JO'BURG: ELENA BALTACHA THROUGH TO QFs (14.04.10)

Two down three to go! After her first round breeze, GB #1 Elena Baltacha had to work a bit harder in R2 against world #129 Kathrin Woerle (GER) but still came through in straight sets 7-5 6-3 to set up a QF at the $100k+H ITF in Johannesburg, South Africa against 6th seed Jarmila Groth (AUS) ranked #114. Bally is the only British survivor in the singles here with Katie O'Brien and Naomi Broady both going down in R1 in 3 sets. Naomi's was a great effort though taking the 5th seed and world #106 to the tiebreaker in the third and she did pick up 6 ranking points from the qualies. Verge of top 100 stuff from Naomi now. Top 30 stuff from Bally! GO, YOU BRITS!

ASTANA: LISA WHYBOURN BACK IN BUSINESS! (15.04.10)

It was a great shame (but goes with the territory of being a pro tennis player!) when injury halted the purple patch which was GB #15 Lisa Whybourn's Autumn 2009. Still only 18 for another few weeks, the next 10 counting scores will all be added to her ranking points tally if achieved by late August. Great news therefore that in only her 4th ITF of her comeback she's through to the semis of the $10k in Astana, Kazakhstan having today beaten 8th seed Zharkova (RUS) 6-2 6-3. Top seed next up. WELCOME BACK, LISA!

SEAN THORNLEY: LAST MAN STANDING (AGAIN!) (16.04.10)

It's been a great fortnight for GB's Sean Thornley, 20, at successive ITF $15Ks in China. His SF at last week's tournament in Chongqing meant he was the last Brit Guy standing in singles on the world tours in week 14 and will earn him a new Career High ranking on Monday; and he's only gone and done it again this week in Guiyang! Took out the second seed in R1 4&1 overturning a rankings deficit of some 305 with the 3rd seed next up for a place in the final. EXCELLENT WORK, SEAN!

DOTHAN: LAURA ROBSON & HEATHER WATSON HERE! (18.04.10)

With the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud causing mayhem for players trying to get to tournaments, thankfully there have been no such difficulties for Britain's young guns due to take part in this week's $50k ITF in Dothan, Alabama, USA. Heather Watson, 17 and currently GB's #1 junior, is due a huge leap up the world rankings tomorrow to be breathing down the neck of Laura Robson, 16 and previously world #1 junior, in the senior rankings. Heather has claimed a Junior Exemption straight into the Dothan Main Draw; Laura is #2 seed in the qualies. There is a great sense that the exciting future of British womens tennis is more or less upon us! GO, GIRLS, GO!

RANKINGS: HEATHER WATSON'S BIG CHARGE CONTINUES (19.04.10)

As anticipated, GB #1 junior girl Heather Watson has leapt up the senior rankings today! Still 17 for a few more weeks, she is +63 today to a new Career High world #353 bringing her rise up the ranking so far in 2010 to a stonking 201 places. She's still 38 places behind Laura Robson in the world list (and 2 in the GB pecking order) but it is fascinating to see their friendly rivalry bearing fruit. Friendly enough to be playing doubles together again this week in Dothan. See the Rankings News threads on the public forum for more. GOOD GOING, HEATHER!

DOTHAN: SO FAR SO GOOD FOR ROBSON & WATSON (20.04.10)

All good news so far for the British "young guns" at the ITF $50k at Dothan, Alabama, USA this week. Laura Robson came through the final qualifying round 4&4 to earn 6 ranking points and a R2 against top seed Shenay Perry (USA) ranked 104 if she wins her R1 and Laura beats Fedak (UKR) ranked 192. Heather Watson is already through to R2 having beaten Lee-Waters (USA) ranked 199 in R1 6-7(7) 6-3 6-0. Dubs R1 not yet played. KEEP GOING, GIRLS!

TALLAHASSEE: JOSH GOODALL DOING EXCELLENTLY (21.04.10)

With the vast majority of the positive news for British tennis so far in 2010 coming from the women, it's great to see GB #5 Josh Goodall, ranked 312, on a roll at the ATP $50k Challenger in Tallahassee, Florida, USA this week which will see him back inside the top 300 on Monday. He overturned a rankings deficit of 50 in the final round of qualifying to beat 3rd qseed John Millman (AUS) 4&4 and did even better in R1 of the MD beating world #150 Michael Yani (USA) 6-4 7-6(6) with 8th seed Ryan Sweeting (USA) ranked 142 likely to be next up. GREAT STUFF, JOSH!

DOTHAN: TWO MORE BRITISH WINS (22.04.10)

The 100% record for Brits at this week's claycourt $50k ITF in Dothan, Alabama, USA has been maintained with GB #9 Laura Robson, 16, winning her singles R1 and, in tandem with fellow Briton 17 year old Heather Watson, also winning her doubles R1. Laura won 7-5 2-6 6-4 against Yuliana Fedak (UKR) ranked 192 and next up is not the top seed who was a late withdrawal but Madison Brengle (USA) ranked 179. Next up for Heather in the singles is 3rd seed Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) ranked 112. Laura and Heather won their dubs 6-4 7-6(4) with the 3rd seeds next up in the QFs. YAY, YOU BRITS!

CHANGWON: MEL SOUTH'S FIGHT-BACK STARTS! (22.04.10)

2010 has been disappointing so far for GB #5 Mel South who broke into the world top 100 briefly last year but is currently just outside the world top 200. Great to see, therefore, that Mel has chalked up two wins on the trot, for the first time this year, at the $25k ITF in Changwon, Korea this week to secure double digit ranking points. Next up a QF against Yi-Fan Xu (CHN) ranked 344. See the Changwon thread on the public forum. GOOD WORK & GOOD LUCK, MEL!

DOTHAN: LAURA ROBSON STORMS INTO THE QFs (23.04.10)

Not unexpectedly, Heather Watson went down to 3rd seed Rodina in the singles R2 and the Heather and Laura Robson doubles act also went down to the 3rd seeds in their dubs QF. However, there is great news from the $50k ITF in Dothan, Alabama, USA today! Up against no slouch in Brengle (USA) ranked 179, Laura stormed through 6-4 6-1 to set up a QF against Sophie Fergusson (AUS) ranked 144. Laura is already assured of breaking into the world top 300 on Monday. GO, LAURA!

DOTHAN: LAURA ROBSON WINS HER QF (24.04.10)

Laura Robson, 16, will jump two places up the GB womens singles pecking order on Monday from #9 to #7 after securing her 5th win at the $50k ITF in Dothan, Alabama, USA. Two wins in qualifying and now 3 in the Main Draw to earn her 38 ranking points, just 2 points short of GB #6 Anna Smith. She downed world #144 Sophie Fergusson (AUS) 4-6 6-3 6-1 in the QFs to now face 5th seed Edina Gallovits (ROU) ranked 119 for a place in the final. FANTASTIC, LAURA & GOOD LUCK!

RANKINGS: NEW CHs FOR ROBSON, WATSON & THORNLEY (26.04.10)

Their participation in the $50k ITF in Dothan, Alabama, USA last week has reaped 4 new Career Highs in today's WTA rankings lists for British young guns Laura Robson, 16, and Heather Watson, 17. Laura's superb run through to the singles SFs has her +46 to world #269 and the doubles R1 win she shared with Heather has Laura on the brink of the world top 100 at #102; Heather followed her +63 last Monday with +18 today to be world #335 in the singles list and in the dubs list she's +32 to be #388. In the ATP singles list Sean Thornley, +100 last week, posted +55 this week to be world #640. CONGRATS LAURA, HEATHER & SEAN!

STUTTGART: GREAT WIN FOR SARAH BORWELL (AGAIN!) (27.04.10)

2010 continues to gather pace for GB womens doubles #1 Sarah Borwell. Her partnership with Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) in evitably took a bit of time to get into full swing but now wins more often than it loses at WTA level events. This week at the $700k Premier in Stuttgart, Germany they have a R1 win under their belt and 120 ranking points in the locker beating Ivanovic (SRB) & Petkovic (GER) 10-6 in the Match Tie-Breaker. Second seeds in the QFs probably. GREAT WORK, SARAH!

FES: SUPERB WINS FOR KATIE O'BRIEN & ANNE KEOTHAVONG (27.04.10)

Excellent news from R1 of the singles at the $220k WTA International in Fes, Morocco with GB #2 Katie O'Brien and GB #3 Anne Keothavong both recording wins today! With 80 ranking points to defend and her 2010 having been largely disappointing to date, Katie really pulled off a coup today to beat world #95 Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-3 in the third and save 30 of those points. Annie only has 30 points to defend this week so, thanks to beating world #79 Julie Coin (FRA) 6-4 in the third that job is already done! Tough asks next up though; top seed and world #40 for Annie; #65 in this year's Race for Katie. GREAT JOB, GIRLS!

FES: ANNE KEOTHAVONG ON VERGE OF TOP 100 AGAIN (28.04.10)

GB #2 Katie O'Brien gave Voracova a good fight in the second set today but went down 0-6 5-7. This means this week's GB #3 Anne Keothavong will overtake her on Monday. Anne was giving top seed Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) ranked 40 a real battle in the first set when at 5-6 30-30 on Anne's serve the Spaniard turned an ankle badly and could not continue. This outcome puts Annie K an estimated 6 ranking points away from a return to the world top 100. A win in her QF against Alize Cornet (FRA) would do the trick. GOOD LUCK, ANNIE!

CHARLOTTESVILLE: LAURA ROBSON DOWNS 4th SEED (29.04.10)

The momentum of GB #7 Laura Robson's rise up the senior rankings this year, interrupted by injury so that the Australian Open was her last event until 4 weeks ago, has quickly regathered its pace. After two $25k ITFs, Laura had a great week on clay at the Dothan $50k last week and, spared having to pre-qualify, she already has a major scalp, again on clay, at this week's $50k ITF in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Monique Adamczak (AUS) seeded 4 and ranked 141 won their R1 first set 6-4 but Laura bounced right back with 6-2 6-3 to set up a R2 against Elena Chalova (RUS) ranked 160. SUPERB WIN, LAURA!

BRESCIA: NAOMI CAVADAY THROUGH TO SEMIS (30.04.10)

2010 has been a curate's egg of a year so far for GB #4 Naomi Cavaday with 3 or 4 good points scoring weeks amidst a number of single pointers. This week will be at least her second best ranking points haul of the year after she beat Anna Redmondina (ITA) 6-4 6-4 in the QFs of the $25k ITF in Brescia, Italy today redressing the defeat she suffered at her hands in Belgium a fortnight ago. Next up for a place in the final is Stephanie Foretz (FRA) ranked 188 and seeded 6th. Naomi is ranked 194 and seeded 8th. Naomi is already through to the doubles final. GO, NAOMI!

BRITISH FINALISTS IN BRESCIA, BOURNEMOUTH & GIFU (01.05.10)

There has been plenty of good news for British women on the world tours so far this year but to date the titles count is only three. Tomorrow could have seen that title rise to seven! Mel South is through to the doubles final at the $50k ITF in Gifu, Japan whilst here in blighty Lisa Whybourn is through to the single final of the Bournemouth $10k ITF having overcome plucky second set resistance from fellow Brit Francesca Stephenson in their SF today. Best result of the day, though, belongs to GB #4 Naomi Cavaday at the $25k ITF in Brescia, Italy having disposed of Stephanie Foretz (FRA) ranked 188 6-1 6-4 for a likely final against 2nd seed Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) ranked 153 who lifted the Sutton $25k in February. Naomi is also in today's dubs final. GOOD LUCK, YOU 3 BRITS!

BRESCIA: NAOMI CAVADAY DOES THE DOUBLE! (02.05.10)

Mel South, in Gifu, and Lisa Whybourn, in Bournemouth, both went agonisingly close in their finals today but it's all good news from Brescia, Italy! At the claycourt $25k ITF there, GB #4 Naomi Cavaday celebrated her recent 21st birthday by picking up both titles. She and partner Anastassia Pivovarova (RUS) closed out the doubles final 10-8 in the Match Tie-Breaker yesterday and today Naomi was the clear winner, 6-2 6-4, in the singles final against the world #153. Rankings lists a week tomorrow will make very pleasant reading! BRILLIANT STUFF, NAOMI C!

RANKINGS: NEW CHs FOR ROBSON, WHYBOURN & MARRAY (03.05.10)

There'll be big new Career Highs, singles and doubles, for GB #4 Naomi Cavaday in next Monday's lists but in the meantime good to note in today's list Laura Robson (up to GB #6 today) closing in on the world top 250 on a new CH #254 thanks to her showing in Charlottesville; Lisa Whybourn into the top 500 (precisely!) for the first time with her points going on from Astana; and Jonny Marray, who went very close (MTB in the final) with Jamie Murray to lifting the Rhodes $35k+H ATP Challenger dubs at the week-end, going deeper into the top 100 up 3 to new CH #74. GOOD WORK, YOU BRITS!

[POSTSCRIPT: In fact with Naomi's points from Jo'burg '09 coming off she only gets one CH next Monday!]