Week 24 - ATP 250 - AEGON International, Eastbourne

Guid007 · Strong Club Player

RE: Week 24 - ATP 250 - AEGON International, Eastbourne

steven · Tennis legend

Guid007 wrote:

If Nishikori pulls out of Wimby, would they be able to give the WC to Wardy?

I'd love to say yes, but I don't think so. I think once the qualifying draw has been made, that's it.

Guid007 · Strong Club Player

Actually I've just found this on Wiki about Romain Jouan - "is ranking not allowing him to enter even the qualifications, it looked like Jouan would not participate in Roland Garros that year; but when wild-card John Isner withdrew, the qualifications had already started, so his wild-card went to Jouan."

So maybe hope for Wardy yet.

steven · Tennis legend

Oh cool ... well, here's hoping. (tho knowing the powers that be over here, they wouldn't give it to Wardy anyway ... hope that's being a bit TOO cynical!)

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Yeah I remember that happening at the French, a substitute WC was pulled in last minute and Im pretty sure won/ did very well.

Tennis36 · Masters Series Champion

as much as i would want ward to participate, its hard to wish any further bad luck on kei

steven · Tennis legend

I know, it's not Nishi's fault that James was forced to choose.

From James via ACE:

"I'm very happy, it's obviously the biggest win of my career, I'm obviously disappointed that I didn't get the chance to finish. It looked like he was struggling. He's got Wimbledon coming up next week so he needs to be careful."

"At the moment I'm not playing. I was offered the chance to play here and I decided it would be best for my ranking. I have a good chance against Schuettler in the next round."

Alexandra also said: "The press are up in arms as Lopez retires at 4-5 and denies Wardy the chance to serve it out. Now that is cheap."

wolf · Tennis legend

Tennis36 wrote:

from the little i have seen, the effort from lopez looks minimal, ward is hardly playing out of his skin

To be fair Lopez is always laid back on court, so it was probably harsh to judge, but he did seem to be playing very poorly and not putting a great deal of effort ito turning it around from the set I saw.

Guid007 wrote:

So maybe hope for Wardy yet.

The rules do say you can replace a wild card with another wild card if they withdraw late, yes.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Awwwwwwwww yeah Wardy a great win which means i can update my sig!!!! Ward's got like what 27 points to defend untill January now?

wolf · Tennis legend

J Benneteau (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA) d [WC] J Delgado (GBR) / D Inglot (GBR) 62 62

wolf · Tennis legend

Hutch/Kerr went down 6-3 6-3 to 4th seeds Aspelin/Hanley.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Perhaps was Ward's best performance on a grass court, but Lopez was never at his best and I'm not totally convinced that he ever had many designs on spending a lot of time in Eastbourne after his run at Queens last week.

Certainly some of the coaches around the grounds were not too shocked at Ward beating Lopez, which suggests either they knew about his injury, they had expected Lopez to tank, or they believe Ward to be a far better grass courter than any of us do!

Schuettler will be a different match as he was very solid today and is playing at his best at the moment. Would probably fancy the German to come through in three sets in the end, but if the crowd can help to inspire Ward then he could win.

Doubles guys were a bit disappointing today. Inglot and Delgado looked out of their depth really and did well to get four games (and broke serve with a game of 4 return winners which you don't see often), but Benny and Llodra looked very good. (But maybe had a harder time in their kick-about with Simon, their coach, Mauresmo and Kuznetsova in the morning)

Hutchins and Kerr just never really looked like winning against Aspelin and Hanley who were solid, but not a lot more than that. Just an off day for them I think, but they need to improve ahead of Wimbledon.

steven · Tennis legend

Wardy press conference video: http://www.lta.org.uk/Watch/AEGON-British-Tennis-Series/AEGON-International/Video-Audio/

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

Good one Wardy. A wins a win even if Lopez had to retire. We'll take it. We're Brits. so every little helps.

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Am I reading too much into the way he answered the question 'Whats your situation with Wimbledon?' to which he replied 'My situation is Im not playing at the moment' and thinking the at the moment might mean he thinks there is some sort of window of opportunity?