Week 9 - Challenger (€106,500+H) - Bergamo, Italy

Drew · Mar 3, 2009

RE: Week 9 - Challenger (€42,500+H) - Bergamo, Italy

Count Zero · Tennis legend

so if boggo can win his next match he will have the same ranking points as josh. but who would go ahead?

steven · Tennis legend

Count Zero wrote:
so if boggo can win his next match he will have the same ranking points as josh. but who would go ahead?

Josh, I think.

The first tiebreak is points from Masters events & above, but I think only main draw points are counted, so that one is 0-0. If qualifying points count too, Josh wins it 16-8.

The second tiebreak is how many events they have played (the fewer the better) - Boggo gets the edge on that one at the moment 29-30 according to the ATP rankings page, but that will have reversed by next Monday because Josh has a tournament he didn't score at dropping off and Boggo will have Bergamo going on.

Oddly, if you count the tournaments on their ranking breakdown pages, Boggo has played 34 events in the last year and Josh 33, but that would still break the tie in favour of Josh. However, if the event that's due to come off for Josh is one of the three that doesn't count towards the 30 (don't ask me why it wouldn't be, I'm as mystified as you are!) then the third tiebreak is the best top score, and that would be Boggo's Granby Challenger win.

I do think it'll be Josh though but in the unlikely event that Alex beats Santoro, he'll have more than made his point anyway!

-- Edited by steven at 22:30, 2009-03-03

Count Zero · Tennis legend

steven wrote:

..... but in the unlikely event that Alex beats Santoro, he'll have more than made his point anyway!

Ye of little faith, it pretty much already in the bag biggrin

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Boggo back on court tomorrow in the doubles: Bergamo's centre court, Palazzetto BG, no earlier than 13.30 GMT.

...

steven · Tennis legend

Count Zero wrote:

steven wrote:

..... but in the unlikely event that Alex beats Santoro, he'll have more than made his point anyway!

Ye of little faith, it pretty much already in the bag

*whispers* I'm doing my best not to jinx him completely biggrin

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Good win for Boggo against a former top 50 player, although one who is clearly nowhere near that standard anymore, but with the crowd behind him anything could have happened.

Seems like he played well not to be broken and his serving stats looked pretty decent as well, and to break Bracciali 3 times indoors is a good effort.

Santoro in the next round wouldn't be an easy match at all, but he go in as the big underdog which is often where he has played his best, so it could be beneificial, although is Bachinger did cause the upset it would be much better.

At the very least Boggo has added some more points to his tally, which with him seemingly not in action the next two weeks are needed.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i thought alex played a very solid match, used the angles very well to move Brac around, and force an error or open the court for a winner. He seemed to be going for his serve a lot, 5 df's is telling, but 10 aces over 2 sets is good for boggo, and his 2nd serve didn't get pounded back too often. Brac clearly wasnt at his bets and threw in a fair few UE's but occasionally did show some glimpses of class, hitting winners from no where.

If its Santoro, well Alex has nothing to lose does he, and he can play some of his best tennis in those circumstances, at least its 2nd rd so he knows he has some points in the bag at least.

In the near future Alex wont play between here and Jersey, after that it will be outdoors hards in Baton Rouge and Tallahasse. Cant say further yet, he also wasn't sure if he will go for RGQ this year or play a hard ct challenger. i think he'd have more chance of points in a challenger but the money at a GS qualies is a lot better.
Hopefully these breaks in events will mean he is in good shape for each one.

Looking further ahead, what do we think his prospects would be for a wimby WC? the media etc will be pressuring for him not to get one (although he if he doesn't play main draw who will they have to whine about?), but his performance last year was hardly a disgrace. personally i don't think 150 will be enough, perhaps 120 tho?

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Count Zero wrote:

Brac clearly wasnt at his bets

Is that a Freudian slip? smile

Smidster · Challenger level

Dubs match is on the LS

As for last night - he did what he needed to which was win. As for Santoro, we assume, in the next round yes he is obviously a massive underdog but wierd things happen in sport.

Maybe clutching at straws here but Fabrice doesn't play till late this evening and isn't the youngest player so rest will be in Boggo's favour.

Smidster · Challenger level

they lose first set on TB 7-3

Count Zero · Tennis legend

live steam not working at them mo, a scrolling message says they are trying to resolve it

unfortunately they are down s 3p's in a 1st set TB and they lose it.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i think they lost. the SB has updated, but my stream is on and no one is playing.

edit - meant the SB hasnt updated

-- Edited by Count Zero at 15:17, 2009-03-04

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Wouldn't be a huge surprise if they lost given that Haggard and Vizner are the better team, and I guess Boggo was playing doubles mainly for the practice/money.

In terms of the Wimbledon WC....

If the situation is the same as it was last year, with anyone in the top 250 getting a WC, then the LTA will be forced to hand Boggo one virtue of his ranking (although do we know whether that policy is still in effect?)

If it isn't, then I'd be surprised if they did give Boggo a WC unless he got his ranking up to at least 150, and then they'd still find a way to not give him the WC.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i agree certainly they will not want to give him one and will do their best to wriggle out of it. i think he thinks he wont get one.

i still feel that Boggo will be GB no2 come Wimby, he has about the same points to defend as Josh (124 (-9 so far from this week) compared 112) between now and then, and feel he is more likely to earn more.

Tennis is a fairly even playing field, it was almost a year ago that Alex nearly fell outside of the top 300, yet he has got himself back up the ranking. if he cna do it surly the others can if they deserve WC's.