Entries Week 35 - 25/8

seagull · Hall of fame

Entries Week 35 - 25/8

talp · Junior player

if Boggo etc dont get into the Us 1st round - will they have this week of?

Count Zero · Tennis legend

yes if they dont get in i think there is a strong possibility boggo wont play again till the DC
although might be able to squeeze in 1 challenger 1st, but i doubt it.

seagull · Hall of fame

Updated with Challengers with Wardy playing in Kazhakstan

talp · Junior player

Wardy QF?

seagull · Hall of fame

Updated with Futures - Baker coming back to Europe to play futures it seems

GavinUK · Lower Club Player

I'm still trying to understand all of this, but doesn't it seem odd that Baker is entering a Futures event after trying to get into the ATP tournament in Washington. Surely he's more of a challenger level player? Or is it that he's still fighting to return to his previous form after his illness and just wants some match practice?

Count Zero · Tennis legend

the problem is that jamies ranking is now getting so low that he wont get entry into challengers.

in a funny way ATP qualies often have lower cuts than challengers as players tend to play challengers more often than ATP Q's. of course this doesnt hold true all the time.

Jamie had some good reuslts at challenger lvl but so far hasnt shown he is able to compete consistently at that level, the only player who has is boggo and most of us agree that this is below where he should be anyway. we thought JB was on the verge of mkaing it only be to struck down with the illness.

i think it makes sense for JB to switch back to futures for a while. he desparatly needs to get matches under his belt and at challenger level that is very tough as all the players at that level are very strong unless you get a very lucky draw. if you are having a abd day you will be punished.

he tried to jump straight back in at the top, but just couldnt cut it so quick. you also have to think of the financial side, playing in the states and losing early isnt very lucrative, so even though futures pay less JB is more likley to make it to the big money and higher points rds.

i am sure he will battle back from this, its in his nature too. might just take a little longer

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i think over the next 2 weeks JB is defending 10 pts (2 from bronx, 8 from usoq) which doesnt seem like much but will drop him back to 325ish. i am not sure the average acceptance of challengers but ithink its inside 300. and some week insdie 250 even for low lvl ones.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Besides the fact that Count mentions, it also happens that there's no hard court Challenger anywhere in the world in the weeks of USO. And obviously it's pointless to play on clay at this time of the year, given Jamie is more comfortable on hard.

john · Top national player

I think this is a good move for Jamie. He's usually very consistent at reaching the latter stages of Futures events and he has a good chance to go on a run like he did in the US earlier this year and boost his ranking back up to a level where he will be able to have another crack at the Challengers. Hopefully after a bit of match practise in the Futures and some confidence winning some matches, he will be in a much better position to win matches at Challenger level again.

seagull · Hall of fame

James Ward has pulled out of challenger in Kazahkstan. Shame as it was a weak field but a lot of travelling involved with him playing in France the week after.

seagull · Hall of fame

Updated with all withdrawals

Salmon · Tennis legend

Cut in Kazakhstan has dropped to unranked.

Hopefully Akhazzan will play qualies.

Salmon · Tennis legend

FD, where are you??? Time to get your first point - booked your flight yet?

-- Edited by Salmon at 17:52, 2008-08-22