Week 37 - Great Britain F19 ($10,000) - Roehampton (Hard)

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 37 - Great Britain F19 ($10,000) - Roehampton (Hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh, I have more than an inkling that Josh winning the final would "probably" get GB the 20 in the top 500, because I've been following it, so I'm going to be brave and not wait for Steven's update ( if I am wrong then I will have been misled by Steven's existing info ! )

The fact that it is still just a "probably" relates to Josh Milton just being guaranteed 66 points ( even with his challenger qualifying points this week ) and it not absolutely clear that this will be top 500 on Monday week. Currently, WR 495 - 497 is 66 points and WR 498 - 504 is 65 points.

On 23/09 we will have 15 players with more than 80 points, plus :

Tom F : 71 points
Oli Golding : 70 points ( 71 - 1 next week )
Richard Gabb : at least 68 points ( 64 - 2 next week plus 6 so far )
Josh Milton : at least 66 points ( 72 - 6 next eeek + next week's Izmir Challenger )

..taking us to 19 players with at least 66 points plus :

Josh Goodall :
a) Wins the final : 71 points ( 61 - 8 next week + 18 ) - top 500
b) Loses the final : 63 points ( 61 - 8 + 10 ) - not top 500

So, we need Josh Goodall to win the final, that will probably do it, but if Josh Milton doesn't add points next week there could still be a slightly nervous wait for confirmation that he is the 20th into the top 500.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Or maybe we won't.

The scoreboard seems to have stuck at 15-30 on the Goodall serve so maybe it is raining.

Edit

Or then again, maybe it ISN?T raining because as soon as I post, the scoreboard decides to catch up.

Dan C leads 3-2 on serve. Or more precisely, he is up a hold as we have had 4 breaks in the first 5 games.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 14th of September 2013 11:05:04 AM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

For once it appears that I have got my numbers correct. Thanks RJA. I always had Josh M as being the "doubt" should Josh G win today.

korriban · Challenger level

Sorry to be a party pooper, gentemen, but for the long term interests of British tennis (and therefore the medium term interests of our top 20 challenge) I very much am rooting for Dan to win today!!!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

korriban wrote:
Sorry to be a party pooper, gentemen, but for the long term interests of British tennis (and therefore the medium term interests of our top 20 challenge) I very much am rooting for Dan to win today!!!!

spoilsport !!!

(If you were going to be really picky about the challenge, you could argue the validity of including Jamie Baker - I think, in fact, Jamie was going to take his name off the list completely, like Anne K did. But Bob 'asked him nicely' not to, and Jamie, being a sporty nice guy, said: 'oh, if it's for the 20 in 500 challenge, no prob, I'll keep it on'.).

So, as Dan C has won tons recently, and it's now or not for a while, I'll root for Josh G. !

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

korriban wrote:
Sorry to be a party pooper, gentemen, but for the long term interests of British tennis (and therefore the medium term interests of our top 20 challenge) I very much am rooting for Dan to win today!!!!

Aagh, but I was simply stating a mathematical fact, not expressing a desire for a Josh G win wink

I would actually prefer Dan to win and then for someone else (Liam) to make a dash for the top 500.

Having said all that, if Josh G wins and we make the milestone, I would be lying if I said I wouldn't have a little smirk on my face.

paulisi · Tennis legend

63pts has been known in the past to make the top 500

indiana · Tennis legend

Josh Milton must have done a few calculations and be fairly relaxed that he will be in the top 500. Because I gather from the Izmir thread that he hasn't turned up there. And no way would he have put Bob's 20 in top 500 Challenge at serious risk !

Oli is in the Slovakia Challenger qualifying so could add, though on 70 he's already there OK.

korriban · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
korriban wrote:
Sorry to be a party pooper, gentemen, but for the long term interests of British tennis (and therefore the medium term interests of our top 20 challenge) I very much am rooting for Dan to win today!!!!

spoilsport !!!

(If you were going to be really picky about the challenge, you could argue the validity of including Jamie Baker - I think, in fact, Jamie was going to take his name off the list completely, like Anne K did. But Bob 'asked him nicely' not to, and Jamie, being a sporty nice guy, said: 'oh, if it's for the 20 in 500 challenge, no prob, I'll keep it on'.).
So, as Dan C has won tons recently, and it's now or not for a while, I'll root for Josh G. !

To be fair, I'd imagine every top 20 list probably has 1 or 2 "veterans" who have either formally retired or are in the process of winding down, so I think this list is certainly "valid".

For me, I just want Dan C to have as big a points buffer as possible as he enters a long run of Challengers for the back end of this season and the beginning of next season to give him a decent shot at it, either seeded in qualifying or even making a few MDs. I'm not sure he has a big enough game (well being specific a big enough serve) to keep him in Challenger matches against quality opposition when not playing well or where the opponent is playing better......but I certainly would want him to have a few months trying to make the transition......as Alex Ward seems now to have done comfortably, even with a lower ranking.

I always favour younger players, especially those with good work ethic, big games (even if still raw), and relatively little ego or attitude. Looks like there are a few of those in the top 25 and around the fringes too.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, on a serious note, Korriban, I agree - I have no real interest in seeing Josh G win. Although if he plays better and deserves to win, then good for him.

And like you, I wish Dan Cox all the best for his foray into Challengers (he'll be in good company - we're going to be spoilt for choice in supporting GB challenger players over the next few weeks). An average serve is not great but it seems to me that there's room for all sorts - and maybe it;ll be the push for Dan to have to up the ante on his serve - the raising of the bar, so to speak. After all, even with a lack of power due to height, I expect he can improve the placement, the spin and kick, the consistency, whatever, even if it's just a bit.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Either way, I guess we will know the answer soon enough.

Dan C leads 2-1* on serve in the first set.

Shhh · Challenger level

Dan finally takes the 1st set 10-8 in the breaker. 4 back to back breaks to open the set then 8 every game on serve. 7 x DF's for Dan so far a bit of a worry.

korriban · Challenger level

Shhh wrote:
Dan finally takes the 1st set 10-8 in the breaker. 4 back to back breaks to open the set then 8 every game on serve. 7 x DF's for Dan so far a bit of a worry.

The fact that, in effect, netting aces/DFs where the opponent doesn't take part in the point, Dan had a 12 point deficit to make up on Josh in the first set......this sort of thing is unsustainable at a higher level.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Dan's the , albeit by retirement!

Final: (1) Dan Cox WR 302 defeated (4) Josh Goodall WR 488 by 7-6(8) 2-2 retired