Week 16 - Challenger ($100,000) - Sarasota, FL, USA (clay)

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Week 16 - Challenger ($100,000) - Sarasota, FL, USA (clay)

korriban · Challenger level

philwrig wrote:
korriban wrote:

I certainly wasn't tipping Kyle for a DC cup slot in September, merely suggesting that with a full season on clay ahead including for Kyle 2 CHs 2 Futures and the Junior FO, and at his rapid rate of improvement, he shouldn't be ruled out on what is probably his favourite surface and others also have the chance to make their mark. Now extremely unlikely, of course.
Edited by korriban on Wednesday 17th of April 2013 06:09:04 AM
How have you made the conclusion that clay is Kyle's favourite surface ? I would have thought it was either hard or grass.

Phil.

1. In the last year, Kyle has played 19 pro tournaments, 14 on clay, 5 on hard and grass combined.

2. His next 3 tournaments are also on clay, ahead of Roland Garros

3. His maiden ITF $10k tournament win was on clay, where he reached a final 2 weeks later.

and the clincher for me

4. On Kyle's profile page on the ITF website, his favourite surface is marked as........

philwrig · Hall of fame

Ah but Andy M said his favourite surface was clay, and juniors playing on clay is normal for their development, Oli is doing likewise.

We shall see, I'm not saying he's not effective on clay, but his best results as a junior were on hard and his best as a senior beating a player just outside the top 100 was on grass.

DavidC · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Yes, Phil, from Bob in Spain's discussions with Kyle and his coach and subsequent reports to us, I got the impression that the emphasis on clay was much more about honing a consistent game than any suggestion that it was because it was Kyle's favourite surface.

The fact that Kyle has played so much recently on clay will in itself clearly be making him a better clay court player and ahead of some other similarly ranked Brits. But favourite surface ? - I don't know about that one ( and I'd actually be a bit surprised ) unless I've missed something.

What seemed to suit him best in his junior days ?

Kyle made his initial impact in Tennis Europe tournaments on clay, reaching the European Championships final etc, whilst Luke and Evan were more successful indoors. His favourite surface has been listed as clay ever since he started playing junior ITFs and he certainly has plenty of results to back that (eg Copa Gerdau semi and Roland Garros QF beating Quinzi)

korriban · Challenger level

Well clearly we'll know and Kyle will know what his BEST surface is in about 5 or 10 years time as his game develops. But for now if Kyle himself says his favourite surface is clay, and he plays the majority of the time on clay, its not an unreasonable conclusion to make is it?!!!

Tennis36 · Masters Series Champion

just to throw it in there , when we won the junior davis cup and kyle won all his matches, that was on hard...

philwrig · Hall of fame

Ok I'll concede that Kyle can play on all surfaces, but I'll never concede that he is a clay court specialist.

korriban · Challenger level

Nor should you. If you find someone who actually says that Kyle is a clay court specialist, you would be right to question them, because he clearly isn't......but I don't believe that I or anyone else ever suggested this. Stating that clay is your favourite surface doesn't qualify you as a clay court specialist.

Anyway, I think we all agree that clay is NOT James Ward's favourite surface, but he certainly is no pushover on it, and I'm hoping he can come through again tomorrow, and rack up some significant points this week ahead of losing 52 points in a fortnight. I also hope the 2 of them are practising together during the 2 weeks of shared tournaments.

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks, David and korriban, I am indeed a bit surprised that Kyle has stated his favourite surface as clay, assuming that does come from him ( as Phil says the ATP site for many years, well into his pro career, had Andy's favourite surface as clay ).

David's junior summary does though indicate reasons why clay was and indeed may remain for now Kyle's favourite surface.

Reeltime · Satellite level

Of course, there could be a difference between favourite and best...?

steven · Tennis legend

Wardy's match with Zverev is first up today at 16.00 GMT. Should be on the USTA stream, I think - http://www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/Pro-Circuit/pro_circuit_live/

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

steven wrote:
Wardy's match with Zverev is first up today at 16.00 GMT. Should be on the USTA stream, I think - http://www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/Pro-Circuit/pro_circuit_live/

Excellent - will find that at the allotted time.

philwrig · Hall of fame

DavidC wrote:
indiana wrote:
Yes, Phil, from Bob in Spain's discussions with Kyle and his coach and subsequent reports to us, I got the impression that the emphasis on clay was much more about honing a consistent game than any suggestion that it was because it was Kyle's favourite surface.

The fact that Kyle has played so much recently on clay will in itself clearly be making him a better clay court player and ahead of some other similarly ranked Brits. But favourite surface ? - I don't know about that one ( and I'd actually be a bit surprised ) unless I've missed something.

What seemed to suit him best in his junior days ?
Kyle made his initial impact in Tennis Europe tournaments on clay, reaching the European Championships final etc, whilst Luke and Evan were more successful indoors. His favourite surface has been listed as clay ever since he started playing junior ITFs and he certainly has plenty of results to back that (eg Copa Gerdau semi and Roland Garros QF beating Quinzi)

I really should let this go, but if you look at his playing activity he has also had many poor results on clay, and his best junior slam performance was on hard.

korriban · Challenger level

Phil. If you can't let this go, maybe you should tweet Kyle, tell him he's misguided, and ask him to change his ITF profile page to favourite surface: grass or hard!

After that if you could tell my youngest boy that although he doesn't know it, he actually loves courgettes, and I'll hide in the corner waiting for a plate of them to be hurled at my head (again!).

smile Only trying to lighten the mood!

No predictions for James (anti-jinx defence), but hope he plays well.

RJA · Hall of fame

ITF profile page still lists Evo's favourite surface as clay so I wouldn't take those profiles too seriously.