Week 3 - Challenger (50k) Miami, Green clay

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RE: Week 3 - Challenger (50k) Miami, Green clay

Count Zero · Tennis legend

I think that flying from aus to miami, 20+ hrs of flight time add to that at least 2 stop overs would leave you feeling pretty drained, yes a tennis player makes these trips all the time, but it still not great preparation. Also i have spoken to people who are very close to alex and they had never seen him so down as he was over the stalder loss so its probably his mind wasnt quite back inthe rigth zone.

the only reason Alex chose to play here was for the DC, it not something he would normally like to do, but was prepared to for a chance to help the team, which in the past hasnt been so great towards him, so perhaps a bit of support instead would be nice. its not like he goes out there to delibertaly lose.

his ranking dropped low so he could have said sod the dc, i want to play the back to back indoor challengers that are coming up, where he would believe he could get some good results, its his best surface and a great chance for him to refind some form.

back to present:
i wouldnt hold out much hope for the dubs i doubt he has ever played with his partner b4, if these 2 americans play regualy the ranking difference may not matter. a win would be nice tho.

@drew, its hard to tell, so far all of the events this year havent been on alex's better surfaces. also its been reported that brad will only be at 12 events with Alex this year, which isnt really too many. hopefully they pick the events wisely. Brad has been making akex work on a tougher traniang regime, so hopefully that will start to kick in, although it's more likely to be a the later stages of events then indiviual matches.

with regards to the DC spot there is still a while to go, baker is definalty favourite, however there is still hawaii challenger and possibly VDM qualies. so cant say its 100% decided.

-- Edited by Count Zero at 13:54, 2008-01-16

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

I'm with Count on this one. I think actually it was a pretty brave decision to sign up for a clay challenger green or otherwise. Boggo's never liked the stuff and it shows an attitude to DC that I like. As for being down about the Stadler match, think how bitterly disappointed about it we all were/are and surely Alex will be even more so. I'm sure this isn't the end and Alex will come back, hopefully Brad's coaching will help out but I'm getting increasingly dubious as to how much effort Brad's actually going to be putting in though perhaps that's unfair of me.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

imoen wrote:

I'm getting increasingly dubious as to how much effort Brad's actually going to be putting in though perhaps that's unfair of me.

i agree imo, and i dont think its unfair. in this situation i think brad has to prove he is up for it.

its like suddenly telling arsene wenger or SAF to stop working in the prem and go to manage a league 1 side for a year till they can they go back ot the prem.

-- Edited by Count Zero at 14:39, 2008-01-16

steven · Tennis legend

Dreadful result, but I agree that writing off Alex from the no. 2 DC spot because he happened to be prepared to go and try and get a bit of experience on clay before the DC match is more than a little unfair.

I'm also pleased to hear that he was so annoyed with himself over the lost opportunity against Stadler. I hope it doesn't affect his play for much longer, obviously, but I'm glad he cares enough about taking opportunities like that to get really mad when he doesn't. He's still got that great win against Ginepri to take out of AO Q, of course, even though of course that makes the loss to Stadler even more mind-bogglingly awful!

Btw, I think DC captains should acknowledge the sacrifice the lower-ranked players make by playing in the DC squad (and turning up a week earlier at the traning camp) when they could be picking up ranking points, especially during what is usually their most productive part of the season, only to play just a bit part in the match itself, e.g. a dead rubber if they're lucky. A wasted couple of weeks on DC duty, unable to defend large blocks of points, was the start of the slide for both Sherwood and Bloomers, and probably others too.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

thats a very good last point steven, there is lots ot talk about henman/murray sacrificing for the DC, but the same applies to boggo/baker etc. whilst on a national scale their careers arnt as important on a personal scale they are.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

alex won his dubs 36 67 10-8

helki · Futures qualifying

Count Zero wrote:

alex won his dubs 36 67 10-8

Count, should that have been 6-3 6-7 (4) 10-8? Whatever thanks be.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

lol, yeah, opps

steven · Tennis legend

Count Zero wrote:
thats a very good last point steven, there is lots ot talk about henman/murray sacrificing for the DC, but the same applies to boggo/baker etc. whilst on a national scale their careers arnt as important on a personal scale they are.

I'm all in favour of DC and of expecting players to give up a bit to play in it - especially those who would be playing live rubbers - even if I do wish something could be done to stop it being so disruptive.

What I think is unfair is when the players are expected to give up 2-3 weeks of points-scoring tournaments when they know the chances of them playing a live rubber are tiny.

The Challenger-level players in the DC squad seem to be expected to give up the week before the tie for training (which Tim/Greg/Andy were/are never expected to do), the week of the tie (which isn't an issue for ATP level players because there are no ATP level events in those weeks) and possibly the chance of playing in a tournament the following week.

Fine if there's a good chance of you playing a live rubber, but far too big an ask if it's your best part of the season, you've got masses of points to defend and you know full well that you're not going to get to play a meaningful rubber anyway.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

yeah its definalty not a good set up, i remember a few years back alex missed both notts + manc grass challengers for the tie vs isreal, losing about 62 pts! and then he went and got injured in the match to boot. (and bad press for losing)

steven · Tennis legend

I think it would be far better if they let them play the tournaments (at least the one the week before) until they get knocked out, since fresh experience of winning matches is probably better preparation than any training camp.

James · Satellite level

What a crap week for British tennis...

After the big build up of 2008 I think that I got too excited and expected titles at all levels immediately..

DC should be a nice confidence boost though..! ha

-- Edited by Trivial at 23:20, 2008-01-16

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Steven, heres a bit in an article from the guardain that alludes to our earlier posts:

Britain will set up a training camp in Viña del Mar a week before the tie, although Andy Murray may not join them until later. "It's a different matter for the younger players in the team," said Lloyd. "I can push them a bit and if they say no they might not be in the team.

"I've said to Andy that I would like to see him in Chile and he's going to think about it. It would be great if he did come for some practice matches and training but, if he doesn't, Andy's a big enough pro to show up in Buenos Aires on the Sunday in good shape."

i take it by younger he means lower ranked as i think Andy would be the youngest in the team. is Jamie M older then Alex? i'm not sure.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

That's the attitude of Lloyd's that annoys me: the idea that the others aren't "pro" enough "to show up...in good shape" just becuase they're not in the top 100 doesn't mean they aren't professional about their job.