The Times and other media

Count Zero · Tennis legend

RE: The Times

steven · Tennis legend

The Net Post today (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/tennis/article2659196.ece for anyone who can still access it) majors on Kazakhstan's 'spending spree,' in particular Golubev and Karatantcheva - those here will no doubt already be aware of the background, but it's interesting nonetheless.

There is then a bit about Heather, which ends "The most likeable thing about the teenager her endearing personality apart is the understated way with which she is building her career. There is no fanfare, no blaring trumpets, just a solid, unerring dedication to her sport. She is making fine progress, as shown by not dropping a set in Wrexham taking her run of success to nine wins in her last 11 matches." - which echoes what I think and what others have mentioned on the Wrexham thread.

He then talks about County Cup and one of the members of the Herts team, Nick Lester, who you will probably remember winning a British Tour recently - "Though he plays only part-time, he recently won an AEGON British Tour event, for which he receives a wild card into next weeks ATP Futures tournament at the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton. It will be interesting to see how a member of the Fourth Estate handles the young cream of the sport in Britain."

Finally, OEM had a word with Evo, who was playing for Warwickshire: "The Net Post wondered what he was doing next and he said he really didnt know. If ever there was a player who requires a sense of direction, firm guidance, encouragement and the right decisions being taken about his career, it is Evans, who is a fine talent that, unless something positive happens soon, one fears will drift out of the game and be lost to it, which would be a terrible sin." Whoever's fault it is (and even if a lot of the blame may lie with the player himself), what's going on here it does seem like an incredible waste of talent.

Shhh · Challenger level

The last bit about Evans is sad to read. Fingers crossed it can move in a better direction again.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, very sad to read OEM's thoughts on Dan, but they do kind of tie in with thoughts I was having that the lad just seems to be drifting just now. Shhh's description of his uninspired display at Frinton against Richard Gabb concluding in "Dan just didn't want to be there" added to my concern. I get a sense from OEM's article that not only didn't he know where he was going next, he maybe didn't much care.

I totally agree re OEM's general thoughts on what Dan needs. Some folk, including Dan, really need to be knocking their heads together to get him back on the right track ! And soon !! Where are the folk at the LTA that can help inspire such a talented player to get back on track to be all he can be ?

This country may soon have just one player in the top 200 of the men's singles rankings. Dan is one player that certainly has the talent to be there !

I would admit that I personally have quite a few times questioned Dan's attitude and temperament in the past, and would not have picked him for Davis Cups, so maybe seen as a bit anti Dan. I just said it as I saw with some evidence.

But he is a real talent, and he's still quite young. Help that talent !!

With such as having to go through Wimbledon qualifying WC play-offs I see the LTA believes in stick with Dan, I very much hope there is some carrot too.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 26th of July 2010 09:08:50 AM

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i think that the LTA don't want to be around Dan so i doubt they will be helping him here. He maybe needs a break to refocus and find that motivation to move in. When things have turned against him in the past he has seemed to come off stronger, but not so thins time, maybe its wearing him down?

The LTA have never shown they have the ability to inspire anyone anyway.

indiana · Tennis legend

Hmmm, just like to be around the nice folk that do things their way, do what they are told and don't cause them any hastle it seems. Leave others to sink or swim by themselves. Of course GB has such a huge pool of talent that we can easily afford such attitudes

Buying in coaches and technical expertise may be one thing. However, I do feel that enthusiasm and inspiration about what they are all about is so important, especially if it can emanate from the top.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

but there is no enthusiasm from the top, its a case of towing the line and keeping one eye over the shoulder to ensure your chusty job is safe. Maybe Leon has it, but the others never come across with any.

the Ladies seem to have a much more positive attitude, but on the Mens side the only one i can remember saying good things about the LTA is Jamie.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Evo to me is in a similar position to Tara IMO in that the LTA believe he is not giving 100% towards his tennis. Tara moved to Gosling where Babos has made such great progress and now she apears to have a new lease of life and is getting back into the LTA's good books.
Evo needs to rededicate himself to the sport and if he shows he really wants it again I have no doubt the LTA will do everything in their powers to help him. But ultimately the first steps must come from him.

As for Heather my impressions of her have changed slightly from my experience in Wrexham. Much quieter than I thought she would be, plenty of smiles for everyone, but basicially going about her business in a very professional way in a quiet manner. Her fanfare comes from the local media in the Channel Islands but she was never going to get the same media attention as Laura because of the age Laura won junior Wimbledon and the fact the whole nation saw it.

RJA · Hall of fame

Count Zero wrote:

i think that the LTA don't want to be around Dan so i doubt they will be helping him here. He maybe needs a break to refocus and find that motivation to move in. When things have turned against him in the past he has seemed to come off stronger, but not so thins time, maybe its wearing him down?

The LTA have never shown they have the ability to inspire anyone anyway.

We can criticise the LTA all we want, and I have, but at the end of the day if the player doesn't want it badly enough there is nothing the LTA can do.

Maybe Dan needs a few months out of the game so that he can come back with more focus and determination.

steven · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:

Evo to me is in a similar position to Tara IMO in that the LTA believe he is not giving 100% towards his tennis. Tara moved to Gosling where Babos has made such great progress and now she apears to have a new lease of life and is getting back into the LTA's good books.
Evo needs to rededicate himself to the sport and if he shows he really wants it again I have no doubt the LTA will do everything in their powers to help him. But ultimately the first steps must come from him.

As for Heather my impressions of her have changed slightly from my experience in Wrexham. Much quieter than I thought she would be, plenty of smiles for everyone, but basicially going about her business in a very professional way in a quiet manner. Her fanfare comes from the local media in the Channel Islands but she was never going to get the same media attention as Laura because of the age Laura won junior Wimbledon and the fact the whole nation saw it.

Yes, I think Laura may turn out to be Heather's secret stealth weapon, if you see what I mean

steven · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:

Count Zero wrote:

i think that the LTA don't want to be around Dan so i doubt they will be helping him here. He maybe needs a break to refocus and find that motivation to move in. When things have turned against him in the past he has seemed to come off stronger, but not so thins time, maybe its wearing him down?

The LTA have never shown they have the ability to inspire anyone anyway.
We can criticise the LTA all we want, and I have, but at the end of the day if the player doesn't want it badly enough there is nothing the LTA can do.

Maybe Dan needs a few months out of the game so that he can come back with more focus and determination.

I think it may be too late for the LTA to do much about Evo unless he decides that he wants it enough himself - although perhaps 6 months out of tennis learning how much 'fun' it is doing a proper job might indeed reinvigorate his enthusiasm for making it as a tennis player.

I think the LTA probably is at fault over DAn, but at a much earlier stage - it has always struck me that quite a few of the GB players in that age group who came up through the LTA system have had a bit of a 'I'm too cool to take tennis seriously enough' attitude, and that's clearly something that can take hold if there start off being one or two prominent players like that and the rest are a bit too easily led. Stamping on that discreetly when they were younger would have been far more effective than doing it in the glare of the media now - though who knows, maybe they tried.

Contrast that with the current crop of GB women and boys, who seem to have a much better attitude, and is it wonder that they are more successful? (in the latter case, it suggests that maybe the LTA have learnt some lessons and there may yet be hope for the next crop of GB men)

Count Zero · Tennis legend

didn't Dan once say he'd prefer to be stacking shelves at Tesco than relying on WC handouts?

RJA · Hall of fame

Count Zero wrote:

didn't Dan once say he'd prefer to be stacking shelves at Tesco than relying on WC handouts?

That would be a commendable attitude but I suspect a few weeks of stacking shelves in Tesco would see him have a change of heart.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i think it was said as a dig at Boggo last year if I remember, obviously as Alex as had so many.

Josh · Challenger level

Someone tell him I'll be happy to swap, he can have my supermarket job and I'll take any WCs available!