Lee Childs retires

Sheddie · administrator

Lee Childs retires

Salmon · Tennis legend

That is sad because Lee had improved quite a bit in the last four months or so. He beat Healey at Surbiton and took Karlovic to a third set tie breaker.

I think that Lee should give doubles a good try. He was incredible at it when he was young.

We now have nearly no one at Challenger and Tour level. Just look at where it was at the start of 2006 -

36. Tim Henman - Retired
37. Greg Rusedski - Retired
64. Andy Murray
168. Alex Bogdanovic
201. Arvind Parmar - Retired
239. Mark Hilton - Retired
255. Jonathan Marray
257. Jamie Delgado - Retired from singles
289. James Auckland - Retired from singles
297. Matthew Smith
304. Alan Mackin - Retired
320. Martin Lee - Retired
335. David Sherwood - Retired
388. Joshua Goodall
394. Lee Childs - Retired
395. Jamie Baker
437. Colin Fleming - Retired

That's 11 out of 17. And not a single player has come up to replace them.

gazzpash · Club Coach

Sheddie wrote:

Ive just heard that Lee has retired....shame but was expected tbh...newly married and apart from Wimbledon and a 10K in Greece, hasnt had much to shout about all year, must have decided it just wasnt worth getting into all that debt again as he was struggled to stay in top 400

Tom Rushby is also considering retirement

Looks like the BBC were correct then the other day. Or have I been seeing into the future again!!! Lol! Shame that he's called it a day, makes our top end players seem very weak. We're going to need the Kasari/Ward/Seator lot to really come good soon.

Also, shame to hear that Rushby is thinking of calling it a day. He's on the cupse of making the next big jump. Need more players to get higher and be encouraged

eblunt · Club Coach

Arka wrote:

That is sad because Lee had improved quite a bit in the last four months or so. He beat Healey at Surbiton and took Karlovic to a third set tie breaker.

I think that Lee should give doubles a good try. He was incredible at it when he was young.

We now have nearly no one at Challenger and Tour level. Just look at where it was at the start of 2006 -

36. Tim Henman - Retired
37. Greg Rusedski - Retired
64. Andy Murray
168. Alex Bogdanovic
201. Arvind Parmar - Retired
239. Mark Hilton - Retired
255. Jonathan Marray
257. Jamie Delgado - Retired from singles
289. James Auckland - Retired from singles
297. Matthew Smith
304. Alan Mackin - Retired
320. Martin Lee - Retired
335. David Sherwood - Retired
388. Joshua Goodall
394. Lee Childs - Retired
395. Jamie Baker
437. Colin Fleming - Retired

That's 11 out of 17. And not a single player has come up to replace them.

Bloomers ?

wolf · Tennis legend

Who the hell is Matthew Smith?

steven · Tennis legend

wolf wrote:

Who the hell is Matthew Smith?

Matt Smith was one of our big hopes a couple of years ago, when he played more matches than any other Brit and got well into the top 500. He suffered for that the following year (2006) and he's currently GB no. 20 ranked 847 but hasn't played since August.

Grundon · Intermediate Club Player

wolf wrote:

Who the hell is Matthew Smith?

Matt Smith - British number 20 WR847 (more details on the britishtennis.net profiles page)

Grundon · Intermediate Club Player

Any idea why Tom Rushby is thinking of retirement?

johnnylad · Tennis legend

sad to see Lee go.... but if you check the end of year rankings prediction thread.....i thought this would happen!

I would have thought Rushby is on the verge because he knows he has hit his ranking ceiling.
He was so woeful against Tsonga at Queens and as soon as his opponent is higher ranked he is always the favourite to lose.

Please don't bag me for being too critical on that. Its just an opinion but surely one that he seems to be sharing.

Sheddie · administrator

Tom Rushby: one big reason....lack of dosh, when you're down at that level you'll be earning so little and he must be a huge amount in the red. Has been quite consistent in making futures quarters on all sorts of surfaces but that's not enough to push you into top 500 and higher...hasn't had that big run to a futures final to really give him the confidence and ranking boost plus alleviate the debt slightly. Must also be a little demoralising as he aimed to be top 500 by Wimbledon but that hasnt happened.

I agree with Johnnylad he has reached his ranking ceiling from the looks of things. The lad is a little harsh though....Tsonga beat Hewitt at that tourney plus he's ranked around 600 places higher...when there's that much rankings difference plus it was on Tsonga's fav surface, Tom was always going to look lightweight in comparison...a lot of challenger level players do when compared to Tsonga !

Saw Tom in Hampstead as you know...he has a good all-round game, no real obvious weaknesses. Unfortunately he lacks that killer shot, but could have more success through being more aggressive and stepping up the court which could make a big difference. Lovely tough at the net though, some seriously classy shots up there......I really think he has a future at the doubles so hopefully he can carve a career at that

Salmon · Tennis legend

eblunt wrote:

Bloomers ?

Apologies.