Lazare Kukhalashvili to represent Britain??

Salmon · Tennis legend

Lazare Kukhalashvili to represent Britain??

Salmon · Tennis legend

RE: Lazare Kukhalashvili to represent Britain?

Salmon · Tennis legend

RE: Lazare Kukhalashvili to represent Britain??

Ratty · County player

I wouldn't get so down on the home grown boys born in 1991. I think we may see something from one or more of the following in 2007: James Chaudry, Gent Rexha, Greg Goodall, James Turbervill, Jordan McCulloch, Ahmed El Menshawy. And bearing in mind a recent absurd article by Neil Harman about racism in British tennis, it's interesting that 4 of these 6 are not 100% British by ethnic origin.

Salmon · Tennis legend

There must be a few good players who can improve and finally play in the Tour at sime point of time, but there isn't anyone who is world class. It's not necessary that to be a Tour player you need to be world class, but more often than not people who succeed at the top were something really special when they were boys.

If we could have two or three Matt Smiths, Andy Murrays and Dan Coxes every year, we could have a top 100 player every two years or so. But people can always improve later on and let's hope that that is the case.

-- Edited by Arka at 20:16, 2007-02-01

Ratty · County player

You are of course right - most top seniors were also top under 12 year olds, etc.

But not always - Henman was of course a prime example of a late developer and did nothing to suggest great things until he was about 19. In his last junior year (1992) he went out 2-6 2-6 in the first round of junior Wimbledon to that legend Enrique Albaroa (career high ranking 1037).

Clutching at straws maybe ....

Salmon · Tennis legend

I now see that Henman lost in the first round of all three Junior Slams he played in. Wow!

Sheddie · administrator

Arka wrote:

We have a serious lack of world class male players born between 1991 and 1993, maybe this is the solution!

"Kukhalashvili, 15, travelled here as a member of an LTA group and has shared digs with Dyce and Dan Cox for three weeks. Recently denied a second working visa to the United States, where he had been practising at the Nick Bollettieri Academy, he came to West London before Christmas to train at Queen’s Club, under the auspices of the LTA.

Negotiations are continuing between the association and Kukhalashvili’s management about him qualifying for residency and, possibly, playing for Great Britain one day. Both sides are said to be serious. From first impressions yesterday — the boy is fast, his ground strokes pack a punch and he has great spirit — he is worth checking out. "

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5205-2559797,00.html

Cheers to Toby for posting this article in the Men's section.

-- Edited by Arka at 13:16, 2007-01-22

Sounds very promising ! Kukhalashvilli's results have been good so far, did he beat Dyce in the AO ?

How long does it take to qualify for British citzenship, is it 4 years ?

Salmon · Tennis legend

I have absolutely no idea about what rules you people have for citizenships.

When did Greg start playing for us? His case was different as he had a British parent...

Yes, he beat Dyce at the AO.

He played for the USA when he was 13. That was because Georgia didn't send a team and the Americans were more than ready to accept him.

This is what he did -

Teen Tennis - Won singles title without dropping a set. Won doubles title with Chase Buchanan.
Les Petit As - Reached singles final before losing to Chase in three sets. Won doubles title with Chase.

I know that he is physically far stronger than people of his age, but that seems to be a bit too good to be true.

It's tough being a tennis player from Georgia. That country doesn't have a single Futures, forget about Challengers and Tour events.
I know that people will say that Baghdatis has done so much even though he is from Cyprus, but he moved to Paris at a fairly young age and received a lot of support. Where as this boy tours from one academy to another, both in the US and Europe.
If Draper somehow manages to make this move possible, I am pretty sure that he won't regret it later on.

-- Edited by Arka at 12:39, 2007-02-06