CHs for Sarah & Anna last week; Heather this!

As mentioned in Stop Press last week, Sarah jumped 3 places last week to a new CH #69 which she maintains this week

Anna leapfrogged two more in the GB pecking order last week and achieved a new CH #266 which she maintains this week ; and she stays ahead, by a single ranking point, of Naomi B in this week's list albeit Naomi is +1 for a new CH of her own at #267

This week sees Heather Watson's points go on from her Jackson $25k QF the week before last plus those for her winning through qualification to last week's $700k WTA Premier in Charleston. Up 63 places to a huge new CH of #353

Top 10 singles: 59 Bally; 108 Katie; 109 Annie; 195 Naomi C; 238 Mel; 266 Anna; 267 Naomi B; 281 Georgie; 315 Laura; 334 Jade C [353 Heather at GB #11]

Top 10 doubles: 69 Sarah; 106 Laura; 151 Anna; 170 Mel; 189 Naomi C; 227 Joss; 243 Georgie; 280 Annie; 282 Bally; 322 Jade C

Laura & Heather continue their surge up the rankings

Having achieved great things at junior level, Laura Robson and Heather Watson are continuing to show that they can cut it at senior level too!

Former junior Wimbledon champion and world #1 junior Laura has risen another 46 places in the WTA singles list this week on the back of her great showing on clay, not her favourite surface, at the Dothan $50k ITF to bring her total rise in 2010 so far to 134 at her new Career High world #269 ; and she's on the verge of the top 100 in the doubles list +4 this week to be world #102, another new CH

Reigning US Open junior champion Heather followed up her leap up last week's rankings with another useful rise this week +18 bringing her total rise in 2010 so far to 219 at her new CH world #335

These are exciting times!

Top 10 Brits for singles this week: Bally 59; Katie 110; Annie 111; Naomi C 194; Mel 240; Anna 266; Laura 269; Naomi B 271; Georgie 284; Heather 335

Great stuff, Naomi C & Lisa!

Substantial new singles Career Highs today for GB #4 Naomi Cavaday on the back of her title week before last at the Brescia $25k and for Lisa Whybourn, 19th birthday tomorrow, courtesy of her runner-up spot at the Bournemouth $10k week before last.

Naomi +17 today to new CH world #174 beating her previous CH #183
Naomi's dubs title at Brescia has her +45 today ; but not a new CH after all, her points for winning the Jo'burg $100k dubs last year having just come off last week; current ranking now #245 against her CH which she chalked up last month of #184.

Lisa up a massive 46 places from her previous CH to new CH #454

In the dubs list GB #1 Sarah Borwell has sneaked up one place to a new CH #68 with Laura Robson doing likewise to #101

Top 10 singles this week: 62 Bally; 102 Annie; 124 Katie; 174 Naomi C; 215 Mel; 257 Laura; 269 Anna; 271 Naomi B; 282 Georgie; 337 Heather

Top 10 doubles this week: 68 Sarah; 101 Laura; 137 Mel; 167 Anna; 196 Annie; 228 Joss; 244 Georgie; 245 Naomi C; 322 Bally; 327 Jade C

3 new CHs this week!

Claiming Johanna Konta, 19 years old this week, as our own (even though she's officially AUS for a while yet she has confirmed in interview after her superb title win at the $50k ITF in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA at the week-end [ ] that she can, and will, apply for citizenship in August) she's +77 this week to new CH world #266 ; and would be GB's #7 if she were officially GBR giving GB's #6 Laura Robson at #260 some healthy competition!

It's been a good week for May birthday girls with Amanda Carreras, 20 this week, +21 to new CH #397 ; and Lisa Whybourn, 19 last week, +15 to new CH #439

Good to see Tara Moore, still 17 until August, stirring again after a lean patch ; +61 this week to be world #604 (still some way behind her CH #482 though)

Top 10 GB in singles this week: 63 Bally; 115 Annie; 124 Katie; 174 Naomi C; 210 Mel; 260 Laura; [266 Jo]; 277 Anna; 281 Naomi B; 288 Georgie; 344 Heather

Top 10 GB in doubles this week: 68 Sarah; 101 Laura; 139 Mel; 169 Anna; 197 Annie; 217 Joss; 245 Naomi C; 257 Georgie; 327 Bally; 333 Jade C

Big new CHs for Bally and Heather this week!

As is customary in the week of a Grand Slam tournament, WTA have got their new ranking list out a day early today (Sunday) with Wimbledon starting tomorrow (ATP's still awaited for the guys ) and there's stacks of good news for the British women

Top of the list comes a big new CH for GB #1 Bally on the back of her QF at the $600k Premier in Eastbourne; +10 this week from #62 sailing past her previous CH of #59 to be world #52

Just 4 notches short of Annie K's best mark now; needs to reach the second round at Wimby to defend her ranking points from last year; very winnable R1 draw for Bally so here's hoping!

Humungous new CH for Heather Watson thanks to her 4 wins at Eastbourne; +95 to within the top 250 at world #249 ; that's seen her leapfrog past 3 in the GB pecking order to be GB #7 this week ; and with no points to defend from last year's Championships her wild card into this year's Main Draw gives her a shot to nothing in R1; and the draw has given her a very decent chance too!

19 year old Joss Rae is +29 this week to be world #465, comfortably bypassing her previous CH of 480

Smaller CH increments, but important nonetheless, for Laura Robson +2 this week for a new CH #234 ; for Nicola George +2 to new CH #826 ; Nic Slater +5 to new CH #934 ; and quasi-Brit Girl Jo Konta (still officially AUS) +4 for new CH #234 ; if her passport had come through already that would make 19 year old Jo GB #8 just behind Heather now...

In the dubs list another +2 for Laura Robson courtesy of her 1 ranking point achieved in the Netherlands this week in tandem with Sally Peers (renewing their Australian Open QF reaching partnership in readiness for their Wimby dubs wild card); that +2 takes Laura into the world top 100 for the first time ; at world #99

Top 10 Brit Girls for singles this week: 52 Bally; 130 Katie; 155 Annie; 194 Naomi C; 234 Laura; 237 Mel; 249 Heather; 271 Anna; 288 Naomi B; 299 Georgie [Georgie has been out with a foot injury for the past 14 weeks and, Georgie's mother having remarried, Georgie's surname is now in the official listings as Gent rather than Stoop]

Top 10 Brit Girls for doubles this week: 69 Sarah; 99 Laura; 130 Mel; 167 Anna; 218 Joss; 235 Naomi C; 246 Annie; 258 Georgie; 290 Katie; 322 Jade C

Well done Lisa and Heather

Wimbledon wasn't as successful for the British women as expected this year, maybe, but highlights in today's new rankings lists in the aftermath are big rises for Lisa Whybourn in the singles list (+89 to be world #323 ) and Heather Watson in the doubles list (+166 to be world #217 ).

Top 10 Brits for singles this week: 57 Bally; 134 Katie; 153 Annie; 207 Naomi C; 234 Laura; 238 Mel; 250 Heather; 268 Anna; 283 Naomi B; 298 Georgie [and 11th is 323 Lisa]

Top 10 Brits for doubles this week: 69 Sarah; 119 Laura; 166 Anna; 192 Mel; 217 Heather; 219 Joss; 239 Naomi C; 247 Annie; 292 Katie; 333 Jade C [and 11th is 368 Emily]

The calm before the storm?

Been a quiet couple of weeks before the hardcourt season re-starts in earnest; and the points from the Woking 25k go on next week. For the record:

Top 10 singles: 57 Bally; 139 Katie; 154 Annie; 208 Naomi C; 235 Laura; 239 Mel; 252 Heather; 272 Anna; 284 Naomi B; 318 Lisa.

Top 10 dubs: 68 Sarah; 118 Laura; 153 Anna; 191 Mel; 223 Heather; 234 Joss; 239 Naomi C; 248 Annie; 299 Katie; 332 Jade C.

Heather created a bit of a storm at Wrexham!

Her 50 points for lifting the $25k singles have to wait for next Monday to go on though...

The points from Woking leave the singles top 10 in the same order but nice new singles CHs for both Laura, + 15 to world #220 , and Lisa, +11 to world #307 ; but in the dubs list there is some change with Joss regaining her status as GB #5 and rising in the world order +20 to a new CH #214

Top 10 Brits for singles: 59 Bally, 129 Katie, 151 Annie, 208 Naomi C, 220 Laura, 239 Mel, 262 Heather, 265 Anna, 284 Naomi B, 307 Lisa

Top 10 Brits for doubles: 70 Sarah, 114 Laura, 155 Anna, 189 Mel, 214 Joss, 226 Heather, 237 Naomi C, 246 Annie, 300 Katie, 335 Jade C

Tara's on the march too!

Still some way off the GB top 10 but great to note that Tara Moore (still only 17 for another few days and it's 2 years since her maiden tour singles title!) is strongly on an upward trajectory again right now! Down at world #665 just a couple of months ago, she was +50 in this week's list to be world #590 and will be making a similar leap next week when her points go on for picking up her second career singles title; may even be a new CH...

Meantime, a definite Career High this week for Heather Watson (+43 this week) now that her Wrexham points have gone on

Lisa Whybourn (+23 this week) new CH likewise

Nice new CH in the dubs list for Sarah Borwell having knocked out the top seeds at the WTA Premier in California last week ; and winning her R2 before being knocked out (or, rather, concussed; by a ball to the back of the neck near the end of her R2: she had to concede her QF after just one game). Get better soon, Sarah!

Top 10 Brits for singles: 56 Bally; 128 Katie; 155 Annie; 208 Naomi C; 219 Heather; 224 Laura; 238 Mel; 275 Naomi B; 276 Anna; 284 Lisa

Top 10 Brits for doubles: 66 Sarah; 114 Laura; 153 Anna; 193 Mel; 207 Annie; 214 Joss; 224 Heather; 241 Naomi C; 307 Katie; 341 Jade C

It's the Sarah, Anna and Tara show again!

Heather's having the week off from being in the rankings limelight but the other three 2010 regulars are in it again!

Anna Smith's excellent year just got even better with new Career Highs in both singles and doubles lists; really closing in on the top 100 for dubs now!

Anna's WTA level SF in Copenhagen last week with Annie helped! Helped Annie have a nice jump too, albeit her CH #98 some way distant yet.

Big jump in this week's singles list for Tara thanks to her Chiswick title win: +63 to new CH world #477

Sarah's been nursing herself back to health after a nasty encounter with a tennis ball at Stanford; so hopefully she'll get a lift by another small rise in her CH this week after last week's similar

Nice rises in both lists for our Emily, too; up to GB #11 singles and GB #10 doubles

GB top 10 singles this week: 56 Bally; 128 Katie; 149 Annie; 215 Naomi C; 220 Heather; 223 Laura; 246 Mel; 262 Anna; 280 Naomi B; 288 Lisa [then #391 Emily]

GB top 10 doubles this week: 65 Sarah; 115 Laura; 119 Anna; 158 Annie; 198 Mel; 209 Joss; 226 Heather; 258 Naomi C; 308 Katie; 337 Emily

Just waiting for the Tallinn $25k points!

There'll be progress to report next Monday but none today...

[ POSTSCRIPT: The Tallinn points have meant +6 for Annie to world #145; +5 for Heather to new CH world #216 and becoming the new GB #4; Naomi B +6 to world #273 but after the US Open a new CH #265 ; Anna F +82 to world #555; and Emily defending most of her position from winning in Delhi 12 months ago. A very useful tournament for many! ]

Congratulations, Bally!

Elena Baltacha's first ever Main Draw win at the US Open has brought it's reward with Bally +8 in this week's singles rankings to a new Career High #49, breaking into the world top 50 a fortnight less than 12 months since first cracking the top 100 barrier; it's wonderful that she has pushed on so well

New singles CH this week too for Naomi Broady

Top 10 Brits for singles this week: 49 Elena Baltacha; 131 Katie O'Brien; 145 Anne Keothavong; 216 Heather Watson; 220 Naomi Cavaday; 228 Laura Robson; 265 Naomi Broady; 275 Anna Smith; 285 Mel South; 292 Lisa Whybourn [and GB #11 Emily Webley-Smith at world #413]

Top 10 Brits for doubles this week: 65 Sarah Borwell; 116 Laura Robson; 124 Anna Smith; 130 Anne Keothavong; 175 Mel South; 219 Joss Rae; 226 Heather Watson; 249 Naomi Cavaday; 307 Katie O'Brien; 346 Emily Webley-Smith [and GB #11 Tara Moore at world #430]

Shrewsbury comes up trumps again!

In the 3 years of its existence, the Shrewsbury 75k has been a happy hunting ground for Brits in search of ranking points and new Career Highs. The one just finished has produced 3 new singles CHs and 1 new dubs CH ; plus a return to the top 300 (dubs) and top 400 (singles) for our Em

Top 10 GB women singles this week: 51 Elena Baltacha; 143 Anne Keothavong; 152 Katie O'Brien; 202 Heather Watson (new CH); 206 Naomi Cavaday; 232 Laura Robson; 239 Naomi Broady (new CH); 282 Mel South; 292 Anna Smith; 318 Lisa Whybourn [and #11 Emily Webley-Smith at 400; and #12 Tara Moore at 448 (new CH)]

Top 10 GB women doubles this week: 67 Sarah Borwell; 123 Laura Robson; 130 Anna Smith; 135 Anne Keothavong; 193 Mel South; 219 Joss Rae; 227 Heather Watson; 244 Naomi Cavaday; 298 Emily Webley-Smith; 305 Katie O'Brien [and #11 Naomi Broady at 342 (new CH)]

Katie and Laura in the news this week!

It's been a tough year at the coal-face for Katie O'Brien since the highlight of winning through to R2 of the Aussie Open way back in January; nice, therefore, to note the 20 points she picked up in China last week to regain her the GB #2 spot after just one week away

Laura's still only 16 years old until mid-January and, with a new Career High ranking this week (on the back of beating two top 100 players in Tokyo last week including the world #57 ), she is knocking at the very door of the world top 200 now with no-one younger than her ahead of her in the rankings!

Top 10 British women for singles this week: 53 Bally; 144 Katie; 147 Annie; 202 Heather; 208 Naomi C; 212 Laura; 239 Naomi B; 259 Mel; 292 Anna; 314 Lisa

Top 10 British women for doubles this week: 65 Sarah; 121 Laura; 133 Anna; 139 Annie; 189 Mel; 225 Joss; 236 Heather; 248 Naomi C; 294 Emily ; 304 Katie

New CHs for Laura and Tara!

18 year old Tara Moore's excellent 3 months continues to reap rewards this week with a big jump of 59 places up the world singles rankings to earn her a first ever incursion into the world top 400.

16 year old Laura Robson has to wait just until Monday to breach the top 200 mark this week being just one ranking point behind the world #200 and with 16 points in the locker from Osaka; still time, though, to give this week's rise of 11 places a !

Katie O'Brien's hold on the GB #2 slot has lasted only one week this time around with her appearance in the Commonwealth Games for England meaning points earnt last year couldn't be defended; as it happened an injury prevented her getting beyond R1; tennis can be a cruel game!

Top 10 British women for singles this week: 55 Elena Baltacha; 146 Anne Keothavong; 164 Katie O'Brien; 201 Laura Robson; 209 Heather Watson; 217 Naomi Cavaday; 243 Naomi Broady; 269 Mel South; 296 Anna Smith; 344 Lisa Whybourn [and #11 on 390 Tara Moore]

Top 10 British women for doubles this week: 66 Sarah Borwell; 125 Laura Robson; 138 Anne Keothavong; 155 Anna Smith; 203 Mel South; 228 Joss Rae; 242 Heather Watson; 249 Naomi Cavaday; 295 Emily Webley-Smith ; 308 Katie O'Brien

Congratulations, Laura!

16 year old prodigy Laura Robson broke into the world top 200 for the first time this week and she is in fact the only 16 year old inside the top 375!

She's getting into the habit of successfully winning her way through the qualifiers into the Main Draw of WTA level tournaments; won't be long before she's winning a few MD rounds too!

Other great news this week is Anne Keothavong really starting to look consistently worthy again of the world #48 ranking she reached before injury last year; she has consolidated her place as GB #2 in this week's rankings on the back of beating the world #41 in Linz; next week's will show even more so with wins against the world #43 and world #66 in Luxembourg under her belt.

GB top 10 singles this week: 56 Bally 1094pts; 143 Annie 457pts; 173 Katie 342pts; 189 Laura 295pts; 206 Heather 269pts; 212 Naomi C 266pts; 242 Naomi B 221pts; 251 Mel 214pts; 298 Anna 164pts; 331 Lisa 133pts

Great stuff, Annie K!

GB #2 Anne Keothavong has continued her strong finish to the year, following up her WTA level SF in Luxembourg with yet another top 100 scalp at the $100k ITF in Poitiers: that's world #41, #43, #66 and #90 in just three weeks ; she ran the #35 darned close in the Poitiers R2 as well...a return to the top 100 just 111 ranking points away now for Annie

Another strong week in the rankings for Naomi Broady, +10 to new CH world #231 ; and Tara Moore, +23 to a new CH to world #368 as GB #11 .

GB singles top 10 today: 55 Bally; 121 Annie; 172 Katie; 199 Laura; 209 Heather; 215 Naomi C; 231 Naomi B; 280 Mel; 306 Anna; 328 Lisa

GB doubles top 10 today: 69 Sarah; 124 Annie; 125 Laura; 156 Anna; 218 Mel; 243 Joss; 256 Heather; 265 Naomi C; 309 Katie [and 361 Tara at GB #11]

Congratulations, Heather!

18 year old Heather Watson has quickly followed 16 year old Laura Robson through the world top 200 barrier with the points picked up during last week's $50k ITF in Toronto; with plenty to spare, in fact, by going all the way to lift the title.

The 70 ranking points have her +33 in today's new WTA singles list to a new Career High #176 and leapfrogging Laura and Katie O'Brien to be this week's GB #3

Laura's age prevents her playing a fuller schedule at the moment and so, as last week, a few players have slipped past her this.

Good progress in the dubs list today for Anna Smith and Anne Keothavong who lifted the title at the $50k ITF in Nantes together

Some excellent $10k results including singles and doubles titles for Anna Fitzpatrick and Amanda Carreras feed through into the rankings next Monday...

Top 10 GB singles: 55 Bally; 123 Annie; 176 Heather; 180 Katie; 206 Laura; 213 Naomi C; 232 Naomi B; 292 Mel; 303 Anna; 333 Lisa

Top 10 GB doubles: 70 Sarah; 114 Annie; 127 Laura; 135 Anna; 219 Mel; 243 Joss; 254 Heather; 277 Naomi C; 311 Katie; 349 Naomi B

Great year, Bally!

With the WTA level season over, GB #1 Elena Baltacha has secured a Year End ranking deep inside the world top 100 at #55, a big rise of 29 places on the year

She dipped a toe inside the world top 50 at #49 in September; here's hoping she can continue onwards and upwards in 2011

Anne Keothavong finished the year with major glimpses of her best, beating a veritable crop of top 100 players ; and if she can start 2011 strongly she'll be comfortably inside the world top 100 again and heading back towards her Career High of #48

Our other top 100 player at last Year End, Katie O'Brien, had a tough year apart from the occasional highlight the biggest of which by a distance was winning a round of the Main Draw at the Australian Open; here's hoping Melbourne Park 2011 can spark a revival

Here's hoping that AO2011 will also be good for Heather Watson, Naomi Cavaday and Laura Robson

GB singles top 10 this week: 55 Bally; 122 Annie; 175 Heather; 180 Katie; 214 Naomi C; 216 Laura; 232 Naomi B; 274 Mel; 301 Anna S; 332 Lisa

GB doubles top 10 this week: 69 Sarah; 115 Annie; 126 Laura; 134 Anna S; 226 Mel; 243 Joss; 254 Heather; 278 Naomi C; 311 Katie; 348 Naomi B

Great work, Bally!

Big news in today's first rankings list of the year is that it's no longer a requirement to have 3 qualifying scores so that, for instance, GB #1 for singles Elena Baltacha (who has only 2 doubles scores albeit totalling 320 rankings points) jumps in one fell swoop from Unranked to be GB #6!

As it's the first list of the year here's a bit more detail than usual:

GB women in world top 500 for singles (15): 55 Elena Baltacha; 121 Anne Keothavong; 176 Heather Watson; 179 Katie O'Brien; 198 Naomi Cavaday; 217 Laura Robson; 260 Mel South; 288 Naomi Broady; 306 Anna Smith; 310 Lisa Whybourn; 350 Tara Moore; 392 Anna Fitzpatrick; 438 Emily Webley-Smith ; 466 Amanda Carreras; 485 Georgie Gent

GB women in world top 500 for doubles (18): 66 Sarah Borwell; 115 Anne Keothavong; 129 Laura Robson; 135 Anna Smith; 191 Mel South; 214 Elena Baltacha; 254 Heather Watson; 264 Joss Rae; 269 Naomi Cavaday; 315 Katie O'Brien; 317 Naomi Broady; 349 Anna Fitzpatrick; 355 Emily Webley-Smith ; 370 Tara Moore; 448 Amanda Carreras; 467 Jade Windley; 473 Amanda Elliott; 477 Fran Stephenson

Good luck everyone in 2011