Fitzy Update

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Fitzy Update

daisy · County player

Thanks Bob - good to hear why Fitzy hasn't been around and that he's not given up on his tennis dream!

steven · Tennis legend

Thanks for that update. I'm glad he's found a way to get back on tour again.

You'd have thought that, hearing his story, the ITF would accept that he has suffered enough financially by getting there and then having to turn around and go home.

What's really shocking though, even if the fine does end up getting waived in this case, is that the fine is so high - $400 is only just less than what a semi-finalist gets at a 10K, hence it is a bit like like fining a player about a quarter of a million dollars for a late withdrawal from Wimbledon! (*)

(*) less if the fine was for more than one tournament or the Japanese Futures were 15Ks, but still a very large amount

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I hope all goes well for him and is sorted out soon.

S&V · Club Coach

Typical gutless sport admin going after the little guy

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

From what I can gather with regard to the fine, the ITF seem to have verbally accepted Fitzy's explanation of "extenuating circumstances" but have requested this in writing so that their administration wheels can turn. I am hoping it is just a "rubber stamping" operation.

As for Fitzy himself, he seems fired up and ready to go for the new season. It certainly seemed to me that the second half of the 2012 season was a difficult one for him with a number of distractions, both tennis related and otherwise. His results in the last 6 months or so seem to suggest this and we didn't perhaps see the same focus that we saw from him in the earlier part of the season.

It now seems as though many of those distractions have been resolved and Fitzy now has a clear plan on how he wants his tennis career to move forwards. I am expecting to see a refocused and reinvigorated Fitzy this year, although we shouldn't forget that he has not had the benefit of the pre-season training that many of the others have had.

Time will tell.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Hi Korriban

I think with your point 2 above, there was more to it than meets the eye and I don't think the LTA was entirely blameless in that situation. But rather than going over old ground, let's just look forward to 2013 and wish all our players well.

I see you are a particular Neil P fan. I was down at La Manga a couple of weeks ago watching Neil slug out a 5 setter with Kyle, and I know you will be pleased to hear that Neil looked fully fit and was playing well - even though Kyle sneaked it in the 5th.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Tuesday 1st of January 2013 08:58:17 AM

blob · All-time great

new year. clean slate. good luck to him

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I'll second that.

Gary Denton · Intermediate Club Player

When I saw Bob's post appear, I was half-expecting Fitzy had retired and had decided to concentrate on his new job. Considering what he had to put up with in the latter half of 2012 and then the insult from the ITF,who would have blamed him? Glad you're in a much better place again, Fitzy. I look forward to seeing you, hopefully, in Sheffield in the not-too-distant future and also, to follow your progress on bet365 or live scores. Here's hoping you pick up where you left off in the summer of 2012 and keep climbing those rankings and making us all proud again. Good luck for the whole of 2013, not just the first half

korriban · Challenger level

Fitzy seems like one of the nice guys of GB tennis, so we should all wish him well. I always loved reading his blogs from the front line, which usually gave it to us warts and all, so it's great news he's not giving up. And there was definitely some real progress at the front end of last year, which is very satisfying given some of the struggles he's had on and off the court.

A few observations/reflections that might be useful for 2013.

1. It was going really well in 2012 until Fitzy received a WC into the Nottingham Challenger main draw, which I think he felt was a big deal. He played against Freddie Nielsen, and to say it was a bad day at the office, doesn't really do justice to bad days at the office! As we know Freddie is a good pro, but at singles he is steady and solid, nothing more. Fitzy seemed to freeze: he simply couldn't serve (well into double figures in 2 short sets), lost all fluency on his groundstrokes, was moving poorly, and seemed to have no anticipation. It was really hard to watch, and I was gutted for him - clearly this was not the same excellent player of the previous 3-4 months. So whatever he did to prepare for that match mentally, physically, food/drink, routines, etc............please please please do something completely different for the next Challenger or ATP "clutch" match! It didn't work, and I think it really knocked him back for a while.

2. He's going to need some friends at the LTA for WCs and support at key times (it seems a shame to "waste" a WC so early in the year on such an insignificant tournament in January that he would have walked into normally, but that may be his only option). I'm sure relations with the LTA are good, but he should avoid any repeats of the situation in 2012 when he withdrew from a British Tour tournament having reached the final to fly off for a weekend break - I remember the discussion about whether he'd lose his prize money or not......I'm sure one or two bods at the LTA wouldn't have been that impressed about that incident. I wouldn't have been personally .

3. I presume Fitzy must have contacted the ITF and the local tournament BEFORE flying home from Japan - if only to tell them he wasn't turning up, because he has an obligation to do so. If he didn't, even if he can hardly be blamed for coming home (we'd all probably do the same), I think he might need that LTA support even sooner than just on WCs, because the ITF might stick to their guns on principle. If this has been dragging on, I'd seriously consider paying the fine and seeking to recover it retrospectively (with LTA support), just to get things moving and allowing him to play again quickly. Obviously, I don't know all the facts, but it did all happen quite a while ago really.

Wishing Fitzy all the best for 2013 (except against Neil Pauffley, if they happen to play each other!).

paulisi · Tennis legend

Nice article on the life and times of Fitzy

www.sportinglife.com/tennis/news/article/25363/10239320/net-talk-andy-schooler-on-andrew-fitzpatricks-rise-from-futures-tour-to-hitting-with-caroline-wozniacki-and-coaching-naomi-broady

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

That is a good article, thanks Paulisi! I'm pleased to hear that he is enjoying and succeeding in his coaching career.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

I'll second that. Quite an eye-opener. Pleased he seems to have found his true calling.