Well I didn't see Olivetti getting turned over. Fantastic result for Joe. I wonder how far he can go this week and for the rest of the season. I have to say Neil P is an enigma as everyone says he has a great game and work ethic, but his results are so inconsistent. My head says the winner of the Klein/Willis match should win the tournament.

Any ideas why Lewis and Marcus defaulted? I hope one of them is not injured with singles to come.

paulisi wrote:

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Any ideas why Lewis and Marcus defaulted? I hope one of them is not injured with singles to come.

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Conceivably because they have their singles quarter-finals to come?  That's the thought that crossed my mind anyway.

Mervatron wrote:

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Interesting that Klein still plays doubles with Aussies.

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Yes, I've been wondering about this too. Is it because (a) he still feels Aussie, or (b) because none of the Brits will play with him ?!?

 

Do hope Lewis is OK. Real bad luck. (Or not, for Dan Cox, of course . . .)

Yes, as long as players who keep doing well in these Futures are given as much incentive as possible to move up to 15Ks or Challengers, either here or overseas. All these 10Ks are achieving what must be the basic aim of holding so many, which is great) and the Brits playing them deserve great credit for keeping so many of the points "at home." However, if the LTA & the players rest on their laurels (as I hope they won't), then a) none of them are likely to make the top 250 (let alone top 200/100) any time soon and b) they will be very vulnerable to one or two very good up and coming players from overseas suddenly deciding to play GB Futures - if they did so and regularly creamed off the winner/runner-up points, the rankings of the mid-range Brits could go downhill fast, even if they were playing no worse than they have been playing this year. I am very encouraged by the Brits' recent performance in home and overseas Futures, but it needs to lead to something - not to a Josh Goodall-style stay in the top 400 for a few years and then retire. That's not intended to be a dig at Josh, but instead to give a good example of why some way needs to be found to make it as attractive and plausible an option as possible for the Brits doing best here to take their chances at higher-level events as soon as they are likely to benefit from doing so.

philwrig wrote:

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Surely its all about baby steps. Two years ago we weren't dominating the points in these events and now we are. I know we need to make sure this is just the start and not the peak, but we are starting to develop a strong base from which to build. If we can get say 5 of this group regularly playing challengers and winning matches within the next 18 to 24 months then the strategy will be proven, fingers crossed we do.

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I completely agree - baby steps are exactly what we need as long as they keep going forward. It's just hard to know how much of a step up there has really been in the last two years without being able to accurately compare the quality of the opposition from overseas. However, the near-domination of most GB Futures by Brits these days and the fact neither Christian Harrison nor Borna Coric (or even Albano Olivetti for that matter!) had it all their own way every week they were here are good signs, as perhaps is the fact that fewer Frenchmen, etc, are venturing over here in the hunt for 'easy' points (to be clear, it's the implication that they no longer think they are easy points that I find encouraging!)

If we have 5 of this group regularly winning Challenger matches in the next 18-24 months, then I too would consider the strategy a success

paulisi wrote:

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I have to say Neil P is an enigma as everyone says he has a great game and work ethic, but his results are so inconsistent.

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Having seen Neil play a few times I think this is a complete misreading of him. Neil is a decent player with a good attitude who will sometimes have a good week and occasionally upset better players. Unfortunately I don't think he as any real prospect of advancing beyond a good futures level player. I would be delighted if he proves me wrong as he seems like a good guy and like I said has a good attitude.