Henman Article

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Henman Article

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Tim Henman has been having his say about the state of Mens tennis in the UK

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/22100820

Count Zero · Tennis legend

To be honest for me Evo's admission that he doesn't work and train hard enough really should have the selectors thinking long and hard about the whole wimby WC possibility, regardless of his DC win as it's not a great message to send out.

PaulM · Tennis legend

SMC1809 wrote:
Quite ironic that on a thread where it's being highlighted that the media twist a story, we go from "...Telegraph(i think) which suggested that he was his own worst enemy and in effect his social life took preference to his tennis". to "If he's happier spending his time in casino's and nightclubs..." and on to "It actually makes me quite angry..."

Would you have ever heard his direct quote:-

"Its because I dont train hard enough and dont work hard enough day in and day out,

from the mouths of someone like Ed or Fitzy, or even from Bally or Anne?

"If those people are saying that [come out in the evening] then Im the idiot who goes along with it and goes and does it. "

Where do you think he is going those evenings with his mates - the library? The Telegraph didn't "suggest" something, Dan said it.

Let's compare that quote to this one from Heather last year:-

"I probably go out once, twice a year but I don't mind it."

It makes me angry in the sense that this guy is not making the most of his potential (and by his own admission not even properly trying to do so) but doesn't seem to be able to get himself into the right place (mentally it seems) to do what needs to be to get there (even if things are improving). I'm not for a second suggesting he goes out on a bender every weekend and fritters his prize money playing blackjack, what I'm saying is that there are times, by his own admission (more than once over the years) where he makes choices to have a lifestyle that ultimatley needs to be sacrified to a certain extent. It does appear that side of things is improving of course, and I think that's a sign of maturity.

Perhaps it would have been more accurate to say it makes me "frustrated".

Seems there are lots of people who are good at sensationalising things...

-- Edited by PaulM on Thursday 11th of April 2013 04:22:11 PM

-- Edited by PaulM on Thursday 11th of April 2013 04:23:50 PM

Count Zero · Tennis legend

On a connected issue, the BBC sports pages recently have this nasty habit of sensationalising headlines.

here the headline says British Men's Tennis Embarrassing - Henman

he actally said is: "The fact we haven't got anyone else inside the top 200 in the world is still a bit embarrassing."

A small, but significant difference.

I know this isn't limited to the BBC, but they are meant to be a bit different aren't they.

RJA · Hall of fame

Count Zero wrote:
To be honest for me Evo's admission that he doesn't work and train hard enough really should have the selectors thinking long and hard about the whole wimby WC possibility, regardless of his DC win as it's not a great message to send out.

As I said in another thread I think that a Wimbledon wild card is deserved following his Davis Cup exploits. Other things wothin the gift of the LTA should however be on a conditional basis.

I also don't think that Dan's comments about not working hard enough should be taken entirely at face value. He just played a near 4 hour match without any obvious signs of fatigue so he quite obviously is doing a fair amount of work off the court. I suspect that whatever holds him back is far less simple that "he doesn't work hard enough" and furthermore I don't think he really knows exactly what holds him back. It is obviously something in his head but beyond that I think we are all speculating to one degree or another. This isn't to say that he probably couldn't work harder, merely that I think things are much more complicated than that.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

korriban wrote:
As to the BBC headline being misleading? Yes probably, but if it got more people to read the piece and watch the video, then I'm happy.

My problem with this is, judging by the posts on MTF (which admittedly has more than its fair share of idiotic posts, but at least is tennis-oriented), so many obviously just read the headline and DON'T read the piece or watch the video.

-- Edited by Madeline on Thursday 11th of April 2013 06:29:24 PM

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

RJA wrote:
Count Zero wrote:
To be honest for me Evo's admission that he doesn't work and train hard enough really should have the selectors thinking long and hard about the whole wimby WC possibility, regardless of his DC win as it's not a great message to send out.
As I said in another thread I think that a Wimbledon wild card is deserved following his Davis Cup exploits. Other things wothin the gift of the LTA should however be on a conditional basis.
I also don't think that Dan's comments about not working hard enough should be taken entirely at face value. He just played a near 4 hour match without any obvious signs of fatigue so he quite obviously is doing a fair amount of work off the court. I suspect that whatever holds him back is far less simple that "he doesn't work hard enough" and furthermore I don't think he really knows exactly what holds him back. It is obviously something in his head but beyond that I think we are all speculating to one degree or another. This isn't to say that he probably couldn't work harder, merely that I think things are much more complicated than that.

Great point RJA,

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Count Zero wrote:
On a connected issue, the BBC sports pages recently have this nasty habit of sensationalising headlines.

here the headline says British Men's Tennis Embarrassing - Henman

he actally said is: "The fact we haven't got anyone else inside the top 200 in the world is still a bit embarrassing."

A small, but significant difference.

I know this isn't limited to the BBC, but they are meant to be a bit different aren't they.
Totally agree with this statement. I read the article and thought they were stretching the truth a bit. And then I listened to the video clip and he actually sounds quite positive and upbeat about the future. No mention of this whatsoever in the article. There is no doubt that the headline is an exagerated "soundbite" used solely for the purpose of grabbing peoples attention. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story !!

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Thursday 11th of April 2013 10:42:25 AM

And the trouble is, some people will read the headline but go no further, and think that is truly what Henman means.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Glorified headlines manipulated to sensationalise.

We could go the other way and say GB tennis is in rude health as we haven't had a top 25 so strong for quite a long time.

As for Dan Evans, i saw an article in the saturday Telegraph(i think) which suggested that he was his own worst enemy and in effect his social life took preference to his tennis. i.e he preferred to go out with his mates.

If i were the LTA, i'd base him overseas so that influence wasn't there

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Glorified headlines manipulated to sensationalise.

We could go the other way and say GB tennis is in rude health as we haven't had a top 25 so strong for quite a long time.

As for Dan Evans, i saw an article in the saturday Telegraph(i think) which suggested that he was his own worst enemy and in effect his social life took preference to his tennis. i.e he preferred to go out with his mates.

If i were the LTA, i'd base him overseas so that influence wasn't there

Have to disagree with this - sorry.

Personally I would love to see Dan commit to playing tennis, to climb the rankings and fulfill his tennis potential. But it is up to Dan Evans to decide how to live his life. If he prefers to go out with his mates rather than play tennis then that is HIS choice and we should respect that.

However, I would agree that the LTA should base their level of support for him on the level of committment he is prepared to give.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I probably missed off - or cut of his funding if he wouldn't commit.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
However, I would agree that the LTA should base their level of support for him on the level of committment he is prepared to give.

THIS.

If you're not prepared to commit and take it seriously you shouldn't be given funding, wildcards etc...

These things should be rewards not just for talent/potential, but to dedication day in day out to being the best you can be, results (on a continuous basis, not just one week a year) and ranking.

If he's happier spending his time in casino's and nightclubs that's fair enough as it's his life and 100% his choice, but that has to be taken into account by the LTA.

Dan isn't on Team Aegon anyway but going forward if there is no change in attitude it has to continue to be barrier to selection. You can't just throw money at the guy and hope that by making his life on tour as easy as possible so he can stay in a half decent hotel whilst everyone else is in the YMCA he'll take it more seriously. It's not fair on everyone else trying to break through and the tour doesn't work like that anyway (how many players have been subjectively selected on 'potential' and gone nowhere. I dread to think how much money went down the tubes on some of top youngsters who hadn't shown any actual commitment to become a pro, achieved nothing on the ITF circuit and quit by the time they were 18/20.) We need to get back to true objective based funding that is based on results, commitment, ranking etc... and doesn't discriminate against players because of their age (why should someone get a heap more funding at 16 when we don't even know if they will stick with the sport than someone who is 22, 26 or 30 and actually winning matches regularly on the pro tour), playing background, whether you went to college or not etc... - something the LTA started doing at the start of the Draper regime but has largely fallen away.

The LTA can only do so much. If he doesn't want it badly enough then that's the end of the matter really. It actually makes me quite angry when you consider how badly some of the other guys and girls want it and work so hard to be the best they can be.

RJA · Hall of fame

Certainly agree with all of that in principle but I think the suggestion that Dan spends most of his time in night clubs and casinos is a bit unfair. I think his comments did, at least in part, refer to things that have happened in the past but probably do not really reflect where he is now. You can't just turn up at Davis Cup ties and play like he did if you haven't been putting the work in and I think it is pretty much universally acknowledged by those involved that Dan's attitude has improved a great deal over the last year or so. That isn't to say that things are perfect, far from it. His unambitious scheduling and his repeated failure to enter tournaments on time both point to a lack of professionalism and focus on making it to the top. Quite what goes on in Dan's head is a mystery, probably to him just as much as everyone else, but as I said earlier it isn't just a matter of "must work harder".

SMC1809 · All-time great

Quite ironic that on a thread where it's being highlighted that the media twist a story, we go from "...Telegraph(i think) which suggested that he was his own worst enemy and in effect his social life took preference to his tennis". to "If he's happier spending his time in casino's and nightclubs..." and on to "It actually makes me quite angry..."