Week 25 - Wimbledon Mens Qualifying

Shhh · Challenger level

RE: Week 25 - Wimbledon Mens Qualifying

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:
The LTA offers a bonus scheme for players not receiving funding. So much for each round in 10k's, a higher amount for 15k's, challengers etc

This is of course very simplistic but, accepting a certain base was offered to some players just starting, if ALL remaining funding went into a scheme like this, but the amounts increased is that not the fairer way? Players that do well and win matches get more rewards? As I say, very simplistic but, surely fairer in the sense that its the same for all, not just the chosen few?

Yes, I wondered about this too. No real idea if it's a good idea or not (must be lots of factors to be considered) but it seems a simple proposition and worthy of thought.

I also wondered if the NTC should simply be made open to all. i.e. with some small proof of 'professionalism' (ranking points, or participation rates, from Juniors or adults) why shouldn't the courts, physios, trainers, gym, etc. be made available to all the aspiring tennis players ? People have mentioned that the courts are often empty . . . Again,, maybe naive, but I can't believe they're going to be inundated and it seems to me worth trying.

And there should obviously be a similar set-up in the North of England.

I would also definitely make some group sessions available to all players i.e. a fortnight winter training camp or whatever. Tennis can be a very isolated sport and there's a huge range of benefits to having some group training aspect, both in terms of tennis improvement and also motivation, feeling part of a team, new ideas etc. etc. It's very cheap to implement and players only take part if they want to. It doesn't solve the day-to-day living expenses problem of course but the whole point is to improve the level of results so that players don't NEED help with their living expenses.

NB well done to the US and Germany for getting 4 guys each through qualifiers. Australia and France managed two a piece, with two more from the 'East' Europe (Poland and Russia) and two from Asia (Japan and Taipei) - an excellent geographical mix.

Bob the Ball Boy · Junior player

what the bonus scheme does is ensure that those players aged 20/21/22 keep playing for longer when the lta stops giving them funding. i think its a great idea but its not an alternative to the current funding system, as I don't think it sends the right message to the juniors/young adults who should be focused on improving their game not their ranking.

as has been pointed out, i agree that too much money is spent on too little players from a very young age which is not healthy for british tennis... and also agree with coup's point of opening the ntc up to more players. its too elitist and they should be encouraging and helping everyone, not just their couple of favourites. for as long as i can remember they have pretty much chosen just one or two players from each age group (maybe 3/4 in exceptional circumstances) and backed them the whole way from 14/15 forgetting about all the late bloomers of their age. you can't expect to produce a champion from such a small pool of players. the one exception i can think of was in the last year they were based at queens they 'invited' about 12 of the 1989/90 boys to train there- although they did cut more than half of them after 6 months leaving them with no real option but college.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Unfortunately the LTA seem to have funding based on the number of players with ATP/WTA rankings, so they have no option but to have incentives to improve ranking. Agree that they need to focus on developing talent at the same time and need also more coaches available to travel round the world with these players to help them develop. The feedback i hear is that some players go out with coaches but the coaches sent out are not always the same and in quite a few cases no coaches are sent. I think it was Anna Smith that said she hadn't had a coach with her for nine months until she played at Bath. This surely doesn't help.
I know the LTA are trying to promote more female top class coaches. Jane O'Donoghue and Claire Curran have been chaperoning Judy Murray for the last few weeks, but there is a distinct lack of top GB coaches.