He's back

But why oh why do they send all the young Brits to places like this - do they think they need to get used to losing in qualifying and failing to pick up ranking points as young as possible?

Maybe the idea is that in a Spanish Future with a 128 qualifying draw, unranked players are more likely to get into qualifying and there are likely to be more winnable matches than in a 64 qualifying draw.

In that case though, I think it would make far more sense to send a party like this to a Future that's likely to have a very weak qualifying entry, since then there might be just as much chance of them winning at least one match but there would also be a realistic chance of some of them getting a ranking point as well, which would then mean that if they really wanted to get experience of Spanish Futures, they would havea much better chance of being seeded in qualifying when they entered them.

I have not posted in a fair while but I felt the need to weigh in on this debate as I have very strong feelings about it.

First of all, the decison to send these players out for this trip to Spain is an absolutly rotten one. The opinion that our players need more experience on clay is an outdated one. This may have been the case 10-15 years ago but not now - our players play on clay as much as the do on hard. And the recent results of Alex Ward, Morgan Phillips and Dan Smethurst on the surface are testament to this.

Also, to say that ranking points at this stage are a bonus and the all round development of the players is more important is also quite naive. These players are our top 1992s and have 5 world ranking points between them. These players are in serious danger of falling behind their peers from other countries. For example, Spain's Javier Marti is also a 1992 and is ranked 792 in the world. Although an excellent player, Marti is hardly considered a 'super talent' in the mold of Dmitrov and Tomic. In my opinion, and having seen all of the British lads play, if they are to keep up with their peers they need to be ranked around the 1100 mark already at the very least. This is not too much to ask, they are good enough players.

I also do not understand the thinking that ranking points should come at the detrement of player development. There are enough Futures around the world where the standard would not be as tough as these tournaments so players could gain valuable ranking points, and still develop as players but in more acceptable circumstances. My suggestion would be a trip to Mexico - the standard is good but not outstanding, the players would be facing legitimate 950ish ranked players in the first rounds after qualifying through a 45 draw qualifying.

This whole trip is typical of of the lack of understanding that the LTA have and one of the main reasons why we fail to convert juniors into seniors. They have been doing this sort of thing for years and are obviously still doing it now. I said to a friend at the start of this trip that I would bet that not one of the 1992s or 1993s picks up a single ranking point in this trip. Unless someone does this week I will have been correct. So in essence what is the point of the trip if nobody picks up any points? They might as well have played the British Futures.

Interesting debate, in which I find myself very largely on mikevo's' side. 

I only wish our players were more grounded in clay court tennis like Andy Murray was, not just for future clay court success but I believe a lot of early relentless practice on the surface ultimately enhances the greater array and sheer consistency of groundstrokes needed in the game today.

GB in general still has far too many hit and hopers that have played too big a part of their early career on fast couirts and grass.

Phillips, Smethurst and Ward ( to a far lesser extent ) have indeed achieved some results in futures, but they are much in a minority. 

And in any case, as I say I just think more clay court tennis is in itself beneficial to development overall..

I can see some arguement that some ranking points may be beneficial, but so very much is player development at this stage and to me they are both likely to get more matches in the big Spanish futures and will play on a very good surface for them that in general they need more expertience of.

Add that to the different variety of opponent likely to be encountered and surely far more valuable than a British Future

If they are good enough, the ranking points will come in time without chasing away seeking the odd one or 2 ranking pints in the weakest place you can find.

The LTA gets criticised a lot ( including by me )  but here to my mind is good use being made of resources that many other countries can only envy.  

It is then up to the playersthemselves to put in the work, learn from the expreience and do all they personally can to be all they can be, to mactch others that have less assistance.

1QR

DEE, Robert (GBR) bt NEBOLSIN, Yury (RUS) 7-6(5) 7-5
CARPENTER, Jack (GBR) bt PROKHORENKO, Evgeny (RUS) w/o
MENDEZ-GARCIA, Francisco (ESP) bt KING, SAM (GBR) 6-0 6-1
MORGAN, George (GBR) bt SEMAL, Robin (BEL) 6-1 6-2
AULINA, Francesc (ESP) bt DYL, Jan (GBR) 6-2 6-0    
WEBB, Oliver (GBR) bt SANDERSE, Michel (NED) 1-6 6-0 6-1    
ROENN, Nikki (GBR) bt CADONA, Jorge (AUS) 6-0 6-0
GOLDING, Oliver (GBR) bt GRIECO, Giovanni (ITA) 6-0 6-1
HEWITT, Ashley (GBR) 14 bye
BENAIGES BLASCO, Joan (ESP) bt WATT, Alex (GBR) 4-6 4-2 Retired   
BURTON, Lewis (GBR) bt PEDERSEN, Bjorn (DEN) 6-0 6-2
GABB, Richard (GBR) bt BETTLES, Andrew (GBR) 7-5 6-3

I find it a bit odd to plan such a trip when there have been British Futures events, a similar squad/camp could have been held at those.

Outside of that, taking a young group of players to experience this sort of highly competitive event, alongside the sort of player that in the past has left them behind over a career I think is an excellent idea. As long as its not being used a jolly, this trip should work for the yopungster on many levels. At this age, I dont really give a damn how many ranking points they are picking up, its the sort of player they become in a few years time that counts.

QR2: DEE, Robert UNR v BANKOV, Evgeniy (BUL) UNR
QR2: CARPENTER, Jack WR 1721 v (11) PEREVOSHCHIKOV, Dmitri (RUS) WR 1239
QR2: MORGAN, George UNR v ORDEIG, Roger (ESP) UNR
QR2: WEBB, Oliver UNR v MORENTE-GEMAS, Ignacio (ESP) UNR (CH 1485)
QR2: ROENN, Nikki UNR v (13) DORFLER, Matthias (GER) WR 1317
QR2: GOLDING, Oliver WR 1721 v GARCIA FERRANDEZ, Sergio (ESP) UNR
QR2: (14) HEWITT, Ashley WR 1412 v GOR COSTALES, Pablo (ESP) UNR
QR2: BURTON, Lewis UNR v GUAITA-PAIS, Enric (ESP) UNR (CH 1341)
QR2: GABB, Richard WR 1670 v (16) MONTANES-ROCA, Francesc (ESP) WR 1517