scottie1 wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Yes, Steve, there are some big points coming off some of the top players.
And with Jamie and Josh having announced their retirements (or imminent retirements), it's good in a way if they move down because it 'distorts' the real picture.

On the downside, next week to have only 4 men in the top 300, and then the week after to have only 3 (three!) men in the top 300, is horrible!
There's a great consolidation going on at the 500 level, lots bunching up (and lots at CR highs or close) but we do need a couple to break through.

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 problem is coup detroit many of them wont break through i can think only of Edmunds  Hewitt and Farquharson that are capable of moving up. Others like Paullfley and even Corrie I think wont make top 250

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I know it's very difficult to predict but I don't completely agree.

I think it's 'quite' easy to see those youngsters (18-20 year-olds) who have the potential to be top 100.

But the potential to be a top 250 player? That's pretty much anyone.

There have been countless French players (the other nation I follow closely) who have been plugging away and, at the age of 25, 26 or 27 say, break into the top 250. They may only stay a year or two, they may bob up and down but they get there. No one will remember their names (outside of the hardened few) and you could watch a match and be seriously unimpressed by the level.

But I honestly believe that practically anyone who has a solid game of tennis AND the necessary work ethic and desire (and doesn't get injured or run out of funds completely) can make the top 250, for a brief time at least.

Ed Corrie I am absolutely sure about (assuming he's prepared to keep working hard at it), I've never seen Neil but he's still pretty young by today's standards, ditto Alex, Hewitt, Tom etc. etc. Kyle is a given, Oli should, Luke and Liam have every chance, JWH will . . .

And it's important to remember how quickly things change - a year ago Hewitt and Tom F were nowhere in the GB ranks and yet today they get first mention as possible 250-ers. There must, therefore, be unknowns just waiting to do the same thing (maybe obvious names such as O'Mara, maybe complete surprises). I personally think we're going to see more of the US college players coming back and making their mark.

From the ever-optimistic one . ..  .