It's ages away but I thought that I'd start a topic since this is played in Britain.
This begins on 2nd April and the surface is indoor hard. It's held at this venue, in case anyone wants to visit: Sutton Junior Tennis Centre, Rosehill Park, Sutton, Surrey SM1 3HH.
Cheap points for Michael Thompson? You're having a laugh?
He has a reasonable ranking (215), but he's played in a lot of tournaments in the last year, and his points have been mainly won in very weak ones. The best player he has beaten is currently ranked 294 (although he "beat" no 147 on a retirement).
The Sutton draw is full of hungry Brits who haven't had his opportunities. He'll do well to get past the quarters. (Famous last words!)
__________________
"Where Ratty leads - the rest soon follow" (Professor Henry Brubaker - The Institute of Studies)
Smethurst should do well here. He has achieved more in the men's game than everyone else in this field and has taken a set off a top 50 Junior player.
Maybe one of the 1991 boys will make some serious progress in Malta and the two tourneys here? Menshawy is in great form by the look of it.
I have always wondered why Brits start playing Juniors as late as possible. Surely this is just starving yourself of high quality tennis? And it's pretty hard to become a good pro without being a top Junior.
Can't think of anyone else in that field who has beaten so many ATP ranked players as Smethurst, so he is capable of taking it. But it's always difficult to beat higher ranked players, even if they aren't as good as you.
That said, Matt James is in some brilliant form and he's the one who Dan may face early on.
Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
Maximilian Diemer [941] of Germany beat Maniel Bains [474] by 76 63 Tom Knights [362] beat Niall Angus [425] by 63 76 James Richardson [378] beat Peter Francis [361] by 26 62 64 Tim Hewitt [618] beat Alisair Felton [Unr] by 62 63