Week 38 - Kuwait F1 ($10,000) - Meshref (Hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Week 38 - Kuwait F1 ($10,000) - Meshref (Hard)

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Why even bother going to Kuwait when then are other futures on in Europe. Same as players going to Vietnam of Thailand the entry lists mean nothing when they can't cope with the conditions.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

My comment about it being 'arguably' the best result was that losing the second set was 'arguably' the best result, given that he'd already lost the first.

At 42 degrees, playing a third set may possibly be detrimental to his prospects in the two other tournaments to come.

Obviously the best result would have been to win the match 6-3 6-3 or whatever.

I've had to deal with people suffering with heat stroke after matches (a couple being hospitalised) and I've seen a lot of excellent, fit players refuse to play a third set (some even came to an arrangement between themselves to play a MTB and the tournament referee signed off on it but it wasn't scored like that).

I wasn't wishing that Marcus lost - quite the reverse. I'm hoping for at least 20 points from this trip, as mentioned before. And Marcus looked (from as much as one can tell) that he was doing his best to prolong it. All credit to him.

But I can certainly see 'some' benefit to not playing a third set in 42 degree heat.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

In the second Marcus/Mohammad head-to-head and TB-fest of the day, the GB men come through:

SF : Lewis BURTON (GBR) / Marcus WILLIS (GBR) [1] def. Mohammad GHAREEB (KUW) / Abdullah MAQDAS (KUW) [3] 7-6 (5), 4-6, (10-7)

Well done and into the final they go . . .

Final : Lewis BURTON (GBR) / Marcus WILLIS (GBR) [1] v Patrick DAVIDSON (USA) / Saketh MYNENI (IND) [2]

spud · Challenger qualifying

The lads come through against the home pair in the doubles so a bit of revenge of Marcus

indiana · Tennis legend

It does look as if Marcus is still functional !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
It does look as if Marcus is still functional !

Exactly !

Good luck to them in the dubs.

john · Top national player

Exactly? Makes your comment even more silly that he won a doubles match later that day.

Would have been better if he played and won a 3rd set, then if he was struggling physically, just pull out of the doubles, and there's nothing "arguable" about it.

Spectator · All-time great

We don't really know, do we? It could be that he was struggling with the conditions, and that playing a three-set match could have caused him difficulties that could have affected the remaining singles and doubles matches. Or it could be that he was fine, and just lost ... but could have played a third set without difficulties.

At any rate, interesting to hear from CD about the different ways players cope with extreme conditions ... and a good doubles result.

Shhh · Challenger level

Lewis and Marcus take another step towards a Wimbledon wild card with another 10k title here winning 6-4 7-5 in the final. As a pair, this is their 3rd week running for titles, Marcus won the week before that with George Coupland (I think?)

spud · Challenger qualifying

Well done to the boys, another title together. Fingers crossed they can bag all 3 on their Kuwait trip.

scottie1 · Futures level

Jaggy1876 wrote:
Why even bother going to Kuwait when then are other futures on in Europe. Same as players going to Vietnam of Thailand the entry lists mean nothing when they can't cope with the conditions.

I dont care where Marcus plays as long as he picks up ranking points.

He is not a 16 year old kid I am sure he is capable of deciding what is best for him

This might not work out but playing the British Futures Circuit he is learning nothing.

steven · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:
Lewis and Marcus take another step towards a Wimbledon wild card with another 10k title here winning 6-4 7-5 in the final. As a pair, this is their 3rd week running for titles, Marcus won the week before that with George Coupland (I think?)

Yes, that's right. That also makes 10 match wins in a row now for them as a pair

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:
Lewis and Marcus take another step towards a Wimbledon wild card with another 10k title here winning 6-4 7-5 in the final. As a pair, this is their 3rd week running for titles, Marcus won the week before that with George Coupland (I think?)

That's great news to come home to.

It was interesting to see in their previous interview that the Wimbledon 2014 doubles was one of their top priorities. Although it was primarily a 'doubles' interview so maybe they've also got ambitious singles' goals.

Hope Marcus' sponsor is happy ! (And Lewis' mum smile )

indiana · Tennis legend

I see Ghareeb won his SF and final fairly cosily to take the title.

It was clearly very hot, but I would still have liked to see Marcus in a 3rd set vs Ghareeb in the QF rather than lose a second TB. There was maybe a chance for many more than 2 ranking points here.