Week 36 - Great Britain F18 ($10,000) - Sheffield (Hard)

korriban · Challenger level

RE: Week 36 - Great Britain F18 ($10,000) - Sheffield (Hard)

steven · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
SF: Liam Broady WR 733 defeated (1) Dan Cox WR 336 by 2 & 2
SF: Robert Carter WR 1188 defeated Richard Bloomfield WR 716 by 4 & 0
****
Final: Liam Broady WR 733 vs Rob Carter WR 1188

That was Liam's 5th Futures semi-final (he lost the previous four - a 15K in 2011, a 10K in 2012 and two 10Ks this summer), so apparently he is to Futures semis what Andy is to slam finals wink and Rob's 1st, so one of them will win their first singles title at this level.

The H2H is 2-1 to Liam, 1-0 in juniors (2009) and 1-1 in Futures, made up of a straight sets win on clay for Liam in Edinburgh last year and a 3 set win for Rob in Shrewsbury in March this year.

RJA · Hall of fame

korriban wrote:
RJA wrote:
Liam beating Dan isn't a big shock but the scoreline is so given that Dan is attending his cousin's wedding on Sunday you have to wonder whether he really wanted to be in Sheffield tomorrow.
Let's give him the benefit of the doubt - how many matches in a row has he won?! We was 22-1 in his last 23 matches after all.

Indeed, it was just a thought that occurred to me.

steven · Tennis legend

korriban wrote:
RJA wrote:
Liam beating Dan isn't a big shock but the scoreline is so given that Dan is attending his cousin's wedding on Sunday you have to wonder whether he really wanted to be in Sheffield tomorrow.
Let's give him the benefit of the doubt - how many matches in a row has he won?! We was 22-1 in his last 23 matches after all.

He had also won his last 7 semi-finals, which is no mean feat! Anyway, while it should take nothing away from Liam's win, Dan provides a clue to the scoreline:

Dan: "One match too many for my wrist and body... Nothing went right... Annoying to of played indoors as well #outdoortournament"

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Young guns ruling the roost.

Great to see and many congrats to both Liam and Rob C

korriban · Challenger level

Bob in Spain wrote:
Young guns ruling the roost.

Great to see and many congrats to both Liam and Rob C

I wish their command of basic english was as good as their tennis sometimes. Worrying, once again, that dan's wrist was bothering him....maybe a few weeks off would be a better plan than continuing next week.

huntley93 · Strong Club Player

so dan cox has turned into the nadal of futures tennis!

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

You could read Dan's tweet as being a little bit sour grapes - i.e. no mention of Liam playing well, loss purely attributed to physical issues. Then again, I don't have a clue whether Dan and Liam even get on.

korriban · Challenger level

Jeff Stelling wrote:
You could read Dan's tweet as being a little bit sour grapes - i.e. no mention of Liam playing well, loss purely attributed to physical issues. Then again, I don't have a clue whether Dan and Liam even get on.

I would think it's an entirely innocent comment.

I remember Oli getting upset about Fitzy tweeting a photo of his (frankly terrifyingly awful) blister after Oli beat him in a Futures Final last year, which must have made it excruciating to grip the racquet, let alone rip a forehand! Oli felt by doing this, Fitzy somehow didn't give him sufficient respect and credit (even though he'd already congratulated him for the win in another tweet)!!!! The whole thing got nasty and was completely blown out of all proportion very quickly.....I'd like to think Liam won't even give this a second thought.....and focus on tomorrow.

RJA · Hall of fame

Well without making any comments on the tweet I will say that Dan certainly has a nasty streak on court and isn't above making sly digs at his opponents.

scottie1 · Futures level

RJA wrote:
Well without making any comments on the tweet I will say that Dan certainly has a nasty streak on court and isn't above making sly digs at his opponents.

Seen Cox play several times he is a fighter! But my concerns is can he move up tpo Challenger level like Dan Evans--- well the jury is out! However Cox is not as talented as Dan Evans

philwrig · Hall of fame

Great win for Liam even if it was aided by a below par Dan, great to see the young Stockport man, continuing to show improved form.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Good to see some new names coming to the fore in GB tournaments, the depth is great. I still suspect there is a gulf between good 10k players and challenger level.

korriban · Challenger level

paulisi wrote:
Good to see some new names coming to the fore in GB tournaments, the depth is great. I still suspect there is a gulf between good 10k players and challenger level.

You're probably right, there is a gulf.

But in the same way that some of these guys by playing lots and lots of Futures events went from making up the numbers to regular QFs and SFs, and then even started winning, some regularly (Ed, Dan serial winners; Marcus, Ash winners; Richard G, Liam & JWH starting to go deeper in $10ks with every week; Neil & Tom seemed to have broken through, but this may have been just a burst of great form) - I presume the same will be the case for Challengers. Assuming you have the talent and potential (which may not be there in several cases), the more you play, the more you learn from other players what it takes to win and the further you ought to progress.

What frustrates a little is players trying Challengers, not being competitive straight away, and too quickly retreating back to Futures. Alex Ward seems now to be backing himself, and that's to be commended.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Pleased for Robert - he seems to have had a serious few months, plugging away, with nice comments, but not much reward, until now.

Very pleased for Liam - excellent summer all round (especially given, six months ago, he was one of the 'will he ever fulfill his junior potential?' 'does he deserve funding?' players).

No idea about the real reason for Dan's loss but I repeat my comment that I think it was (and is) daft to be playing so many futures tournaments, practically back to back.
If,, by your own admission, your wrist is sore (having already been operated) on, why put yourself in - for singles AND DOUBLES - in countless 10k futures when you keep going through to the final i.e. expecting to play a full week of matches (and doubles matches) each time ?

Fair enough, it's your cousin's wedding. So don't do Challengers this week. So take a week off.
IMHO, if he's in Roehampton next week, then his wrist is fine and he should simply say Liam played better. If he's not in Roehampton, then obviously he's overdone his wrist a bit and time for a bit of a break and rehab.