Tennis in Ireland

steven · Tennis legend

Tennis in Ireland

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks Steven for that, really interesting read.

Real enthusiasm and commitment can achieve a hell of a lot. Not only does it achieve things in itself but it tends to rub off on others who themselves become more enthusiastic and more committed. People begin to really believe that the impossible is possible.

Having money and resources is great, but having the right people around in the influential positions, in it for the right reasons, is sooo important too.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 5th of April 2010 02:21:59 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Exactly. Yet there must be people like that in the UK, mustn't there? Or do they tend to be the young coaches whose protegés get snapped up by the NTC if they're any good ...

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Niland is in the FQR in Houston unlike Wardy

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Niland comes through a 3hr 10 minute match to qualify.

Niland beat Boggo.

indiana · Tennis legend

johnnylad wrote:

Niland comes through a 3hr 10 minute match to qualify.

Niland beat Boggo.

Ah, the inferior American version. I got a bit confused there smile

steven · Tennis legend

Tennis Ireland report that this will be Niland's first experience of an ATP main draw. Of course, they don't have any ATPs in Ireland that he could have got WCs for, so he had to do it the hard way.

https://www.tennisireland.ie/news/international/2010/0604/niland_makes_the_breakthrough_into_the_atp_world_tour

-- Edited by steven on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 09:39:54 AM

Ratty · County player

What success are the Irish celebrating exactly?

They have a total of 8 men and women ranked in the top 1000. Britain, hardly a shining example of success, has 52. France has 120.

I read a load of "advertorial" style bullsh*t in this article, particularly the usual "wait till our outstanding crop of juniors make the grade" so beloved of the LTA.

But not a lot of "beef".

indiana · Tennis legend

So with a population of 4.3 miliion, compared to 61 million for the UK and 65 million for France their per capita rate of top 1000 players is very similar to France and about twice the UK's.

I thought much of the article rung true and while I don't have all the statistics my impressions are that real progress has been made in the Republic in the last few years. Their men certainly seem more on the rise than ours

As I said before, don't underestimate what enthusiasm and commitment can achieve.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 11:20:02 PM