Phew!  They got there in the end!

R1:  (3) Jamie Delgado & Ken Skupski defeated James Cluskey & Purav Raja (IRL/IND) by 6-4 3-6 [10-8]

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QF:  (3) Jamie Delgado & Ken Skupski vs Rameez Junaid & Simon Stadler (AUS/GER)

indiana wrote:

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philwrig wrote:

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Liam has been going in the right direction for quite a while, just not getting the number of wins he would like. With a favourable draw at a futures event I think he could easily make the later stages on his current form.

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Actually for some time now I must say, on the contrary, I have been quite disappointed by Liam's progress.

Yes, he's had some tough draws and seemed to play pretty well in some of these, but he's had quite a number of disappinting looking losses

Since Wimbledon qualifying last year, when like today he seemed to rise to the occasion, he has gathered all of 5 ranking points ( 1 this year so far ) and actually hasn't been as good as I would have expected in juniors either since his Wimbledon junior final.

He is clearly a very talented guy, and of course we don't want to put too much pressure on him, but I would be very surprised if he thinks the last 8 months or so have been anywhere close to what he would have been looking for.

Sorry, especially as I've just been bemoaning the GB women's lack of depth, I'm not setting out to have a downer day.

As I said earlier, hopefully today is indeed a sign of better form, which will be transferred into futures.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 21st of March 2012 06:08:32 PM

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 I think Liam's has displayed a decent level of form in his last three tournaments. Liam obviously had a difficult end of last year/ start of this year but looks to me to be finding some of his best form over the last 3 tournaments without getting due reward for his efforts.

I watched mot of the final set, and frankly Lajovic was dreadful!  Bucket loads of unforced errors.  JB won the set with ease and Lajovic was not showing a good temperament.  JB graciously accepted the w, so good luck in the next round!

Stircrazy wrote:

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QF:  Romain Jouan (FRA) WR 216 vs Jamie Baker WR 247

Jouan took just over five minutes longer to beat Brands, the third seed, than Jamie needed to see off Lajovic (2:20:45 compared with 2:15:19).

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Jouan and Brands served 46 aces between them (!) - 23 each.

H2H is 0-1 - Jouan beat Jamie in 3 sets in France in 2009.

Commentator is so annoying! She doesnt know who Burton/Corrie are, getting their names mixed up

The Magician Santoro wrote:

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Could he not do what Goodall did against Slovakia? He was there for hitting practice and if someone picked up an injury he could be drafted in or is that not possible?

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Oh yes, that's possible of course - he can change up to 2 nominations between the original deadline and the draw. However, after the draw has been made, he is limited to the 4 players he has picked at that stage even if one of them gets injured.

The thing is, if the one who isn't going to be in the final four has entered a Challenger that week, I'd rather they were allowed to play it.

-- Edited by steven on Friday 23rd of March 2012 05:42:39 PM

Jouan having a go at the umpire as he thought Baker's shot was long. Think he's got a case, Baker's shot looked well out.