It can't go as well as last year can it?!

Sutton 2009 was hugely successful from the British point of view (counting Johanna Konta as an honorary Brit until her passport comes through) and here's hoping 2010 will be just as memorable!

Katie O'Brien really kick-started her charge into the world top 100 by lifting the title...see the Sutton thread (2009 version) for details! ... and maybe it could be Naomi Cavaday this time?

Naomi C ranked 191 is the highest ranking Brit in the draw, seeded 4 and, annoyingly, in the same quarter as our Emily (on her first week back after her wrist injury) and Joss Rae. If all goes according to plan Emily and Joss meet in R2 and the winner meets Naomi in the QFs.

In R1 Naomi plays Schiechtl of Austria ranked 303; Emily ranked 432 plays Kosinska of Poland ranked 273; and Joss ranked 497 plays 5th seed Stanciute of Lithuania ranked 242. Good luck you 3

In the bottom half of the draw Anna Smith has the toughest R1 assignment of all the Brits up against 2nd seed Kucova (SVK) ranked at a Career High 134 to Anna's 406; although in the third quarter Jade Windley who won through qualifying has a hardly easier task against 3rd seed Hlavackova (CZE) ranked 158 to Jade's 643; and in that quarter also are reigning US Open junior champion Heather Watson ranked 558 who, on paper, has the easiest Brit R1 draw against Barbat (DEN) ranked 718 and Tara Moore, who also won through qualifying, ranked 552 against Vrljic (CRO) ranked 322. Good luck you 4

Tara had an excellent win in Q2 beating the 4th qseed Clerico of Italy ranked 453 7-5 6-0 to continue what has been a hugely encouraging start to 2010 so far. Go, Tara!

By the way, good luck Emily!

Well done, too, on a successful return to the matchcourt in the R1 of the dubs; looks like it was a real nailbiter!

Emily and Riza Zalameda (USA) are 3rd seeds and took out (just! ) Kim-Alice Grajdek of Germany and Anastasia Mukhametova of Russia 5-7 7-6(4) [10-8] ; no sweat!

Good news, horrendous news!

Here's the really bad bit: Emily didn't get to finish her singles, being unable to continue after attempting to chase down a drop shot at 4-6 2-5 against ; hope it's not serious, Em

She had to scratch from the dubs as well of course.



The better news:

3 British winners in round 1 of the singles with pride of place going to Anna Smith right down at the bottom of the draw against the second seed. 6-7(4) 6-3 7-5 over world ranked #134 Zuzana Kucova (CZE) has fantastic written all over it: fantastic fight; fantastic result. Rankings deficit of 272 duly overturned!

Next up for Anna is Ungur of Roumania who Anna has already beaten this year in the singles in the 10k ITFs at both Glasgow and Wrexham. Here's hoping the trend continues!

There's still British interest in the third quarter of the draw too with Heather Watson justifying her rankings superiority over Barbat of Denmark 3&4 ; with 6th seed Gronert of Germany next

In the top half of the draw Naomi Cavaday eased passed her R1 opponent 2&2 as the rankings suggested she might ; and she'll be favourite again in R2 against Klaschka of Germany

As well as Em's sad exit, there were exits too for Tara Moore (who took her higher ranked opponent to 3 sets), Joss Rae (ditto) and Jade Windley (downed in 2 sets by the 3rd seed)

The dubs is through to the semis already with Naomi & Anna, playing together as 4th seeds, the only Brits remaining and up against the top seeds next. Good luck, Girls!

100% success rate today!

Sutton 2010 shaping up nicely for a repeat of 2009 or better!

Superbly, 17 year old Heather Watson ranked 558 beat 6th seed Sarah Gronert of Germany ranked 260 in 3 sets 7-6(5) 3-6 6-3 ; next up another daunting challenge, 3rd seed Hlavackova (CZE) ranked 158. Go, Heather

If Heather wins that her SF opponent could be Anna Smith who today completed a hat-trick of wins over Ungur (ROU) this time 6-4 6-0 ; Anna just has to win her QF against Mona Barthel of Germany ranked 331 to Anna's 406

Making it 3 Brits into the last 8 is Naomi Cavaday who remains on course to justify her 4th seeding albeit getting through R2 was a 3 set affair 6-7(2) 6-1 6-3 ; next up 5th seed Stanciute (LTU); good luck Naomi

And to complete a perfect results day from Sutton Naomi and Anna put out the top seeds - Kucova & Voracova (SVK/CZE) - in their doubles SF in straight sets 6-0 7-5 . Lift the title, Girls!

One month's worth of postings were lost into cyberspace

So to bridge the gap the Sutton story ended up thus:

Singles: Anna Smith won her QF against Mona Barthel (GER) 6-2 6-1 before losing her semi against the eventual champion Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) 6-2 5-7 1-6 [ranked 145 now]. Great effort Anna

Doubles: Anna Smith and Naomi Cavaday beat the top seeds in the semis 6-0 7-5 but lost the final 8-10 in the Match Tie-Breaker

Excellent week all round for Anna