Just finding out what train I have to take to get there, but I'll be there for 11am tomorrow (just hoping that the 855 gets me there before 11 as I don't fancy the 755 one, and the 20 minute walk to the station, plus having to buy the ticket as well, meaning I'll have to be up by 7am!)
In truth, not a great draw for the Brits and I'm not sure if we'll get any qualifiers out of this, although I'm hoping that's a very pessemistic view.
Dancevic should get through the top section, but Marray could cause an upset if he serves really well as Dancevic has a terrible TB record, but I can't see anyone stopping him qualifying.
Don't know a lot about Fischer's game, but hopefully Skupski can get past him, although he'll have to be at his best I think. Okun's very good on grass, but hasn't been playing well for a while now, so Skupski has a chance to qualify, but this is a weakish section.
Section 3 if tough with Amritaj, Bloomers, Delgado, and Bopanna all very strong on grass, and Kinsella having a massive serve as well meaning it will be tough to call a winner - hope Bloomers can get through but he's going to have to find some form to do so.
Would have liked Bloomers to have been in this bottom quarter as again it doesn't look too strong, and Klien vs. Ward is the standout match is the first round.
I think we'll get 1 qualifier, and hopefully a second, but I couldn't say who it will be.
I guess anyone barring Delgy, Bloomers and Skupski will have to play the tennis of their lives to qualify.
Unfortunately it's most likely that Delgy or Bloomers will face Prakash Amritraj in the second round, which is a terrible draw given that Kash is one of the very few grass specialists around.
Skupski, I think, has a better chance. Although Fischer lists grass as one of his favourite surfaces, he hasn't played on it for a few years at least, where as last year Skupski took a set of a top 10 player in an exho and neary qualified for a Tour event. Okun is a great grass player (ask Boggo...) but he hasn't won much this year and is definitely beatable.
Good to see Ed Corrie start playing events right after coming home for his summer break!
Players in the GB top 25 (not known to have retired) who are not in Surbiton qualifying, nor playing anywhere else:
Miles Kasiri (last played in KUW week 22) Tom Rushby (last played in ESP week 16) Myles Blake (last played in ROU week 22) David Brewer (last played in THA week 8) Matt Smith (last played in CIV week 11) Tim Hewitt (last played in GBR week 19)
Matt Illingworth is the last DA, so all except possibly the last two can't have tried to enter qualifying. I wonder if this means that players are injured and we don't know about it or that some players who haven't played for a while have now decided to call it a day?
-- Edited by steven at 22:06, 2008-05-31
-- Edited by steven at 22:10, 2008-05-31
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Ward would have had a good chance against a player in the 400s, but Klein is a great player in the making, besides being extremely comfortable on grass.
Just had news from our roving reporter ' ForeverDelayed ', he has just arrived but play has been delayed - not forever I hope , only until 12.00 but he says it looks likely to rain again although it is not raining at the moment and covers are not on those courts that have covers.