Week 32 - Italy F20 ($15,000) - Bolzano (Clay)

TMH · Futures qualifying

RE: Week 32 - Italy F20 ($15,000) - Bolzano (Clay)

RJA · Hall of fame

TMH wrote:
RJA wrote:
scottie1 wrote:
This guy is the next big deal in British Tennis looking better now. We have Andy. Ward and Evans in top 200 . Edmunds has the ability to join the latter two has the talent and the desire. Whose Next to make the leap? Farquharson, Hewitt Rice or Cox?
Of those 4 I don't think Tom or Dave or likely to make the top 200 while Dan might but only just. Ash has the raw potential but we will need time to see if he can develop his game.
Would have thought Golding would have more chance than any of those, if he can continue to reproduce this week's form. What about Willis? I've never seen him play but heard good things.

Obviously Oli has the potential to make the top 200, and quite a bit higher. I have some concerns over his progress, or lack of, but the talent is clearly there and it is far too early to panic.

Willis has some great natural talent but he would be the first to admit that in the past he simply hasn't put enough work in or made the sacrifices needed to make the most of his ability. Over the last 9-12 month he has certainly improved in that regard although I am still not sure if he really gets just how much work it takes to make it as a professional tennis player. Tennis is such a tough sport nowadays and it requires total dedication week in week out for most of the the year. I still don't get the feeling that he has the burning desire to make it, obviously that is just my feeling and only Marcus can really know if he is giving it absolutely everything.

RJA · Hall of fame

TMH wrote:
Sounds like Marcus is in a similar situation to Evo (although probably not quite as talented?). Maybe Dan's last couple of weeks might show him what can be achieved if the graft is put in.

There are certain similarities although the comparison is far from ideal and I really don't see Marcus ever hitting the heights that Evo has this week. For a start Marcus is disadvantaged by his build and however hard he works I just don't think his movement is ever going to be that good which for the most part that is a fatal flaw in a modern tennis player. I certainly think he could make top 300, maybe just about top 200 albeit with most points coming from futures events. Beyond that I doubt he can go much further but as I always I would love to be proven wrong, especially as Marcus is such a lovely player to watch.

-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 11th of August 2013 12:05:00 PM

TMH · Futures qualifying

Sounds like Marcus is in a similar situation to Evo (although probably not quite as talented?). Maybe Dan's last couple of weeks might show him what can be achieved if the graft is put in.

indiana · Tennis legend

Evo certainly seems to be currently giving a Masterclass on how much more can be achieved when a good attitude and application is added to an ability that so many folk said should have him ranked higher.

If it pushes on a few more players more than might otherwise have been the case, great.