Week 21 - Roland Garros men's qualifying

wolf · Tennis legend

Week 21 - Roland Garros men's qualifying

philwrig · Hall of fame

I don't doubt that as soon as the young man gets a couple of wins under his belt the level of support will start to rise. We're a fickle lot in reality.

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
I don't doubt that as soon as the young man gets a couple of wins under his belt the level of support will start to rise. We're a fickle lot in reality.

Perhaps, but not from me.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Man in the mirror, baby, man in the mirror.
Make that change!

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
I don't doubt that as soon as the young man gets a couple of wins under his belt the level of support will start to rise. We're a fickle lot in reality.
Perhaps, but not from me.

I'm sure I've seen posts from you supporting Jimbob Marsalek.

RJA · Hall of fame

Jeff Stelling wrote:
RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
I don't doubt that as soon as the young man gets a couple of wins under his belt the level of support will start to rise. We're a fickle lot in reality.
Perhaps, but not from me.
I'm sure I've seen posts from you supporting Jimbob Marsalek.

Congratulations on producing one of the most moronic posts I have ever seen on this forum.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 10:34:30 AM

korriban · Challenger level

I find it quite interesting that we have not a single Brit (apart from our import, who I'd wager will rediscover his Aussie roots as soon as his form shows a sustained uptick) attempting RG qualies.

James would easily have made the cut (and why did he pull out if Busan at the last moment; we havent heard a thing), and I presume a couple of others like Jamie, Alex, Josh G would have been close to the wire, post withdrawals.

What's also interesting is that some of these former top 200 club players, having decided not to go for RG qualies, could have opted for ATPs instead, knowing there would be very weak fields in qualies.....in fact 3 mid-table players in the top 25 did exactly that. But instead they are either not playing at all, or worse, electing to play down in $10k futures events.

Have they lost so much belief in themselves? I think its a shame.

Josh · Challenger level

James wouldn't actually have made the cut, he was really unlucky in that it was based on the 29/4 rankings when he was ranked 261, before his ranking jumped back to the low 200s following his run to the final in the Challenger in China.

korriban · Challenger level

Josh wrote:
James wouldn't actually have made the cut, he was really unlucky in that it was based on the 29/4 rankings when he was ranked 261, before his ranking jumped back to the low 200s following his run to the final in the Challenger in China.

Thanks Josh. Missed that one.

My second point is still valid. Players just below the cut for a GS qualies, can turn this to their advantage by trying to sneak through what are bound to be relatively weak ATP 250 qualifying draws. Oli, Alex W and Josh M tried - why didn't our higher ranked players give this a go?

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

This thing about people being British does it really matter RJA and Korriban?

What do you count as British? Dont think we should be so xenophobic.

Some examples if we want to play that game:

I mean Bally born Ukraine, Laura born in Melburne Joko Oz too. Norrie a Kiwi. Heather Channel islands even Anne's family from elsewhere if you want to take it further. In fact very few of our top players are British born and bred and not imported on some way by family background. If Klein wants to be British then let him. The Aussies themselves welcome any player as just about every Aussie comes from another country within last 60 yrs anyway. He's British now that's all that matters from this forums perspective give him a chance I say.

Just think also if Scotland get the vote next year will this forum say goodbye to the Murrays, Fleming, Baker, Baltacha, Hoyt, Lumsden, Brogan etc. I could start a new forum

briteny · Intermediate Club Player

Whatever it is, good luck to Klein.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Yeah good luck he might be the only Brit in the mens.....

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Jaggy1876 wrote:
This thing about people being British does it really matter RJA and Korriban?

What do you count as British? Dont think we should be so xenophobic.

Some examples if we want to play that game:

I mean Bally born Ukraine, Laura born in Melburne Joko Oz too. Norrie a Kiwi. Heather Channel islands even Anne's family from elsewhere if you want to take it further. In fact very few of our top players are British born and bred and not imported on some way by family background. If Klein wants to be British then let him. The Aussies themselves welcome any player as just about every Aussie comes from another country within last 60 yrs anyway. He's British now that's all that matters from this forums perspective give him a chance I say.

Just think also if Scotland get the vote next year will this forum say goodbye to the Murrays, Fleming, Baker, Baltacha, Hoyt, Lumsden, Brogan etc. I could start a new forum

I think you need the very well made points on the thread dedicated to this. The forumites are NOT being xenophobic at all. I personally think that they have made good and considered points, having READ and taken in the views of others.

korriban · Challenger level

I am NOT Xenophobic. I'm sure RJA isn't either. Ridiculous and offensive comments, and banal lecturing.

All 4 of my own grandparents were born outside the UK - in Russia, Poland and Ireland.

My wife is French. I speak fluent French and German.

I've lived in Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia.

Mr Klein has "swapped" nationality for reasons of convenience. I believe strongly that once you have already played for your country of choice (whatever that country might be), respresenting it in international competition over a large number of years, any subsequent change of national allegience needs to be backed up with a clear long term commitment to that new country. It's as simple as that.

Mr Klein is a 23 year old man (not a poorly funded and overlooked teenager; or a 21 year old living in the UK for 7 years) born in Australia, who grew up in Australia, who has spent his entire life in Australia, with an Australian passport, who has been trained under the auspices of Tennis Australia for many years, and who has played in international competition under the flag of Australia for many years. Following unacceptably bad behaviour, including racism, and repeated on-court disdemeanors, plus very poor form on the court, he has fallen out with Tennis Australia (good on them) and with no warning, and no long term dialogue with the LTA, and no fanfare, he is now playing under flag of GB.

Everyone can change. I'd prefer to reserve judgement until he has proved himself; and my sense is that any medium term resurgence in form would see him being welcomed back into the Tennis Australia fold - then we will see how British he really is. Xenophobia? No. Justified caution, given his circumstances, Yes.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Nobody is against the guy because he is Australian (which would be xenophobic).

People are against him (if they are) because he was sanctioned for racially abusing another player.

I am in the 'I'll give him another chance" camp - I don't like the idea of something hanging over someone's head for their lifetime, especailly something they did as a real youngster.

But I certainly don't feel warmly towards the guy (not that that'll stop him sleeping at night, I'm sure,, and quite rightly . . . )