take long

In her third ever ITF event, Hep goes one step better, coming through qualis and winning the final

Israel, J5:

FINAL: (q) Hephzibah Oluwadare (GBR) (born 2007) def. (2) Now Major (ISR) 6-3 6-4

Didn't drop a set all week.

Atta girl !!!!

LordBrownof · Futures level

CD - you are clearly her #1 fan but I would like to state publicly that I'm her #2 fan!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The more, the merrier, Lord B, the more, the merrier

And it's a good week to be a fan - she has just gone up about 450 places and sailed into the top 1000 of the ITF junior rankings, at JWR 923, and is now the 4th best ranked player for her age.

(She is obviously GB's best 2007-er but is also now higher ranked than any of our 4 ranked 2006-ers)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

As of 4th Jan 2021, Hephzibah is now JWR 648.

That makes her the 4th best ranked in the world for her age, which is not bad off the back of just three or four tournaments

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

As of 25th Jan, 2021, Hep is now JWR 504

She's now third best ranked in the world for her age.