LTA Team Aegon - "The Young Ones"

Ratty · County player

RE: LTA Team Aegon - "The Young Ones"

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I take your point Ratty but it's all a question of balance.

Firstly, if the LTA takes in GBP 37.8 m in profits from Wimbledon alone then there's a big pot that can be divvied up one way or another and it's not necessarily coming from the tax man. (This is without adding any other LTA profits).
Secondly, I generally think that government money spent on subsidising sport is a good idea - less health problems, less social problems, more community spirit etc. etc. etc.
This doesn;t mean you can just pour money down the drain but I think, in the big picture, it's the right thing to do and, probably, saves money overall.

But, quite simply, tennis cannot be a big sport in the UK if it costs that much for a child to play to a reasonable standard. If we're happy with that then that's fine. And I don;t think a huge exception should be made for this little girl. As I said previously, it applies to all.

It's worth a look at the systems in other countries (most of which, obviously, don;t have the huge Grand Slam pot to share out) to see how it's done. If the numbers are right, I think it's shocking.

Salmon · Tennis legend

I must say that the LTA has done a stellar job with the bonus payments for the qualifying final rounds.

However, I do think that they can fine tune it further. Reaching the final round of an ATP250 qualies is akin to winning a round or two in a Challenger event, and it deserves some financial appreciation, but I don't think the same is necessary for the final round in Challenger qualies (but there's no harm in more money!). Perhaps they can extend it to reaching the pre-final round of ATP250 qualies? It's certainly more challenging than reaching a 10K quarter final - just look at the players who have won a round at Queen's/Eastbourne qualies!

Also, winning a 10K is probably easier than winning a Challenger match in Europe or North America, and that needs to be reflected in the bonus scheme. Willis, Pauffley, Broady and Gabb have all won 10Ks recently but I'm not too sure that they can win a few Challenger matches this autumn/winter, despite being in good form.

The 5K cap on Futures earning is more than welcome. Unfortunately, Coxy began with a clean slate on 30th September, so he'll probably keep trolling us by playing more Futures. hmm

Ohh, and a fine of £100 for winning a doubles Futures would be good.

Shhh · Challenger level

I don't get the stick Dan Cox gets for his futures wins? He's had a spell out and has come back and done really well at futures, has since stepped up to challengers and ATP qualies, both with a couple of wins, but may continue to mix in some 10k's as well. Wheres the problem in that for a player ranked around the 300 mark? The guy has to build a ranking as well as earn a living at the same time and to mix up the tournament levels at this stage seems an okay tactic to me?

Spectator · All-time great

Agreed. The odd futures tournament in the mix should let a player of his level (unless it's Mr (A) Ward, who seems rather delightfully averse to this tactic!) to spend the odd week having a full week of matches, good points, and a chance perhaps to try out a few new things. Mr Cox seems to have managed his comeback admirably; he'll no doubt continue to do what he thinks is best, and one can only hope it will be as successful as it has been thus far.

korriban · Challenger level

Mr Cox has had, frankly, an almost faultless comeback from injury. Even his transition to Challengers has demonstrated an ability to be competitive, which perhaps wasn't the case on his previous attempt. It included some MD wins, with an outstanding and well-deserved victory against Kudla - playing superb tennis; and some frustrating losses - which is to be expected. He's given ATP qualies a go too, once again with reasonable success.

It may seem a little strange to play a week or two of $10k Futures, but if that's a prelude to him playing 2 or 3 Challengers overseas (US or Asia) to round off the season in mid/late November, then that seems fine to me. I'd prefer him not to finish the season playing $10ks though, but if he takes a ton of points from them - why not!

His Aussie Open qualies target has been achieved, and perhaps he feels a couple of $10ks (say a SF and a F at least) would give him useful 16 points, then anything else this year is a bonus.....if he won one of the GB Futures and got 20-24 points over the 2 events why bother to play again this year. Even with his current ranking he can play Aussie Open plus all the Aussie Challengers around January/February anyway - and has no point to defend until March. Make the winter training block longer and better and go for it in January.

Salmon · Tennis legend

I don't want to see Cox play these weak Futures (of course, he may still do badly in them) right now because...

a) I have no idea what he'll prove even if he were to win them. It's obviously not a financial decision because then he would have played in Britain (unless I'm unaware of his Greek uncle or something like that).

b) He is quite injury prone and I am not sure if he needs to test his body at the end of a season where he has played a lot of matches. He'll probably enter the Futures in Week 44 as well, and if he does well in both weeks (and plays doubles... where he'll invariably lose in the first round), he is risking an injury. I know that it's considered politically correct to say things like "but I'm sure that he/she will know what's best" (and I use it all the time ), but if it were that simple, you'd imagine that guys like Nadal and Murray would never get injured, given that they have access to some of the world's best doctors.

One of the good things about playing Challengers when you are ranked below 200 is that you can earn good points without stressing your body too much. Of course, the flip side is that you may lose early and make nothing at all. But when you are 23-24-25 years old, but still not winning matches in Challengers, time is running out anyway...

PaulM · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Interesting reading. I'm a little surprise at the lack of bonuses for doubles.

Also see Team Aegon meetings are due soon for next year or have already happened:

The Team Aegon selection policy will apply to the selection meetings on the following dates:
For players born in 1997 or younger - 13th September 2013 (8am-12pm) at the National Tennis Centre
For all other players - 15 November 2013 (8am-12pm) at the National Tennis Centre

These meetings will be for selections for LTA Player Funding Contracts for 2014.
- See more at: www.lta.org.uk/players-parents/Performance-players/Player-funding/Team-AEGON/

I'm still not convinced that the high earners should have full funding - not financial incentives or travel assistance, just access to HPC's and technical support.

Players above a certain ranking don't get full funding

-- Edited by PaulM on Thursday 17th of October 2013 07:28:30 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Not really sure where to put this but this is an article that MUST be read:

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tennis-champ-10-could-quit-sport-over-lta-court-fees-8841064.html

LTA/British tennis - take note - how can anyone pay GBP 125 per week for a 10 year old's tennis ? And then to make it GBP 197 a week ? (With or without the 20 pound grant).

Well done to the friend who chips in 60 pounds a week - but the whole set-up is mind-blowing !!!!

At the risk of repeating myself - LTA, my sons in France had full membership of their club for about 150 GBP (per person) for the whole YEAR - this gave them each three hours lessons a week PLUS the right to use the 6 courts (indoor and outdoors) any time they wanted. No adult priority. No extra charge for indoor courts.
And for children whose parents were on benefits, this cost was about halved.

And even if MJ gets the free court or free funding, what about all the other kids ?

It is completely unacceptable.

Well, the LTA have changed their mind !

Not only will MJ get to practice for free but all the local kids who are matrix players will also do so ! smile

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/tennis-club-u-turn-britain%E2%80%99s-young-%E2%80%98serena%E2%80%99

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Monday 21st of October 2013 09:19:17 PM

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Not really sure where to put this but this is an article that MUST be read:

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tennis-champ-10-could-quit-sport-over-lta-court-fees-8841064.html

LTA/British tennis - take note - how can anyone pay GBP 125 per week for a 10 year old's tennis ? And then to make it GBP 197 a week ? (With or without the 20 pound grant).

Well done to the friend who chips in 60 pounds a week - but the whole set-up is mind-blowing !!!!

At the risk of repeating myself - LTA, my sons in France had full membership of their club for about 150 GBP (per person) for the whole YEAR - this gave them each three hours lessons a week PLUS the right to use the 6 courts (indoor and outdoors) any time they wanted. No adult priority. No extra charge for indoor courts.
And for children whose parents were on benefits, this cost was about halved.

And even if MJ gets the free court or free funding, what about all the other kids ?

It is completely unacceptable.

Well, the LTA have changed their mind !

Not only will MJ get to practice for free but all the local kids who are matrix players will also do so !

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/tennis-club-u-turn-britain%E2%80%99s-young-%E2%80%98serena%E2%80%99

A1 pharmaceuticals TA in Orpington Kent are giving free membership
, free court time and some free coaching to the 21 & unders O
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Monday 21st of October 2013 09:19:17 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Gary, hint for when quoting...add your comment below the line and it doesn't get ( sometimes confusingly ) just added to the end of the earlier comment.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Just to put the link, from 21 March, that says that JWH has left Soto and is now based at the NTC and being trained by the LTA

www.sototennis.com/page/464/News

Wish him all the luck in the world.

Josh, no pressure but your country needs you - same goes to the other potential stars too , of course :)

paulisi · Tennis legend

That is why Hilts and Bloomers were watching at Preston....

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

This is not Aegon but the thread's name just seemed too good :)

Well done to Brit, Betty Howard, who made the world champ. semi-finals of the womens 85 singles at the Super-Seniors World Individual Championships in Antalya, Turkey.

Over 85 s !!!

Read it and cheer :::)))

www.itftennis.com/news/188384.aspx

She lost her semi 6-3 -60 but hats off to her and all the other entrants

itfseniors.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx