Robert Dee - British Tennis Professional - Beltranena comes back to regain the record

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Robert Dee - equalled the record and now WINS A MATCH!! - Fed wishes him well

Sheddie · administrator

Been quite amazing, reading this coverage ! I've had two emails from journalists this week asking for info on Rob....one from a local paper, another from the Sunday Times (not Neil, another writer).....

the Sunday Times lady wants to do a special feature + interview in which one of their reporters takes on Rob in a match.....but first of all they need contact info for him or his coach........any ideas ?? jazar do you have a mobile/email for Rob ?

steven · Tennis legend

This sounds like quite a good idea if Robert was amenable, because I assume he'd be more than a match for the reporter and they might get some perspective on how tough it must be on the Futures circuit.

You could try contacting la Manga and ask them to pass the message on - there's an email address on the page on the la Manga site that covers the story http://www.lamangaspain.com/news/La-Mangabased-tennis-player-wins-crucial-match-18565295.html

Alternatively, you could try contacting his Dad through his company's site, though I wouldn't like to hazard a guess as to whether he sees the positive side of the coverage or is thoroughly annoyed with it, so I'd be inclined to go for the first option.

steven · Tennis legend

From the Evening Standard today:

"WIth one of those majestic understatements that makes us proud to be British, tennis sensation Robert Dee responded to this week's victory in Barcelona by saying "it was a little bit of a relief."

Dee was of course referring to the win that constituted his first on tour after 54 straight defeats without so much a set to his name.

What a twit. Just one more defeat, and he'd have set the outright all-time record (as it is, he is merely tied) for consecutive losses, thereby establishing him alongside Devon Loch and Jean van der Velde among the elite few remembered in perpetuity for heroic failure.

He choked on the verge of sporting immortality, which makes him Tim Henman without the titles, the world ranking or the money.

Still, at least there are no horse-faced parents staring down on him from the players' box."

Poor Tigger, they even use Dee to have another dig at him!

-- Edited by steven at 14:49, 2008-04-25

The Hoose · Satellite level

The Hoose wrote:

Perhaps we should all start posting in soundbytes from now on. If anyone's still quoting, The Hoose says that "Dee used to be the Tim Henman of modern tennis but now he's proved that, where Tim would have bottled it, he has the determination to grind out a victory".

Nice to see the Standard drawing inspiration from The Hoose!

jazar · Junior player

Sheddie wrote:

the Sunday Times lady wants to do a special feature + interview in which one of their reporters takes on Rob in a match.....but first of all they need contact info for him or his coach........any ideas ?? jazar do you have a mobile/email for Rob ?

i'm afraid i have no contact number or email for him and it seems that pretty much all of the other players i know who also knew him have lost contact with him. we did have the same coach, but i dont believe they have any contact with him either, but they did tell me that they have already been contacted by some members of the media

steven · Tennis legend

Jazar - I hope they're enjoying it all too!

The Hoose - yes, clever how they took the Tigger idea from you then disguised it a bit. Clearly someone's been waiting for another chance to have a go at his parents ...

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i know its a bit late but spotted this in a telegraph article:

After three years of blood, sweat and tears, in all corners of the world, British tennis player Robert Dee has finally won his first match.

The 21-year-old, dubbed the 'worst player in the world', grinded out a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Arzhang Derakhshani in a qualifying section of a futures event at the 55th attempt.

Victory for journeyman Dee, who registered a career ranking high of 1466 in May 2005, has proved a double-edge sword.

While basking in his glorious moment in Barcelona, he can also lay claim to being the joint record holder of the longest losing streak in the history of the game, alongside Guatemala's Diego Beltranena.

steven · Tennis legend

The story that just won't die has produced perhaps its silliest article yet - in the Times as well.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/giles_smith/article3819223.ece

It starts: Owing to circumstances beyond our control at a Futures tennis tournament just outside Barcelona this week, we are in a position to offer spectacular clearance deals on our now discontinued line of Robert Dee Longest Losing Streak merchandising. Massive discounts across the range. All stock must go, including:

... and there's a list of three items, including my fav:

Learn As You Play Panoramic Children's Wall chart

Can you use the red thread (supplied) to retrace the three-year journey undertaken by Britain's Robert Dee on his way to drawing level with Diego Beltranena, of Guatemala, on a record 54 consecutive defeats in International Tennis Federation-endorsed matches?

Route takes in Iran, Senegal, Colombia, Botswana, Venezuela, Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan, Mexico, the United States, Norway, the Netherlands and Spain.

Both decorative and highly educational, this wipe-clean wall-hanging encourages geographical awareness and hand-eye co-ordination, even if it's kind of lost its point, now that he's only gone and won one, damn it. Set of 6: 25p

I'd buy one! smile

It then moves on to:

Just in! All new Robert Dee Triumph in Spain memorabilia line. Available to order today

You'll probably have other favs, but mine are:

Robert Dee In-Car Air Freshener

Novelty, hanging fragrance dispenser, emblazoned on one side with the slogan The Futures look bright and with, on the reverse, Not just Arzhang around, you know, plus the date and score. Fragrances available: pine, lavender, Robinson's Barley Water. £2.50 each.

Dan Maskell Talking Wobble-Head Doll

Fabulously realistic, hand-crafted, ten-inch tall, nodding figurine of the late, great commentator that, when squeezed, says: Ooh, I say - I do believe he's got the Arzhang of it. £1,299.99.

Official Robert Dee Eat My Sets, You Suckers Commemorative Mugs

Twin-set of dishwasher-proof pottery coffee mugs, one bearing an authentic quotation from Dee's former head teacher at Eltham College - We often wondered if we would ever hear of him again - and the other bearing an authentic quotation from Dee himself (I can't believe that people don't have anything better to write about), both marked with the source of the quotation and the date. Perfect gift for churlish, dream-resistant, armchair nay-sayers. £8.95 the pair.

Quite smile

steven · Tennis legend

Looking back over this thread, on 13 March, I wrote:
In any case, talking about him on a tennis board is a bit of fun (not least because I think we're reasonably balanced about it as well as having a laugh), but an article in a national newspaper making it sound like he's the worst tennis player in the whole world (as I imagine it would) might be a bit harsh! Then again, I'm not convinced he isn't happy with the fame/notoriety, so maybe he wouldn't mind.

Sadly, the bit in bold above turned out to be my most accurate tennis prediction this year. Sadder still, the prediction in italics turned out to be wrong.

Barry Flatman in The Sunday Times reports today in an article headed "No joke for jolly Robert Dee" (which also contains snippets of an interesting interview with Robert himself and more details of his success on the Spanish equivalent of the British Tour) that:

"So angry was Dees father, Alan, by some of the mocking articles written about his son that he sought the counsel of his solicitors. On Friday they presented their case to the Press Complaints Commission. Understandably, the player admits to being a little psychologically bruised, but even more resolute in his chosen profession."

To be honest, it's no more than much of the press deserve for twisting the facts to suit their agenda or, more likely, not checking any of their facts at all.

I think some of the more detailed articles have been quite balanced, but most of the ones that just took their cue from the Reuters feed have been anything but. You'd think that they'd have realised that anyone who can beat fellow pro in straight sets can't be the 'worst player in the world', wouldn't you?

I just hope that when this has all settled down, he gets to read some of the more balanced and supportive articles and can see the positive side of getting worldwide coverage of the win he's been striving for so long.

I think we have to assume from this latest article that he really didn't know that he was on for the record (which makes it a brilliant coincidence that he won his 55th match!) and the impression you get from it is that he was trying to keep his head down and out of the limelight as he made efforts to improve.

In that case, I feel rather sorry for him - and a little guilty if this thread had a hand in starting things off. That's why I was looking back through the thread just now, but while we've had some fun with this, it has all been very balanced with a lot of facts and a lot of support - not only is there a lot more balance than in many of the press articles, but we aren't aiming what we write at millions of readers either! (well, only in sheddie's dreams )

Anyway, it's a good article, (see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3822523.ece), possibly going a bit too far the other way, but then Rob kind of deserves that after all the 'world's worst' stuff.

I only have one bone to pick with Barry Flatman's accuracy:

"the unranked 21-year-old was unknown even to the keenest observers of British tennis"

Ahem!!

From Robert himself:

"In the past month alone, Dee has won three of the five matches he has played, and although he accepts that he is never likely to win Grand Slam acclaim, he is a model of commitment. All I want to do is play tennis, he continued, bolstered by messages of support last week from Bollettieri, among others. Im in a very lucky position to be able to do that, and the only thing I ask is the ability to live my life the way I want to live it."

And from Fraser Wright, who was director of tennis at La Manga when Dee first moved to Spain:

He was one of the good kids, certainly not one of these spoilt youngsters who have delusions of grandeur. He was always prepared to work at his game and listen to what the coaches were telling him.
Sure, he is not going to make a fortune out of playing tennis, but what is wrong with the life he is living at the moment? Not everyone in life can be a champion, but nobody should be knocked for trying.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i had been thinking yesterday that this was going too far.

Drew · Apr 27, 2008

steven wrote:

Looking back over this thread, on 13 March, I wrote:
In any case, talking about him on a tennis board is a bit of fun (not least because I think we're reasonably balanced about it as well as having a laugh), but an article in a national newspaper making it sound like he's the worst tennis player in the whole world (as I imagine it would) might be a bit harsh! Then again, I'm not convinced he isn't happy with the fame/notoriety, so maybe he wouldn't mind.

Sadly, the bit in bold above turned out to be my most accurate tennis prediction this year. Sadder still, the prediction in italics turned out to be wrong.

Barry Flatman in The Sunday Times reports today in an article headed "No joke for jolly Robert Dee" (which also contains snippets of an interesting interview with Robert himself and more details of his success on the Spanish equivalent of the British Tour) that:

"So angry was Dees father, Alan, by some of the mocking articles written about his son that he sought the counsel of his solicitors. On Friday they presented their case to the Press Complaints Commission. Understandably, the player admits to being a little psychologically bruised, but even more resolute in his chosen profession."

To be honest, it's no more than much of the press deserve for twisting the facts to suit their agenda or, more likely, not checking any of their facts at all.

I think some of the more detailed articles have been quite balanced, but most of the ones that just took their cue from the Reuters feed have been anything but. You'd think that they'd have realised that anyone who can beat fellow pro in straight sets can't be the 'worst player in the world', wouldn't you?

I just hope that when this has all settled down, he gets to read some of the more balanced and supportive articles and can see the positive side of getting worldwide coverage of the win he's been striving for so long.

I think we have to assume from this latest article that he really didn't know that he was on for the record (which makes it a brilliant coincidence that he won his 55th match!) and the impression you get from it is that he was trying to keep his head down and out of the limelight as he made efforts to improve.

In that case, I feel rather sorry for him - and a little guilty if this thread had a hand in starting things off. That's why I was looking back through the thread just now, but while we've had some fun with this, it has all been very balanced with a lot of facts and a lot of support - not only is there a lot more balance than in many of the press articles, but we aren't aiming what we write at millions of readers either! (well, only in sheddie's dreams )

Anyway, it's a good article, (see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3822523.ece), possibly going a bit too far the other way, but then Rob kind of deserves that after all the 'world's worst' stuff.

I only have one bone to pick with Barry Flatman's accuracy:

"the unranked 21-year-old was unknown even to the keenest observers of British tennis"

Ahem!!

From Robert himself:

"In the past month alone, Dee has won three of the five matches he has played, and although he accepts that he is never likely to win Grand Slam acclaim, he is a model of commitment. All I want to do is play tennis, he continued, bolstered by messages of support last week from Bollettieri, among others. Im in a very lucky position to be able to do that, and the only thing I ask is the ability to live my life the way I want to live it."

And from Fraser Wright, who was director of tennis at La Manga when Dee first moved to Spain:

He was one of the good kids, certainly not one of these spoilt youngsters who have delusions of grandeur. He was always prepared to work at his game and listen to what the coaches were telling him.
Sure, he is not going to make a fortune out of playing tennis, but what is wrong with the life he is living at the moment? Not everyone in life can be a champion, but nobody should be knocked for trying.

Steven thanks for your post and comments.

I think it should be said that Robert Dee seems to be a very level headed young man with a level of talent that most of us dont have and a drive and determination that some of our more talented tennis players could do with.

Anyone thinking of slagging off this guy after reading the more level-headed and ultimately more informed pieces of journalism that have been written should head off to the BBC tennis boards !

I am going to email Barry Flatman and put him right though Steven !

Montana Doug · Futures qualifying

RE: Robert Dee - British Tennis Professional

steven · Tennis legend

Don't worry, he was respected just as much over here by people who actually knew anything about tennis.

steven · Tennis legend

From the Gruaniad:

"British tennis player Robert Dee, 21, suffered the ignominy of being labelled the sport's worst ever player by Fleet Street last month following stories that he lost 54 games in a row, equalling a record set by Guatemala's Diego Beltranena.

The story went global, but now Dee, who has been compared to that other great British loser, Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards, is considering legal action against the Daily Telegraph, Reuters, the Sun and the Daily Mail, arguing that as he's registered 19 victories, albeit in tournamnents outside the Internatonal Tennis Federation ranking system, the description is inaccurate, unfair and damaging. He even has the sympathy of World No 1 Roger Federer. May the best men win."

Where is he by the way, I'm missing him!