Recent Futures success

Ben W · Social player

Recent Futures success

Drew · Sep 27, 2009

RE: Reccent future success

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Well last year we had 13 future winners, where this year brits have won 8 futures

But things have picked up recently, so 5 to equal in the remaining weeks which could be likely the way in which our boys are playing.

We've already overtaken challengers as last year we had Boggo's solo effort where now we have Evans and Ward's

so say we stand at 2 challengers and 8 futures does that deem a more successful year than last year for british tennis even if our top 2-6 are at lower rankings then they were this time last year?

steven · Tennis legend

I think that's been the odd thing about this year - our Challenger level players haven't really stepped it up but there has been a lot of good movement through the 1000-500 range. It wouldn't be the first year that has happened, of course, but the more people we have winning the Futures and getting into the top 500 and higher, the more chance we have of finding someone who can make the step up into Challengers successfully.

What does worry me is the number of Brits who have a few good weeks then do nothing for ages (much like Evo winning the Jersey Challenger then having very little success since, similarly Wardy though with him it hasnt't been quite so long since his win) - I don't know whether the lack of sustained success is a GB things or if it works like that with players from other countries too.

-- Edited by steven on Sunday 27th of September 2009 10:25:24 PM

johnnylad · Tennis legend

That is what is nice about Phillips, Smethurst and Baker recently. Its been sustained success!

Milton, Rice, Bradshaw, Cox and others have tasted success but then tailed off again. Hopefully they find the consistency and the aformentioned 3 find the step up to challengers a good one.

steven · Tennis legend

Phillips and Baker have done it before of course, and seem to have started to be very consistent again now that they are (I assume) fully recovered, but you're right, Smethurst has been showing the rest that you can be both young and consistent!

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

I suppose the fact Phillips and Baker have shown consistancy in good results is partly due to their experience and the fact that if it was not for injury, they'd be ranked a lot higher than they currently are so would be expected to cruise through futures events.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

RE: Recent Futures success

fschallenger · Improver

phillips as bein injured a few times over the years which as stopped his progress alot, he consistently entered futures qualies and got through on many occasions. i think baker will go up the rankings barring the illness doesnt reapear.evans looks pretty lightweight after watchin davis cup so i expect im to stick around 150/200 at best, i hope he proves me wrong though .

Silver · County player

Dan's game needs moving up a notch. Bit more power if anything. There didn't seem to be enough weight behind his shots during Davis Cup so that would quite honestly be the next step for him.

It has been a good second half of the season for our lads after the slightly, in terms of titles, barren early season. I'm particularly pleased for Smethurst's progress. I was hoping he and a couple of the other juniors from Evans' year (or so) would emerge soon.

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

i didn't think it was the weight of his forehand that was the problem, i just felt it was too loopy