Week 23 - Surbiton Trophy [$ 50K] 2008.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Week 23 - Surbiton Trophy [$ 50K] 2008.

Shhh · Challenger level

So Richard Bloomfield who was the only Brit to make the quarters here last year has to qualify whilst Josh and Boggo who went out in rounds one and two get wild cards to add to the ones they have from Queens. Hmmm!

steven · Tennis legend

I assume they just went on rankings, which some might think is a good excuse when it suits them, quickly discarded as a method if it doesn't. Bloomers is also the only GB WC to have won a match at Wimby the last two years, isn't he? And he probably put up the best performance of any GB WC there last year too.

It might work out ok for him though - he must have a good chance of qualifying unless he gets really unlucky with his draw, and that would give him some match practice (even more importantly, a chance to remember what winning a couple of matches in a row feels like) plus a couple of points - as a WC, he could get a dire draw in R1 (and goodness knows, there are going to be some!) and get nothing at all.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Personally I believe Bloomers is far better off qualifying. I don't think having to qualify for a Challenger/Tour event hurts normally unless you reach the semis of the main draw (tireness becomes an issue then) because you are compensated by some points. Not saying that Bloomers can't do it - he surely is capable of it - but it's not very likely that he'll win three main draw rounds here.

And at Boggo's or Goodall's current ranking level, 2 points from qualies could make a difference of a few places, so maybe they are actually missing out on something.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Surbiton was the scene of Bloomer's greatest victory, defeating Vladimir Voltchkov, then ranked WR66 in straight sets, only to be knocked out in the 2nd round by Joachim Johansson in 3 sets including two tiebreaks, he then went on to gain a Wimby wildcard through the play-offs and of course last year reached Surbiton quarters by beating Boggo in straight sets -
So heres hoping that Richard remembers just how good he is and plays to that potential, however it is a shame that he had to return from Turkey while within reach of a doubles final there, lets hope he doesn't draw Prakash in Q1 that would be too much!

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

I'm glad to see Slabba getting a wildcard, I think he really deserves it after the lift he's made to his ranking. Hope he gets a good draw and can capitalise.

Drew · May 31, 2008

Great news about Slabba's WC....Boggo and Josh better makes some good use of theirs !

Sheddie · administrator

I'm going tomorrow and Tuesday so will provide some live score updates and full reports.....possibly photos too

one of the mods, please pm me ur mobile number if you'd be around to receive text updates tomorrow

I know several of you guys are going tomorrow, if u wanna meet up, drop me a pm.....I'll be the guy in the black tennistalk top

steven · Tennis legend

The qualifying draw is out, stronger than expected/hoped unfortunately. Bloomers has Jamie Delgado in QR1!

Full draw with rankings in a couple of minutes ...

Drew · May 31, 2008

Great to see the likes of Coupland there and great to see Jim May make a return....lots of hopeful Brits....lots of optimism required....with a hugh sackful of luck if we are to see any qualifiers !

steven · Tennis legend

QR1: (WC) Edward Corrie WR 1300 v (q1) Frank Dancevic (CAN) WR 111
QR1: Sean Thornley WR 986 v Frederik Nielsen (DEN) WR 312
QR1: (WC) Jonny Marray WR 1673 v (WC) Matthew Short UNR
QR1: Jim May WR 903 v (q7) Izaak van der Merwe (RSA) WR 287
QR1: Ken Skupski WR 551 v Igor Sijsling (NED) WR 394 - winner likely to face (q2) Martin Fischer (AUT) WR 253
QR1: Matthew Illingworth WR 1027 v Clement Reix (FRA) WR 653 - winner likely to face (q5) Noam Okun (ISR) WR 271
QR1: Richard Bloomfield WR 376 v (WC) Jamie Delgado WR 1194 - winner likely to face (q3) Prakash Amritraj (IND) WR 260
QR1: (WC) Jonny Kinsella WR 1492 v Sergei Bubka (UKR) WR 635
QR1: Edward Seator WR 503 v (q8) Rohan Bopanna (IND) WR 310
QR1: Chris Eaton WR 644 v (q4) Adam Feeney (AUS) WR 265
QR1: James Ward WR 488 v Brydan Klein (AUS) WR 429
QR1: Neil Bamford WR 802 v (WC) George Coupland WR 1673 - winner likely to face (q6) Thomas Oger (FRA) WR 285

Drew · May 31, 2008

Brits in qualies (Steven will do his usual excellent draw post) so I thought I would do something different.

CORRIE, Edward
THORNLEY, Sean
MARRAY, Jonathan
SHORT, Matthew
MAY, James
SKUPSKI, Ken
ILLINGWORTH, Matthew
DELGADO, Jamie
BLOOMFIELD, Richard
KINSELLA, Jonathan
SEATOR, Edward
EATON, Chris
WARD, James
COUPLAND, George
BAMFORD, Neil

So thats 15 Brits....only 4 spots...what do we think ?

Drew · May 31, 2008

We have 5 Brits featuring in the first 4 matches starting at 11am so hope those who are going get there early !

steven · Tennis legend

In my shock that seeing Bloomers v Del in QR1, I didn't notice that MJD was amost right - the winner is likely to meet Prakash in QR2. cry

Positive - 15 Brits in the draw and only four of them face seeds in QR1.

Negative - no Brits seeded in qualifying, which seems (without checking, admittedly) a fair bit stronger than usually, and ridiculously strong for a 50K Challenger qualifying draw! cry

Section 1

Corrie - couldn't have had a worse draw cry

Thornley - hard to see him stopping Nielsen extending his Brit-bashing streak to 21 cry

Marray - should win QR1 and could meet Jim in QR2 if Jim goes on the upset trail again ... but neither will score any ranking points unless they can beat Dancevic WR 111! doh

Section 2

Skupster - may manage to get through Fischer on a very good day and Matt may even get past Reix if he plays a blinder, but I can see Okun blitzing this section ... then getting Boggo in the main draw of course. doh

Section 3

Bloomers v Del should be a great match smile

which I hope Bloomers wins since Del isn't going to make any worthwhile use of any singles points. The winner will have to beat the doubles partner Richard has just flown back with, of course.

If Jonny K or Edward get anywhere close to a QR1 win, I'll be gobsmacked.

Section 4

Fairly horrible draws for Chris and James, but I'd only half keel over if one of them wins, and hope at least one of them will. Oger will probably be too strong for Bam Bam in QR2, though Neil has been playing well this month.

-- Edited by steven at 21:49, 2008-05-31

mjd · Challenger qualifying

"QR1: Richard Bloomfield WR 376 v (WC) Jamie Delgado WR 1194 - winner likely to face (q3) Prakash Amritraj (IND) WR 260"

What did I say on Thursday!

Rounds 1 and 2 played on Sunday

Order of Play

-- Edited by mjd at 22:49, 2008-05-31