It didn't help that we had back-to-back Masters, so our top players were only in a couple of tournaments and none of them (apart from Andy's heroics) did very well.
Definitely - looking back, though, March 22 we had 18 nominations and March 23 we had 16. The same masters events dominated the top level play and so not only have we done worse at that level but it would seem at first glance the ITF and Junior level players havent filled the gap in the same way as in previous years.
1. Oliver Bonding, for winning the J500 "Banana Bowl", dropping only one set along the way. Oli is the first British boy to win a J500 event since they were introduced in 2023, having earlier in the week become the first British boy to reach the semis or beyond of a J500 event. Prior to the introduction of J500s, only three other British boys had won any of the equivalent top-level "Grade A" tournaments, the last of them being George Morgan, who won the 2010 Orange Bowl.
2. Alfie Hewett - won the Super series Cajun Classic, beating world number one (Oda) in the final and for a secomd straight week to take his consecutive wins now to 12 matches. Also won the doubles title (w/ Gordon Reid). On 18th March, Alfie also went back to world number one!
3. Luke Hooper (2006) - two J100 singles titles, back to back, at Loughborough
4. Mingge Xu (Mimi) - aged 16 - for winning the doubles title at the W15 in Monastir - her first double tournament outside the UK. And she also reached the quarter final in singles (her fourth tournament abroad, all in Monastir), and then the semifinal in week 12 also in Monastir
5. Olivia Nicholls for winning the W125 in Charleston
6. Andy Murray - for reaching the third round in Miami, and for winning the most matches of the British men over the IW and Miami sunshine swing, beating Goffin, Berrettini and Etchevery, and losing a Herculean match with Machac. Still the biggest heart out there. And doing it with destroyed ankle ligaments at the end of his match.
7. Bella Rebel - just been selected as one of 24 best 12U girls worldwide to compete at the IMG Future Stars event next month. Special mention from @marta_kostyuk. And made the QFs at the Super Auray U12 tournament, losing to the eventual winner, and being the best GB player, despite not being part of the GB team.
1. Oliver Bonding, for winning the J500 "Banana Bowl", dropping only one set along the way. Oli is the first British boy to win a J500 event since they were introduced in 2023, having earlier in the week become the first British boy to reach the semis or beyond of a J500 event. Prior to the introduction of J500s, only three other British boys had won any of the equivalent top-level "Grade A" tournaments, the last of them being George Morgan, who won the 2010 Orange Bowl.
2. Alfie Hewett - won the Super series Cajun Classic, beating world number one (Oda) in the final and for a secomd straight week to take his consecutive wins now to 12 matches. Also won the doubles title (w/ Gordon Reid). On 18th March, Alfie also went back to world number one!
3. Luke Hooper (2006) - two J100 singles titles, back to back, at Loughborough
4. Mingge Xu (Mimi) - aged 16 - for winning the doubles title at the W15 in Monastir - her first double tournament outside the UK. And she also reached the quarter final in singles (her fourth tournament abroad, all in Monastir), and then the semifinal in week 12 also in Monastir
5. Olivia Nicholls for winning the W125 in Charleston
6. Andy Murray - for reaching the third round in Miami, and for winning the most matches of the British men over the IW and Miami sunshine swing, beating Goffin, Berrettini and Etchevery, and losing a Herculean match with Machac. Still the biggest heart out there. And doing it with destroyed ankle ligaments at the end of his match.
7. Bella Rebel - just been selected as one of 24 best 12U girls worldwide to compete at the IMG Future Stars event next month. Special mention from @marta_kostyuk. And made the QFs at the Super Auray U12 tournament, losing to the eventual winner, and being the best GB player, despite not being part of the GB team.
I mean, look. There is our winning name, right there!
V much business end of this final week of the month - no one left in at Miami, we are looking at events like the WTA125 , the French W75, and one or two ITF 25/15 events or juniors for our final nominations.
Remember, anyone can nominate at any time for any reason - just add to our little list of 7 above by quoting, adding a name and a reason, tidy up the post so it takes out extraneous chatter and repost away!
1. Oliver Bonding, for winning the J500 "Banana Bowl", dropping only one set along the way. Oli is the first British boy to win a J500 event since they were introduced in 2023, having earlier in the week become the first British boy to reach the semis or beyond of a J500 event. Prior to the introduction of J500s, only three other British boys had won any of the equivalent top-level "Grade A" tournaments, the last of them being George Morgan, who won the 2010 Orange Bowl.
2. Alfie Hewett - won the Super series Cajun Classic, beating world number one (Oda) in the final and for a secomd straight week to take his consecutive wins now to 12 matches. Also won the doubles title (w/ Gordon Reid). On 18th March, Alfie also went back to world number one!
3. Luke Hooper (2006) - two J100 singles titles, back to back, at Loughborough
4. Mingge Xu (Mimi) - aged 16 - for winning the doubles title at the W15 in Monastir - her first double tournament outside the UK. And she also reached the quarter final in singles (her fourth tournament abroad, all in Monastir), and then the semifinal in week 12 also in Monastir
5. Olivia Nicholls for winning the W125 in Charleston
6. Andy Murray - for reaching the third round in Miami, and for winning the most matches of the British men over the IW and Miami sunshine swing, beating Goffin, Berrettini and Etchevery, and losing a Herculean match with Machac. Still the biggest heart out there. And doing it with destroyed ankle ligaments at the end of his match.
7. Bella Rebel - just been selected as one of 24 best 12U girls worldwide to compete at the IMG Future Stars event next month. Special mention from @marta_kostyuk. And made the QFs at the Super Auray U12 tournament, losing to the eventual winner, and being the best GB player, despite not being part of the GB team.
V much business end of this final week of the month - no one left in at Miami, we are looking at events like the WTA125 , the French W75, and one or two ITF 25/15 events or juniors for our final nominations.
Remember, anyone can nominate at any time for any reason - just add to our little list of 7 above by quoting, adding a name and a reason, tidy up the post so it takes out extraneous chatter and repost away!
Katy Dunne and Hannah Klugman are both in the W50 at Murska Sobota and I'm keeping an eye on how they do. (Katy has just reached the QFs; Hannah plays for a QF place shortly.) I think they would both be good calls if they can get near the business end of the tournament.
V much business end of this final week of the month - no one left in at Miami, we are looking at events like the WTA125 , the French W75, and one or two ITF 25/15 events or juniors for our final nominations.
Remember, anyone can nominate at any time for any reason - just add to our little list of 7 above by quoting, adding a name and a reason, tidy up the post so it takes out extraneous chatter and repost away!
Katy Dunne and Hannah Klugman are both in the W50 at Murska Sobota and I'm keeping an eye on how they do. (Katy has just reached the QFs; Hannah plays for a QF place shortly.) I think they would both be good calls if they can get near the business end of the tournament.
I think Lily (into semis) and Marni (QF's) in their French event are worth keeping an eye on and I am sure TA can mention some doubles players worthy of attention! Possibly - clutching at straws!!??
-- Edited by JonH comes home on Thursday 28th of March 2024 01:58:22 PM
1. Oliver Bonding, for winning the J500 "Banana Bowl", dropping only one set along the way. Oli is the first British boy to win a J500 event since they were introduced in 2023, having earlier in the week become the first British boy to reach the semis or beyond of a J500 event. Prior to the introduction of J500s, only three other British boys had won any of the equivalent top-level "Grade A" tournaments, the last of them being George Morgan, who won the 2010 Orange Bowl.
2. Alfie Hewett - won the Super series Cajun Classic, beating world number one (Oda) in the final and for a secomd straight week to take his consecutive wins now to 12 matches. Also won the doubles title (w/ Gordon Reid). On 18th March, Alfie also went back to world number one!
3. Luke Hooper (2006) - two J100 singles titles, back to back, at Loughborough
4. Mingge Xu (Mimi) - aged 16 - for winning the doubles title at the W15 in Monastir - her first double tournament outside the UK. And she also reached the quarter final in singles (her fourth tournament abroad, all in Monastir), and then the semifinal in week 12 also in Monastir
5. Olivia Nicholls for winning the W125 in Charleston
6. Andy Murray - for reaching the third round in Miami, and for winning the most matches of the British men over the IW and Miami sunshine swing, beating Goffin, Berrettini and Etchevery, and losing a Herculean match with Machac. Still the biggest heart out there. And doing it with destroyed ankle ligaments at the end of his match.
7. Bella Rebel - just been selected as one of 24 best 12U girls worldwide to compete at the IMG Future Stars event next month. Special mention from @marta_kostyuk. And made the QFs at the Super Auray U12 tournament, losing to the eventual winner, and being the best GB player, despite not being part of the GB team.
8. Katie Boulter - for reaching the last 16 in the Masters 1000 Miami, from a seeding of 24 and enhances her standing as our number one ranked female player.
Fran seems to be our most westerly player still in time wise, so she will probably dictate poll timings this weekend. As always nothing will be posted until the last player is done and dusted for the month!
fran in singles QF and doubles SF in Mexico, Marni and Lily play semis in France, and Katy D in semis action in Slovenia. Good weeks for all - I think Lily also made a QF last week in Maribor, so solid month shes building.
In the mens, Giles and Millen in last 8 action in Egypt and Giles also won an ITF last week (France or Spain?) so hes building a decent month as well.
not looked at doubles, in absence of the Friday Feeling update this week, but those singles players could all get themselves in PoM nomination contention.
-- Edited by JonH comes home on Friday 29th of March 2024 07:49:26 AM
JonH - in women's doubles we still have Fran, Maia, Katy and Naiktha. Maia and Jessika are top seeds but I wouldn't expect the others to take the titles, so there is scope for a nomination there !
In singles, as already said, either Marni or Lily or both will be nominated, and probably Katy and Fran too.
JonH - in women's doubles we still have Fran, Maia, Katy and Naiktha. Maia and Jessika are top seeds but I wouldn't expect the others to take the titles, so there is scope for a nomination there ! In singles, as already said, either Marni or Lily or both will be nominated, and probably Katy and Fran too.
Good stuff - just throw down a name when ready if someone catches your eye as worthy and we do the narrative between us all , Im sure!