The Times and other media

mjd · Challenger qualifying

The Times

Count Zero · Tennis legend

the sports minister was talking out if his rear end, as like most politicians, and jumping on thr band wagon. i dont think any of the governments money goes to 'elite' players. i wonder how much money sport england give to football, and when was the last time we won a major trophy again? tennis is just such an easy target tho

£400 a day is obscene though, how exactly can they justify that!!!!

Ratty · County player

£400 per day would certainly be obscene. I think you'll find it's £400 per month.

But he's still a tw*t!

steven · Tennis legend

Count Zero wrote:

here's one criticising the ridiculous media reaction to the 1st loses. sums up most of my feelings very well.

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sos-sports-columnists/Tom-English-Youd-swear-Boggo.5408290.jp

That's got to be the most realistic, best researched press article on the Brits at Wimbledon this year, which isn't saying much obviously, but even so. I like the attempt to explain what the dispartiy in rankings is equivalent to in football terms to those who follow football for the other 50 weeks of the year.

angry1 · Lower Club Player

steven wrote:

Count Zero wrote:

here's one criticising the ridiculous media reaction to the 1st loses. sums up most of my feelings very well.

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sos-sports-columnists/Tom-English-Youd-swear-Boggo.5408290.jp
That's got to be the most realistic, best researched press article on the Brits at Wimbledon this year, which isn't saying much obviously, but even so. I like the attempt to explain what the dispartiy in rankings is equivalent to in football terms to those who follow football for the other 50 weeks of the year.

Much more reasonable than many I agree.It was a poor error to call James Ward Alex at the start, though.I'm not sure inviting football fans' comments by involving their sport in a comparison will pay off.

Has anyone seen an article trying to explain the seemingly better progress the women players are making?As in is there a significant difference in approach between them and the men's game here.I've seen some people highlight the difference in results,but noone saying anything about that.

Is it simply a result of them happening to make individual progress at the same time,with, perhaps a knock-on inspiration effect with no LTA causation?With promising young players among the men if the women are doing something right this would be a good time to emulate them.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

angry1 wrote:

Has anyone seen an article trying to explain the seemingly better progress the women players are making?As in is there a significant difference in approach between them and the men's game here.I've seen some people highlight the difference in results,but noone saying anything about that.

How about Barry Flatman in The Sunday Times today?

* The headline in the print edition is "It's ladies first"! wink

angry1 · Lower Club Player

Stircrazy wrote:
How about Barry Flatman in The Sunday Times today?

* The headline in the print edition is "It's ladies first"!

Thanks.It's still a bit more a summing up than an explanation.

I suspect it's possible no journalist has the access to answer my questions.

Ratty · County player

I may be wrong, but surely the only significant advance has been Anne Keothavong, from about 150 to about 50 over the last couple of years? Other ups-&-downs have balanced out, or are statistically insignificant?

And only time will tell whether Anne's ranking rise is just a random streak of good form, or a permanent improvement.

-- Edited by Ratty on Sunday 28th of June 2009 04:25:03 PM

steven · Tennis legend

A long Net Post this week at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6694803.ece - starts with some LTA bashing, but there's a lot of other stuff too.

airsmashers · County player

It appears Leon Smith, who coached Andy Murray from 11 to 17, has been offered the opportunity to oversee the future of the mens game in this country

full article
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6718511.ece

could be interesting

Shhh · Challenger level

Smith, the Scot who is in charge of under-18 development at the LTA, has yet to decide whether to accept the responsibility for shaping considerably more careers than the one nurtured from prodigious youth to the brink of his journey into the professional ranks.

Though he has no experience of working on the ATP Tour on which it is hoped a larger proportion of British players will come to make their mark Smith is the chosen candidate for a momentous challenge.

Leon may well be quality when working with U18's but, getting him to oversee the senior game with no experience of it stikes me as a high risk. Square pegs in round holes and all that. If he accepts, I wish him well though hmm

steven · Tennis legend

OEM talks about this and lots of other issues in this week's Net Post

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6720208.ece

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Nice little bit for Milts at the end

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

OEM's follow-up to his Net Post interview last week with David Lloyd in which the latter said he'd happily run British tennis tennis for nowt - if the PTB of British tennis would but let him, but they don't seem to be falling over themselves to take him up on the offer! biggrin

Wonder why...?

Interestingly, there's a reader's comment from a Simon Broady - Naomi's & Liam's dad? Nice colour picture of Andrew Bettles in the print edition, too.

Even more interestingly, the LTA also has a report on its home page reporting on the success in Europe over the weekend of Andrew, Jack Carpenter (who also trains at Reed's, apparently) & Joe Rogers... wink

Count Zero · Tennis legend

next net post

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6736550.ece