Eastbourne WC's

Shhh · Challenger level

Eastbourne WC's

wolf · Tennis legend

Considering the winner of the Wimbledon play-offs only gets a WC into qualifying, I'm not sure why on earth they would get an Eastbounre WC.

A lot could depend on whether Colin Fleming chooses to play Eastbourne doubles over Wimbly qualifying (although he could choose to do both I think) in which case he might as well singles as well.

As usual the LTA are not very forward thinking and don't bother to think that giving Ward & Goodall wild cards into Queens means that they could have to offer Eastbourne wild cards to players who are in Wimbly qualifying (as they did last year with Ward and Slabba), unless they want to give the same players WC's into all three events.

I guess wild cards will go Bogdanovic, Evans (hopefully he will get a Wimbly main draw WC as an 'exceptional talent') and one of Fleming, Goodall and Ward (or a Jonny Foreigner).

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

The play-offs that are taking place this week though are to determine who will get a WC for the qualifying draw at Wimbledon, so they can't get a WC for Eastbourne if they have to play qualifying.

Goodall, Ward and Evans would be the frontrunners for the WC's given that we expect them to get a WC to Wimbledon and thus would be eligible for one here, but given Ward's performances on the grass it may be better for him to have to try and qualify, while Evans's effort in Queens qualies might dissuade the LTA from giving him a main draw WC.

Boggo may also be eligible for one if he does get a Wimbledon WC, but even if he does, I'd expect him to end up in qualies.

There's always the possibility of a big name player wanting a WC to get some extra grass practice if they lose early in Queens/Halle, and there is a rumour out there that if Murray loses early then he'll get a WC for Eastbourne, and also one that he's going to get a WC to Eastbourne regardless of what he does at Queens, but I don't expect him to lose early and I think the second rumour is rubbish to be honest.

Perhaps there will be a situation like there was last year when Slabba and Ward chose to take a WC to Nottingham rather than do Wimbledon qualies - if that happens again this year, then Fleming would probably be the best bet for that as he and Skupski could then play doubles.

Guid007 · Strong Club Player

Aren't there 5 WCs for Eastbourne like Queen's?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

wolf wrote:

I guess wild cards will go Bogdanovic, Evans (hopefully he will get a Wimbly main draw WC as an 'exceptional talent') and one of Fleming, Goodall and Ward (or a Jonny Foreigner).

Well, thanks to OEM on the Wimbledon WCs thread, we know Colin's got one.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Wild Cards to:

Colin Fleming
Josh Goodall
James Ward

Probably the best choice given that Boggo was never going to get one. Thought that Evans instead of Ward may have been given a go, but obviously they are sticking with the higher ranked players.

-- Edited by ForeverDelayed on Thursday 11th of June 2009 08:15:54 PM

Count Zero · Tennis legend

so evans gets no support at the atp's. i guess ward and josh's ranking are higher so its fair enough, although wardy hasnt done too much on the grass really. still at an event like this going into qualies can be a good thing.

Guid007 · Strong Club Player

So the only match Evans will have had on grass this season at this rate will be Amritaj and 1st round of Eastbourne qualies (if he doesn't win). The LTA haven't exactly helped him find any form have they?

Count Zero · Tennis legend

to be fair Guid if he cant win the 1st rd of Eastbourne qualies he is unlikely to win in the 1st rd proper. plus it was hardly the LTA's fault that queens got rained indoors. i think he would had had a better chance on grass than indoors, but qualies is generally the way to go for extra match practice.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Just to add that Fleming and Skupski have a doubles WC as well, but that was probably obvious to everyone already.

Jamie Murray and his partner will surely get a WC as well if they don't make the cut on the sign-in or don't get promoted to the main draw through withdrawals.

spud · Challenger qualifying

I'd like to see Goodall/Auckland recieve a wildcard here for the doubles.