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Post Info TOPIC: Week 21 - ITF ($25K) - Karuizawa, Japan - Artificial Grass
steven


Tennis legend

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RE: Week 21 - ITF ($25K) - Karuizawa, Japan - Artificial Grass
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Ratty wrote:

Oh dear, I'm having an existential moment ...

For pity's sake, what is the point of all this? Travelling to Japan at astounding cost to one's wallet and well-being, targeting weak tournaments to try to scrape one's way into the top 250 to get .... a Wimbledon wild card.  

Sorry, moment over ... love of the game, and all that ...

COME ON GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

smile

 I take your general point, but not sure I agree in this case.

First of all, Karuizawa is not that weak - there are four 25Ks on this week and I think the top seeds in all of them are in the 200-250 range. Changwon and Astana are both a bit weaker than Karuizawa.

The only 25K that is a bit stronger is Brescia, and that's on clay - playing on their least favourite surface having missed the RG Q cut when they almost certainly won't be playing any more clay court events this year really would be pointless!

Other reasons to go to Japan:

- there have been two 50Ks followed by a 25K, which makes the air fare far more worthwhile
- if Mel does get into the top 250 and gets a Wimbledon WC (not sure it would be 'automatic', but hopefully she would), that'll more than cover the cost
- they are the closest thing to grass court tournaments in the run up to the UK grass court season
- from Mel's tweets, she clearly really likes Japan and finds the people there very friendly, so 'easy' points isn't the only reason to go (and, as mentioned above they're not that easy anyway)



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GB top 25s (ranks, whereabouts) & stats - http://www.britishtennis.net/stats.html
Ratty


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OK, fair enough, but why let the facts get in the way of blind prejudice?

And, straying down that dangerous existential road again - just for a moment - what's the end-game? Where does all this lead to, when one is past the first flush of youthful promise, and grim reality has set in?

Or is it just that they love playing and have sufficient financial backing (from the Bank of Mumandad, presumably) to carry on living the dream for a few more years?

And in economic terms, do most players carry out any kind of cost-benefit analysis for their spending on tournaments? For example, Japan is an expensive place to visit - you might cover your costs if you win a $25k, but I doubt it otherwise.

Yes, I know it's none of my business ...

....... and it's a sunny day, so

COME ON GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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"Where Ratty leads - the rest soon follow" (Professor Henry Brubaker - The Institute of Studies)
djlovesyou


Strong Club Player

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You warming up for the grass court season Ratty?

You like to get in a few early warm-up events before the summer and you really come into your own.


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jb288


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What a silly criticism. There has been a total dearth of non-clay 25ks in Europe since about February. Mel had nearly two months with no tournaments - presumably because there is basically nothing at the appropriate level this time of year. If you want to blame someone, blame the ITF for clearly taking no strategic lead whatsoever on developing an appropriate and balanced calendar and global spread of events. Otherwise, your criticism is basically 'you're not paid very much so don't waste it': noone criticises F1 for decamping around the world every week, because there's loads of money in it; let's argue for better rewards lower down the game, not criticise people who are doing their best to succeed in a pretty tough game.

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Ratty


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djlovesyou wrote:

You warming up for the grass court season Ratty?

You like to get in a few early warm-up events before the summer and you really come into your own.

Yes, I'm glad you remmbered that I'm at my best on grass; soon it will be time for me to start complaining about wild cards - I wouldn't want to let my supporters down.

Er, sorry jb288, I can't see any hint of criticism in what I wrote, and certainly none was intended. As Robert Frost wrote, everyone has the right to go to hell in their own way, or something like that.

Or is my (admittedly vacuous) philosophical musing no longer allowed?



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jb288


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You have the absolute right to say whatever you please; I have the corresponding right to say that I think it's a dumb argument. That way everyone's happy.

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murray_2k9


Challenger qualifying

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Yeah your comments are pathetic I'm afraid. The nature of the sport is that they arent all played on your doorstep, but the points are there and will be taken by a player, so it might as well be a British one.

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John the Bowler


Social player

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Mel's game is on Flash Scores. So far so good. Mel is 6-4, 4-3 up.

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SMC1809


All-time great

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The drawsheet from the Karuizawa website shows 6-4 4-6 Abandoned

http://karuizawakokusai-tennis.com/MDSr.pdf

 



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kundalini


Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

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Mel lost the abandoned match. Semis been played and she didn't feature. (info from tennisforum)





-- Edited by kundalini on Saturday 26th of May 2012 03:11:37 PM

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Peter too


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QF: SOUTH, Melanie (GBR) 6 273 lost to YAMASOTO, Aki (JPN) 486 6-4 4-6 3-6


F: MURRAY(GBR)/WEBLEY-SMITH(GBR) 3 lost to HSIEH(TPE)/IIJIMA(JPN) 6-3 6-7(6) [1-10]

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