The LTA

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

The LTA

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

indiana wrote:
At least with say the lower level pro tournaments the LTA can point to how they produce well promoted festivals of tennis encouraging spectators to flock to such events so a potential sponsor can expect great recognition - or not.

Exactly. The LTA will be able to assure potential sponsors that they will be partnering with a prestigious and historic Association, one committed to growing the sport and providing a high profile platform for tennis right across the country. An organisation with a proven track record of bringing engaging, highly anticipated events to local communities all year round. Not so much a promoter of the sport but a guardian of it. Brand promotion prospects: excellent - 10/10.

Are you ready to partner with the dynanism, passion and vision of the LTA, and be a part of the future?

Also they still have Lawn in the name. Because these guys are the real deal.

(Plus you will get lots of free tickets to Wimbledon. Lots. As many as you want.)

paulisi · Tennis legend

As well as increasing the ITF events in the UK - I would like to see a standardised use of the wildcard. My proposal would be similar to what we have now(1xwc only for U18 nationals and BT tour), but a guarantee for a wildcard for a 15K for any junior ranked inside the top 250 and a guarantee wildcard college student who has played on the main tour 3 or more times in a calendar year and is in their first full season since finishing college.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
As well as increasing the ITF events in the UK - I would like to see a standardised use of the wildcard. My proposal would be similar to what we have now(1xwc only for U18 nationals and BT tour), but a guarantee for a wildcard for a 15K for any junior ranked inside the top 250 and a guarantee wildcard college student who has played on the main tour 3 or more times in a calendar year and is in their first full season since finishing college.

I also think that each host club should hold "pre-qualifying" the week before with 2 of the 4 WCs going to the winners. It is competitive practice and also can generate money for the host club. Worked exceptionally well in Portugal when I saw it in action there.

indiana · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
As well as increasing the ITF events in the UK - I would like to see a standardised use of the wildcard. My proposal would be similar to what we have now(1xwc only for U18 nationals and BT tour), but a guarantee for a wildcard for a 15K for any junior ranked inside the top 250 and a guarantee wildcard college student who has played on the main tour 3 or more times in a calendar year and is in their first full season since finishing college.

I partly agree and we certainly don't want perceptions of 'favourites' with WCs.

So yes to WCs for U18 nationals and British Tour. But I would be wary of linking to junior rankings. Our juniors don't need any more suggestion that junior rankings are a particular biggie ( they should result from good play if that is your route not particular rankings be aims in themselves ). Let's also look at say juniors that concentrate more on senior tennis events and maybe qualify for some 15K main draws.

On the whole I'd say the WC situation is largely OK for the lower level British ITFs.

Bob's suggestion looks interesting in giving these additional matches and 'earning' WCs but I don't know how easy it would be to accomodate. Probably currently not easy.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
paulisi wrote:
As well as increasing the ITF events in the UK - I would like to see a standardised use of the wildcard. My proposal would be similar to what we have now(1xwc only for U18 nationals and BT tour), but a guarantee for a wildcard for a 15K for any junior ranked inside the top 250 and a guarantee wildcard college student who has played on the main tour 3 or more times in a calendar year and is in their first full season since finishing college.
I also think that each host club should hold "pre-qualifying" the week before with 2 of the 4 WCs going to the winners. It is competitive practice and also can generate money for the host club. Worked exceptionally well in Portugal when I saw it in action there.

Yes. I would like to experiment with giving the host club a wildcard for the main draw.

If we want to incentivise clubs to hold the events, and make it more appealing to the public, why not just give the host club a wildcard? They can give it to their resident club coach, or their best youngster, or the president's daughter in true nepotistic stlye, or whomever they want.

Or, as you say and even better, they can hold a pre-tournament event and award a main draw wildcard off the back of it. It could be staggered over a month, if necessary, to make logistics easier. (Of course that would put off people who come from afar but that's the point - you want to ensure there is local representation at the event and the British love a local underdog).

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

For those who haven't seen my comments on the WC play offs, they were in action in Faro, Portugal last year. Basically they ran TWO WC playoffs - the first on Mon/Tues and the second on Weds/Thurs/Fri of the week prior to the tournament. Each draw had 64 players paying an entry fee of 30 euros. Matches were one long set to 9 with a TB at 8-8. The winner of each tournament got a MD WC. Both tournaments had full draws. For players who rarely make it through qualies and who's week is often over before it starts, it provides an extra chance for competitive tennis prior to entering qualies the following weekend.

Faro had just 6 courts at the club and managed without any problem. It did mean the club members didn't get much of a look in that week but 64 * 30 * 2 = 3.840 euros (minus a few tennis balls) which is a decent sum of money for a small club. As these were run privately through the club and not through the tennis association in Portugal, that money went directly to the club.

paulisi · Tennis legend

it would only work in the middle of a group of futures and the UK players who fail in qualifying generally go and play British Tour. I think your scheme would benefit the overseas players.

the addict · Tennis legend

As an aside to the above discussion, Emily W-S has tweeted a photo taken at FQR at the Nantes 25k

twitter.com/ews24/status/925478668163604482

They do things differently in France

Edit: - CD has already posted this elsewhere

-- Edited by the addict on Tuesday 31st of October 2017 11:04:58 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
As an aside to the above discussion, Emily W-S has tweeted a photo taken at FQR at the Nantes 25k

twitter.com/ews24/status/925478668163604482

They do things differently in France

Edit: - CD has already posted this elsewhere

Actually it's better here smile

the addict · Tennis legend

Well I posted it here as I thought it was relevant, before I saw your post over there wink

paulisi · Tennis legend

Heard a rumour that the LTA might be looking at outsourcing the management of these events in future.

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

Have hotels ever been used to host futures in the UK? Might make sense to give them some accommodation revenue in quiet midweeks. Do hotels host them in Turkey and Egypt etc?

paulisi · Tennis legend

Several countries tie in hotels with tournaments.
Most GB tournaments arrange preferential rates with local hotels.

How many hotels in the UK have suitable facilities to host ITF events?

indiana · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Heard a rumour that the LTA might be looking at outsourcing the management of these events in future.

Well I guess if your heart's not in promoting and managing tournaments for the non elite ...