Bob in Spain wrote:

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RJA wrote:

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Bob in Spain wrote:

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RJA wrote:

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Bob in Spain wrote:

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The timetable today seems very strange. The match prior to Kyle is still early in the first set, and yet Kyle still has two matches to play today (hopefully). So if his first match doesn't start until about 4pm, that is going to be a tough ask and a very late finish.

Why didn't they start the qualies yesterday ?

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Challengers in the second week of a slam often start a day late. It doesn't make any difference because most challengers play two rounds of qualifying on the first day anyway as qualifying is only supposed to last two days (tournaments need permission of the ATP to play qualifying over 3 days).

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Then surely it would make sense to play 1 match on the first day when there are 16 L32 matches to play and then double up on the 2nd day, when they could play 8 L16 matches and then give the players suitable rest before the final 4 QFs.  Trying to cram 24 matches in on day 1 just seem silly to me.

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It is pretty standard to play two qualifying rounds on the first day. It happens at most challengers and ATP 250 events (ditto British futures). Part of the reason is that ATP rules stipulate that if a player plays two qualifying matches on the final day of qualifying he must not play a main draw match the following day. 24 matches in a day shouldn't be a problem and given that they have only used 4 courts they are obviously confident of getting things done. They may well have lights in which case going late isn't a problem.

EDIT: They do indeed have lights

-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 1st of September 2013 12:34:03 PM

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Well I guess rules are rules. And thanks for tall the "inside info" on the regulations. But it still seems stupid to me, especially if the do actually have more courts.

I have just checked my time zones and found that Romania is an hour ahead of me (ie 2 hours ahead of UK) and so if the current match on Court 3 goes to a 3rd set, it could easily be 5pm - 5.30pm before kyle gets on court to play the first of his two matches.

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They have moved Kyle to court 4, where 4 matches have already been completed. He will be on court any minute now.

On court now and starts with a love hold.

And a comfortable hold to 15 sees the first set in the bag.

Vamos !

Good news for Mortgage Holders as LIBOR Salaba falls heavily.

Kyle safely home 6-3 6-1.

Both Kyle and Oli are 2nd match on after 12 tomorrow.

If they don't qualify now, or do but then one of them draws the top seed, it'll certainly Bras me ov...

-- Edited by Priesty on Sunday 1st of September 2013 09:27:22 PM

The other seed in Kyle's section has gone out. Would be hugely disappointing not to qualify now.

Priesty wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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I guess, with the best will in the world, this is not a high-expectation tournament for Oli.


When we talk about Ed and Dan C. and whoever doing Challengers, these are players who've won futures and are ranked in the top 350.


Oli has made two 10k finals and a heap of QFs but nothing any better - it's hardly stellar stuff -, is ranked 481 and never been any higher than 418.


Not to say it's not possible - I'm sure his team wouldn't have entered him if they thought it was a waste of time - but it's definitely long-shot stuff ! (or learning for the future . . . )

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Oli won 2 futures in 2012 if memory serves me.

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I was only talking about in the last 12 months.

And I wasn't trying to put Oli down, just saying that, for injury or whatever reason, his results have not been potential Challenger player level in the past year. Which is not to say he shouldn't try or won't put in a sudden big match. But that expectations can't be the same as for most of the other lads trying Challengers.