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

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Robert Dee's quest for the record

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

none of which will help him as he'll just fatten up on the carbohydrates making it even harder to win games

I think it's great that he's out there and I love following his results as much as any of the other Brits. I wonder if he knows how many fans he has? I hope so

steven · Tennis legend

As to what Robert might be getting out of all this, losing a lot doesn't seem to have done Adam Lownsbrough any harm, and although he didn't persevere for as long as Dee, he was far worse, regularly getting double-bagelled.

Adam managed to:

- play doubles with Bloomers (in front of a large, curious audience, by all accounts)

- be a practice partner for Justine Henin ("There was a shock for Justine Henin-Hardenne during a practice session in Eastbourne while she prepared for the Championships. The Belgian world No 5 hit with Adam Lownsbrough, a British no-hoper who is barely up to county standard. Henin-Hardenne looked surprised as the Briton, who has never won more than five games during his 41 consecutive defeats on the ITF circuit and has lost 6-0, 6-0 on nine occasions, shanked the ball all over Devonshire Park." - Daily Telegraph 9 Jul 2006)

- use the fact he was once ranked to enhance his coaching credentials ("JGH Sports International currently act for a Professional Tennis Coach who is available to work with a player and aid the them to progress their careers in such events as ATP/WTA/ITF & Tennis Europe. The coach we act for is RPT, USPTA, LTA & ICI qualified and has experience as a coach travelling with highly ranked players and working in one of Europe's top academies and also as player on the tour holding an ATP ranking in both singles and doubles. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity and want to take your game to the next level ..." - from the Find a Tennis Coach site)

So maybe they're not as silly as we think they are!

steven · Tennis legend

Lest anyone think this is purely a GB phenomenon, apart from Beltranena, whose record Robert is approaching, here are a few of the players Robert would have a fair chance of beating, had they not given up already:

Ryan Azougga (AUS) - W 0 L 25, double bagelled in more than half (13) of his matches - even Adam didn't get close to that!

Avi Akoka (BEL) - W 0 L 17, including 19 bagels, 14 breadsticks and just one 2-6 set.

A special mention also for Jochen Matschke (GER), W 10 L 93, who lost 0-6 0-3 ret. to Richard Irwin in Redbridge last November, probably after celebrating his 100th match a bit too hard - he once got into the top 900 on the back of more than 15 Challenger WCs!

Salmon · Tennis legend

Don't forget Joshua Olivas.

steven · Tennis legend

I hadn't come across Joshua Olivas (USA) before, but he has some record - W 8 L 114 including 24 double bagels!

He played four consecutive GB Futures in 2005 in the middle of a 44-match losing streak and lost:

- 0 & 0 to Colin Fleming
- 2 & 0 to Anthony Scragg
- 0 & 0 to a very young David Rice
- 1 & 1 to Michael Kalfayan

... the two he took games off have never been heard of since.

Olivas actually managed to double bagel a player from the Cameroon once - Alain Nkouatcha played in three Futures/Sats, all in the UK, and got double bagelled every time, by Olivas and two unranked Brits!

Akhenaten · Pro player

Claudio Rizzo's record is impressive too. Played 198, won 26.

He's been playing for 8 years, playing almost every week since 2000, and is still going now.

steven · Tennis legend

Someone with a win % of more than 10% doesn't belong on this thread! LOL

Seriously though, that's pretty persistent!

seagull · Hall of fame

Dee gets a WC into a Spain Futures!
http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=http://www.atptennis.com/1/posting/2008/295/qs.pdf

mike55 · Lower Club Player

seagull wrote:
Dee gets a WC into a Spain Futures!
http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=http://www.atptennis.com/1/posting/2008/295/qs.pdf

Where fortunately he is up against the 9th seed, David DIAZ-VENTURA of Spain ranked 1031. So a good chance of further progress towards the record. Anyone fancy a prediction? I'd go for 1 & 1 myself.

RobC · All-time great

Arka, Sheddie, any chance of asking Coxy or Evans to let us know if Rob reaalises he's on for the record - and if he's enjoying the quest? If so, then I think we should club together to buy him a trophy of appreciation for when he gets the magic 55.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

I second that Rob.

mike55 · Lower Club Player

And surely he should get the greatest accolade of all: a mention in the British Successes thread!

James · Satellite level

Inscribed with 'Biggest Loser in Tennis History'?

Agree with your prediction Mike.. I can't see him getting more than 4 games max..

steven · Tennis legend

How about a silver medal for always coming 2nd in his matches?