Daniel Evans

Vandenburg · Futures level

RE: Daniel Evans

XCW4EVA · County player

Gorja wrote:

Who said anything about Andy Murray?? Tactically one of the best there is... Plus do you not think he has addressed that issue over the last few years? Good one

Actually mate it was a good one, Murray had neither mental or the physical attributes to break the top 100 when he did, the key was being a good match player. He knew how to win points even whilst playing so-so. It was an example, i never said u had mentioned him in that context.

as for Jamie Baker, i dont personally think hes maximising his potential, losing first qualies round at New Haven isnt exactly what i call justifying his talents. sounds like some BS youve picked up from BBC.

The standard at some futures aren't great but there miles better then basically any junior event. At the end of the day, all players need to be successful at futures level if they have a future in pro tennis, whereas u dont have to be successful at junior level to become a top pro.

-- Edited by XCW4EVA at 22:42, 2008-08-18

Sheddie · administrator

random but talking of Spanish players...........

when he was a teenager, David Ferrer's coach would lock him in a plywood box for hours at a time if he didn't try hard enough in training

steven · Tennis legend

Sounds like Pics is the closest thing the Spanish have to a 'shedman'! No wonder he's so annoying ...

Gorja · Newbie

If you class Jamie Baker as not maximising his potential because of one result in New Haven, then you're not looking at the bigger picture.

He's done phenominally well for someone with limited ability. He has mental strength, physical strength (albeit after his illness), he is technically sound and plays tactically correct. Unfortunately he just isn't good enough to make it. Bottom line.

Again, good one XCW4EVA!

XCW4EVA · County player

Gorja wrote:

If you class Jamie Baker as not maximising his potential because of one result in New Haven, then you're not looking at the bigger picture.

He's done phenominally well for someone with limited ability. He has mental strength, physical strength (albeit after his illness), he is technically sound and plays tactically correct. Unfortunately he just isn't good enough to make it. Bottom line.

Again, good one XCW4EVA!

he was reaching challenger finals, he beat a player in the top 50 on his least favourite surface in Argentina, for me he was starting to play like a top 100 players before he got that really unfortunate illness.

People always say this about Jamie, but i personally believe that hes far more techinally and mentally gifted then yoshi and Bloomers, barring the massive serve. From what iv seen his forehand and backhand are far more solid then either of the forementioned players.

Sorry but just because you don't think hes good enough, doesn't neccesarily make it so. Have you even ever seen Jamie play coz it sounds like you have just watched wimbledon, are you actually Andrew Castle? lol what a joke!

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Ignore the win over Calleri in the Davis Cup as it means nothing really... dead rubbers don't mean a lot, and anyway, there were rumours that there was a lot of money being placed on Argentina winning the tie 4-1...

I don't think Baker will make the top 100 because I don't think he's got enough weapons to make it. (you can make the top 100 without a weapon, but you have to be strong on a clay court, whch Baker isn't) Yeah, he works very hard, and he does well to get where he is, but above 150 would be a great achievement for him, as there was so many players who can just hit the ball harder and hit more winners than he will.

He's mentally strong (most of the time), but I don't see him having enough to make the top 100

Salmon · Tennis legend

Sanguinetti and Hernandez got to the top 100 when they were around 25 and Gicquel did it at the age of 29! Especially Gicquel's achievement is unbelievable because he has gone on to reach three Tour finals, get to the fourth round of a Slam and have a top 50 ranking.

Okay, using an exception to prove a point is wrong, as is saying that Jamie's current tennis will get him higher than 120-150. But it does show that you can bring major changes to your game on the other side of 22.

Not saying that Jamie, Josh, Rich or Jonny will surely do it as it's a big ask and for every Gicquel, there are 50 others who failed. But it can surely be done if so many others have done it in the past!

Do we think that Jamie can develop a better clay game with more tournaments on that surface? Nothing's better than clay if you want to get to the top 100 fast...

steven · Tennis legend

Salmon wrote:
Do we think that Jamie can develop a better clay game with more tournaments on that surface? Nothing's better than clay if you want to get to the top 100 fast...

I'd expand that to "Nothing's better than clay and basing yourself permanently in South America if you want to get to the top 100 fast" ... however, I fear only the South Americans actually know how to take advantage of it!

Yorkie · Lower Club Player

The Shedman wrote:

random but talking of Spanish players...........

when he was a teenager, David Ferrer's coach would lock him in a plywood box for hours at a time if he didn't try hard enough in training

I read somewhere that David Ferrer once called himself the worst player ever to get into the top 100, which amazes me, he's been way to hard on himself!

James · Satellite level

Yorkie: Yes, he did say that [I presume that you read it in ACE tennis mag]. He called himself the "worst tennis player" at several junctures in his career. At one point he was so fed up with his perceived lack of ability and the difficult training that, at the age of 16, he told his coach he was quitting and went to work on a building site, but only a matter of days of hard labour later he returned promising to work hard and to follow his coach's instructions to the letter. I think a taste of the 'real world' wouldn't be a bad idea for many of the young players to go though, e.g one week of work experience, just to put things into perspective and emphasize what a pleasant lifestyle they are leading and the massive opportunities that are open to them. =]