QR1: Sean Thornley WR 1382 beat (WC) Efe Yurtacan (TUR) WR 2097 (CH 2030 in Jun) by 4-6 6-0 6-3

QR2: (q1) Brydan Klein WR 325 v Daniiar Duldaev (KGZ) WR 798 (CH 783 last month)
QR2: (q6) Josh Milton WR 451 v Gilad Ben Zvi (ISR) WR 1233 (CH 600 in 2010)
QR2: (q4) Dave Rice WR 380 v Sean Thornley WR 1382

ITF H2H 6-3, but Dave has won the last 4, including a 1 & 3 win in Champaign Challenger qualifying last year, which was the last time they played each other in an ATP-ranked event.

It also indicates just how much players rely on having a support network of coaches, trainers, facilities, etc to be back them up. Of course if Klein changed his nationality hoping to get some support from the LTA then he really was beyond thick to behave in such an awful manner when he played Dan Evans at Nottingham when numerous LTA suits were present. Any possibility of the LTA giving him a chance probably went up in smoke that day.

paulisi wrote:

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Sean has dropped the first set 6-4, but is a break up in the second set.

Question: Sean seems to have effectively given up singles for a chance at doubles glory, but Sean and Dave are finding it much harder at challenger level. Should the doubles partnership split up?

Dave is obviously the stronger player and is carrying Sean. Should Sean drop back down to futures and play singles and doubles again, with a new partner?

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It's a very good question, and one that I've wondered about too, in all its permutations. No idea of the right answer though . . . NB Sean now serving for it at 5*-3

indiana wrote:

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While clearly Dave is the stronger singles player, is it really the case that "Dave is obviously the stronger player and is carrying Sean" in doubles ?

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Firstly, and really importantly, I've never seen them play live. And have only watched one whole match on livestream this year (back in spring from the US) and a part of another one (can't remember but definitely a few months ago).

So, based on a POOR knowledge, but . . . in the match I watched the whole of, Sean was definitely the weakest of the four players on court. I think I posted it at the time. (Because I was also quite impressed with Dave and hadn't seen him before/for absoutely years and remember asking about him).

Sean had nice-ish volleys and a good read of the game. But weak groundshots and a decidedly average serve. His game was under constant pressure. He also seemed to suffer badly from the 'yips' - bad shots on important points. He was the man the others focused on, who made you nervous as a watcher.

BUT this was just one match (and obviously just my opinion). However, yes, I would say with no hesitation that Dave is the stronger player (singles and doubles)) and that he would do better with a different partner, and would have no difficulty finding a different and better partner. (This doesn't mean he should, however, - they've been together a long time and there are lots of factors to take into account . . .)