Wild Cards and Play Offs

korriban · Challenger level

RE: Wild Cards and Play Offs

RJA · Hall of fame

korriban wrote:
If you look at Mark Petchey's tweets after the announcement, he's suggesting that Dan should have been awarded a MDWC today, but then give all of his first round losers prize money back to the LTA. Why would Mark suggest he give his prize money back to the LTA, unless he was also aware of some new "stuff" going on. Bizarre thing to have said if everything was going well between Dan and the LTA under the "new" arrangements.
Also identical to BTBB's post re the conditions behind his MDWC into Queen's this week.
In summary, I suspect Mr Petchey is also aware of the event that BTBB described and Mark talks in terms "punishment"......but if Dan isn;t allowed a Wimbledon MDWC and cannot play Eastbourne....in a way the LTA is punishing itself.

Not to mention British tennis fans who want to see Dan in action.

Who knows, maybe Dan was offered that deal, Main Draw wild card but give back your first round prize money, but turned it down because he fancies his chances of coming through qualifying.

Bob the Ball Boy · Junior player

i would imagine petchey is aware of the event!! doubt that evo would have been offered that deal as im pretty sure he would have taken it... i don't know that for sure but my closest source is having dinner with him tonight so may be able to tell you more tomorrow (if its not too private)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree, RJA. It 'punishes' the public, fails to capitalise on a perfect marketting/publicity opportunity for future GB possible players and, what's more, it 'punishes' Eastbourne too if, as Tennis36 says, now Dan can't play at Eastbourne which he would have done otherwise.

If Dan has done something 'anti-social' (i.e. against the rules of the LTA 'society') then he should be 'punished' by being made to so something 'social'.

Make him go and do 7 days special coaching, or attend a few tennis-for all-days or whatever they're called, i.e. like community service - give something back. Really daft for everyone concerned just to take away his WC.

RJA · Hall of fame

On a happy note I was delighted that Klein didn't even get a QWC. I wonder if they will let him take part in the play off.

korriban · Challenger level

Richo1990 wrote:
Take football for example if someone steps out of line but is a strong first team player... they fine him but he still features as it give the team the best chance of winning... you can see where im going etc

-- Edited by Richo1990 on Wednesday 12th of June 2013 03:10:51 PM

Completely different sport, completely different argument. Footballers are contracted employees of a club bought for a "market price" on fixed-term contracts. At the end of a contract their "market price" is zero. Maximising the resale value of a player pre-contract expiry is one of the key success factors of a club. When players misbehave, they are fined an arbitrary amount, but effectively "forgiven" every time so as to protect the club's investment in them, not because that's what the club wants to actually do! Any outrageous behaviour, which resulted in the player being "sacked", would instantly lead to their market price dropping to almost zero, as the club becomes a forced seller.

In any normal workplace, I think it's unlikely that an employee like Ashley Cole could bring a shot-gun into the office, shoot someone with it, then get off with a fine!! Normally he'd be sacked on the spot, and the employer and agrieved employee would press criminal charges.

The LTA can and should be tougher with individuals who are happy to take their financial support and technical expertise (and WCs), which is funded out Wimbledon profits mainly, and then waste it......there are others who miss out on this funding and support, who would be desperate to have it, so the LTA cannot just sit back and accept the status quo. It's a tricky balance, and even though I'm no great fan of the current LTA, frankly Dan isn't exactly making their life any easier!!!!

steven · Tennis legend

Interesting discussion. Whatever Dan has or hasn't done, it seems like Eastbourne and probably Dave Rice (who surely deserves a QWC if Josh has got one) are the ones losing out the most here by Dan being denied a WC.

If they can give him a Queen's WC but insist he doesn't get to keep the R1 prize money (which seems like a fair enough move), they could surely come to a similar arrangement for Wimbledon.

RJA · Hall of fame

Wild card play off

Klein v Coupland
O'Mara v Fitzpatrick
Smethurst v Thornton-Brown
Gabb v Rice

Bambridge v Norrie
Burton v Pauffley
Cox v Willis
Broady v Milton

DavidC · Tennis legend

One oddity is that, as Steven mentioned on the equivalent women's thread, the LTA actually updated the Wimbledon WC guidelines just last week, as if the extra flexibility implied was going to be used, yet all of the MDWCs fall within last year's guidelines. Perhaps Wimbledon vetoed one or more recommendations, but that seems very unlikely given the spare WCs for both men and women.

RJA · Hall of fame

Just to put these in the usual format.

R1: (1) Brydan Klein WR 253 v (WC) George Coupland WR 1002
R1: (WC) Jonny O'Mara WR 1517 v Andrew Fitzpatrick WR 564
R1: (3) Daniel Smethurst WR 373 v (WC) Adam Thornton-Brown WR 1958
R1: Richard Gabb WR 607 v David Rice WR 501
R1: (WC) Luke Bambridge WR 828 v (WC) Cameron Norrie WR 1324
R1: Lewis Burton WR 675v (4) Neil Pauffley WR 441
R1: Daniel Cox WR 513 v Marcus Willis WR 559
R1: (WC) Liam Broady WR 872 v (2) Joshua Milton WR 369

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

How many spots are there available from the playoffs. 2 or 4 ?

RJA · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
How many spots are there available from the playoffs. 2 or 4 ?

Just the two.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
How many spots are there available from the playoffs. 2 or 4 ?
Just the two.

Tough !!

I'll go for Klein and Willis.

alex03maccy · Grand Slam Champion

Shame Brydan is in it and could very possibly get one of the spots. Guess with it being 'open' the LTA can't reject entries if ranking is high enough. Men's draw is ridiculously stronger than the women's draw.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Klein and Bambridge to win