With Tim Henman more than hinting at retirement and Andy Murray still struggling with his wrist injury, the year’s last tennis major, the US Open, looks like being a Brit-free zone!.  However, eight British hopefuls line up in the qualifying event for the tournament which starts next week. Each player needs to win three matches in succession to reach the first round proper.

The Men

Alex Bogdanovic is the 16th seed in qualifying. He's had a good year so far and has reached a career high of just outside the top 100 in the world. Nearly beating Roddick at Queen’s was a great result. However, his form has somewhat dipped during the US hard court season and he has been troubled with a back problem. He is capable of reaching the first round as long as he believes in himself and is serving is in form. I give him a 75 per cent chance of qualifying.

‘Chances are slim but achievable. It would be nice to see British players fighting for places in the main draw rather than relying on the wild cards they get when playing on home soil.’


Richard Bloomfield broke into the world top 200 for the first time this year, with good performances on home soil early in the season. Since then he has failed to impress and seems to have found his level competing on the challenger tour.  No chance of qualifying.

Jamie Baker is an up and coming 21-year-old. He has had a good season, reaching two finals on the hard courts of the US Challenger Series. Hopefully, he can use this confidence and success on American soil to his advantage and qualify for his first major tournament other than Wimbledon. I give him a 50 per cent chance of making it through to the first round.

 The Women

Katie O'Brien was the only Briton to reach the second round at Wimbledon this year. She has recently reached a career high of No.121 in the world, and is looking to reach the top 100 before the end of the season.  Has not played well on the hard courts of Canada or the US, and may feel the pressure of being the new British No.1. A 25 per cent chance of qualifying.

Anne Keothavong is a player in form. Having reached the final of a Challenger tournament in Lexington three weeks ago, she followed that up with a win in Vancouver a week later. These good results have pushed Keothavong back into the top 150 world ranking and should give her the confidence to reach the first round on her favourite surface – a 75 per cent chance of qualifying.

Mel South's best surface is grass. She holds wins over Francesca Schiavone and Alicia Molik on this surface and also reached the mixed doubles quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Recent form has been poor and she will find life difficult in the US. Just a 25 per cent chance of qualifying.

Naomi Cavaday is Britain’s hottest talent in many a year. Still only 18, Cavaday has risen to just outside the world top 200. She has played well in the US Challenger Series earlier in the year and narrowly failed to qualify for this week’s New Haven event with a three-set loss to the far more experienced Tatiana Poutchek. Has a real chance if she can get her first serve in and keeps confident. A 75 per cent chance.

Finally, Elena Baltacha is back!  The former British No.1 has had a career filled with injury and pain. She has now recovered from a liver problem and is ready to take on the big guns in the US. She has the talent and the serve but needs to be more consistent and keep her nerve. Baltacha had a good grass court season and has had good results on the hard courts of Asia this year. She has moved nearly 600 places up the rankings since May and will look to break into the top 200 again by the end of the year. Chances are 50 per cent.

So there you are, chances are slim but achievable. It would be nice to see Britsh players fighting for places in the main draw rather than relying on the wild cards they get when playing on home soil. Of course, we all hope Henman and Murray will play because they are world class – and, quite frankly, our only serious hope of any kind of success.