A really strong line up this week with several ranked players.  Lewis Burton  has fallen by the wayside to Scott Whitbread but other seeds remain in for quarters and semis today.

 

Richard Bloomfield vs Neil Pauffley

Andrew Fitzpatrick vs Jack Carpenter

Marcus Willis vs Scott Whitbread

Tom Burns vs Dan Evans

 

 

 

Tom Burn wins by Walkover

RJA wrote:

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It's on his twitter account. He pulled out to take his girlfriend away for the weekend as a birthday present. He apparently thinks it is an "absolute joke" that the LTA might withhold his prize money.

Now nothing against Fitzy, he has always come across as a good guy, but it would be "absolute joke" for the LTA to do anything other than withhold his prize money. He is a professional tennis player for god sake, if he couldn't commit to playing all week he shouldn't have entered.

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Must admit that was my immediate reaction, that if it was true that he pulled out "just" for that reason then there was surely a very good case for withholding his prize money, prize money that more commited players ( on this occasion ) could have earned.

Re  " Andrew Fitzpatrick@Fitzmister

@lizjfisher thanks, but lta are debating whether to give me my prize money. If they don't I'll sue them. Absolute joke "

...I wouldn't be considering that or embarrassing yourself further on twtter, mate.  If your prize money is withheld treat it as a lesson learnt.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 26th of August 2012 07:37:22 AM

johnnylad wrote:

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Went on a surprise trip to Paris for his girlfriend according to Twitter

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Was this a surprise to the British Tour event as well ?  

LTA state that they won't give him the prize money for not fulfilling his commitment.

It's on his twitter account. He pulled out to take his girlfriend away for the weekend as a birthday present. He apparently thinks it is an "absolute joke" that the LTA might withhold his prize money.

Now nothing against Fitzy, he has always come across as a good guy, but it would be "absolute joke" for the LTA to do anything other than withhold his prize money. He is a professional tennis player for god sake, if he couldn't commit to playing all week he shouldn't have entered.

If you back further on his twitter account and you will find the following conversation with Lewis Burton on the 16th/17th of this month.  Fitzy in Blue, Burton in Red


@Fitzmister you playing sutton next week mate?

@lewis4671 no mate why?

@Fitzmister you wanna play doubles at the brit tour?

@lewis4671 @Fitzmister what the hell doubles in a british tour? is there money involved or? i fly sat so could play till then.

@Fitzmister yeah mate haha.. Yeah money and all sorts.. Let do that then

@lewis4671 @Fitzmister i haven't entered singles, so can i still play?

@Fitzmister yeah mate...

 

That looks pretty clear cut, he hadn't originally entered and did so late on (possibly as a WC?) knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to play on Saturday, the day that the final was due to be played.

For what it's worth I don't see this is a hanging offence, a little dissapointing yes, but nothing that I would hold against him. I am more bothered by his reaction to the possibility of being denied his prize money which seemed to show a real lack of self awareness and respect. Hopefully it was just an initial reaction which on second thoughts he does not stand by. The trouble with twitter, as many a public figure has found out, is that it allows instant communication with the public and it is all too easy to tweet without thinking.

-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 26th of August 2012 11:10:40 AM