Fitzy, your insights into the whole life of a tennis player are really interesting. I am curious to know the minimum cost you would expect to pay for a tournament such as Exmouth or Jersey. I realise the total expense depends on how long you stay in the draw but if you were looking for sponsorship for one tournament how much would you ask for? This may be just a bit too nosy so as with Steven's questions, please feel free to ignore the post. Also, I guess it might be impossible to answer as each tournament must be different but a clue might just inspire someone to help you out.

L16 Q1: (1) Richard Bloomfield WR 352 beat (Q) Peter Lucassen (NED) WR 898 by 1 & 2
L16 Q1: Ken Skupski WR 669 beat (5) Miles Kasiri WR 519 by 7-6(5) 6-0
L16 Q2: (Q) Ian Flanagan WR 867 lost to (3) Carsten Ball (AUS) WR 359 by 6-2 7-6(5)
L16 Q3: (4) Edward Seator WR 502 lost to Ralph Grambow (GER) WR 807 by 2 & 3
L16 Q4: (2) Josh Goodall WR 343 beat Pierre Metenier (FRA) WR 694 by 2 & 1

Good thrashings by our top two here today and by the Skupster, pity about the others.

QF1: (1) Richard Bloomfield WR 352 v Ken Skupski WR 669
QF4: (2) Josh Goodall WR 343 v (Q) Andrej Martin (SVK) WR 1197

In the doubles, (1) Bloomers/Skupski won 4 & 4 - in the SFs, they play (4) Eaton/Ball, who beat Miotto/Seator, also 4 & 4.

Meanwhile, (2) Bammy/Goodall beat Campbell/Hewitt 4 & 2 and play (3) Grambow/Norby in the other semi.

-- Edited by steven at 21:51, 2008-03-19

Fitzy wrote:

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Yeah it is, but its the people that learn from their mistakes that make it up the rankings.
It is the right thing that i am doing but as it is in tennis, alot of people have parents backing them or a sponsor.
There of course are alot that are struggling away like me and doing all they can to get money here and there, i can only speak from what i am doing.

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Thanks for the reply, it's interesting to hear what it's really like out there, it's all too easy (me = guilty as charged! ) to focus only on results and not on how people get there when you don't have any way of knowing the latter.

What you need is for somebody who works for a big company with a big sponsorship budget to be looking on here and taking an interest in a determined young player (who knows, maybe someone is, or will do some day)

What strikes me most about this, though, is that the LTA shouldn't be afraid to use some of its money to help with stuff like this. I understand that they are wary of funding players to the extent that they get into a comfort zone, but there must be a way they could use some money to help players to be able to play in the tournaments they could benefit by playing in once they have shown that they are determined enough to make good use of it.

I don't mean enough to make it so 'easy' that there's less incentive to win matches (though I doubt they ever did that!) but enough to play for plane tickets to the overseas tournaments they are so keen for players to play moree of, especially for a player who is willing to put in a lot themselves too and likely to make good use of the chance. 

Perhaps they already do this but from the outside, I get the impression that it tends to be all (i.e. they throw money at one or two players) or almost nothing.

Guys, here's my brief report from the matches I saw yesterday. Hopefully I will pop up to the centre for the men's quarters at 10am so hopefully will have more to share. Skupski to win!

Borwell Vs Lablans 6-2,6-0

Borwell outclassed her opponent with every aspect of her game. She served big throughout and completed the match with an ace. In this form, she should comfortably make the final with no problems.

Warburton Vs Rehberger-Bescos 1-6, 5-7

Warburton started slowly but played some solid tennis in the second set as she towered over her smaller opponent. She was up throughout the second set but her opponent was just to consistent for her.

Windley Vs Gerlova 6-3, 6-7, 3-6

Windley played some really good tennis in patches. After her excellent win over Clarke in qualies she played superbly in the first set and clawed her way back into the second after being 5-2 down. But she seemed to get frustrated at times and that affected her in the tie-break. If she improves her serve further, she will definitely be a top 600 player by the end of the year.

Coles Vs Guisard 1-6, 7-6, 5-7

Sarah was really unlucky not to come through this one. She looked rusty in the 1st set and struggled to make balls, making many easy errors. She had an injury time out in the first for a recurring knee problem. She found her game in the second and she connected with her serve and forehand brilliantly. Unfortunately Guisard's groundstrokes were superior and she came through tight in the third.

Broady Vs Andrieux 4-6,5-7

Broady strikes me as a players with all the shots but doesn't quite know what to do with them. Her french opponent was solid and an intelligent player and it was close throughout the match but Broady blew hot and cold and would follow outright winners with basic mistakes. She has a big game and has major potential if she can pull it all together.

Brown Vs Elliott 7-6, 4-6, 6-3

Easily the best match of the round. Brown came out fresh and took the game to Elliott, who seemed to not be quite with it. Having not seen Brown play before, I was impressed at her hitting from the back of the court. Elliott was a little inconsisent but found her big serve in the second set which helped her regain control. Brown was solid throughout and deserved her big result.

Thomas Vs Vongsouthi 5-7, 1-6

Thomas was never really in this match and her opponent really seemed to have her number. Thomas has a big leftie forehand which wasn't quite on as I've seen it in the past matches and her opponent took the second comfortably.

Scarfi Vs Richards 6-4, 6-0

A good win for Scarfi considering the eyesight of the umpire who's calls throughout the first set were dodgy at best. Richards seemed to be rusty and chose to slice the majority of her backhands which allowed Olivia to attack off the ground. Scarfi's groundstrokes were formidable thoughout and she served great as well. Her match against Rae should be interesting.

Skupski Vs Kasiri 7-6, 6-0

The match was hotly anticipated and nobody was disappointed as the first set was full of great tennis. In the tie break Kasiri got the mini break to go 5-4 up only for Skupski to break back and serve out for the set. Skupski was unbelievable for the ground in the second and Kasiri was powerless to stop him. I can't describe how complete Skupski's game is and he seems to have a very mature head on his shoulders. The quarter against Bloomers will be great.

Goodall Vs Metenier 6-2, 6-1

Josh was in fine form again and it was the most one sided match I've seen all week. Josh hit his groundstrokes so much harder than his opponent and I found my self wondering why he hasn't won at Challenger level yet. He attempted to serve volley throughout as Paul Hutchins watched on. Josh's return was even more foremidable than his serve.

QF4: (2) Josh Goodall WR 343 beat (Q) Andrej Martin (SVK) WR 1197 by 3 & 5

SF2: (2) Josh Goodall WR 343 v (6) Gregoire Burquier (FRA) WR 576


-- Edited by steven at 14:43, 2008-03-20

tennisfan84 wrote:

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Broady Vs Andrieux 4-6,5-7

Broady strikes me as a players with all the shots but doesn't quite know what to do with them.

A good way of puting it tennisfan84, she played much the same way when I saw her last year.  She has got quite a game somewhere in there, I hope it comes to the fore.

Goodall Vs Metenier 6-2, 6-1

He attempted to serve volley throughout as Paul Hutchins watched on.

Very good to hear.  I saw Josh play 3 times last year and on each occassion I was willing him to come to the net more.  Maybe the opponents standard was lower giving him confidence to do it more here but, whatever the reason, its good to read.

Cheers for the reports.

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