Week 39 - Kuwait F2 ($10,000) - Meshref (Hard)

johnnylad · Tennis legend

RE: Week 39 - Kuwait F2 ($10,000) - Meshref (Hard)

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Burton loses 1&1

SMC1809 · All-time great

A1 tennis academy wrote:
How about a well done for climbing 600 places this year ?
I have always felt that the English culture although has its virtues has a lot to learn about motivation

While I think Marcus has done well to jump so many places this year, he main successes have been a result of trying harder. Whilst some of this may be down purely to his improved play, I think the extra dedication to the game would appear to have helped.

Last year Marcus competed in 15 events (12 in GB and 3 outside). This year he has competed in 21 so far (16 GB and 5 outside), so it would seem he's taking things a bit more seriously. Also, I suspect Marcus has benefitted from the slightly weaker draws in UK futures as a result of the downgrading of events from 15k to 10k. For example, 6 of the 11 GB Futures in 2012 that he took part in were 10k events; this year it's been 14 out of 16. Obviously there are lower points on offer from 10k Futures, but it's going to be easier to go deeper in these tournaments.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

To be honest one of the biggest keys has been the funding to afford to play . In 2011/12 Marcus was coaching to earn money to afford to play far from deal and meant in short he was a frustrated Part time player .

My idea to focus on GB tournaments is mainly economics if money was no object would target easier foreign futures .

The other benefit is team support & if out go home & back to training .

The good news is that since Roehampton we have had 4 offers of help with coaching - 2 have been offered free and 1 subsidised includes MR kronk DL fitness & surbiton tennis club & Exeter university .

steven · Tennis legend

A1 tennis academy wrote:
Disappointed ? no because another point a another step forward the year has gone beyond our wildest dreams The target by nov 2013 was only 31 points . After the huge success in the first QTR 2013 change the target to 95 points & a ranking in the 300s
We will focus on the positives another point record 94 points so smashed our initial annual 2013 target of 31 points by 200% & 1 point away from achieving 2013 goals .
If I had gone on about Marcus's weight during last 9 months I do think we would not have achieved a record year as an manager/mentor I prefer to focus on the positives and help build confidence and morale .
Marcus has now approached me and asked me to organise an intensive fitness program . It's been arranged and we have procured 3 different specialist coaches that will start working with Marcus after the end of the series of midland futures .
I appreciate the constructive criticism and I can assure the genuine supporters it's being addressed .

That all sounds good Since I'm pretty sure most if not all of us are Marcus fans on here (some specifically, others as part of supporting all the Brits) and since even his biggest supporters seem to be aware of what is probably the main issue that needs to be tackled if he wants to build on a very encouraging year, it looks like we are all on the same page here, even if sometimes it doesn't seem like it.

You may well have gone about things the right way too - an intensive fitness program is far more likely to work if the player himself decides he really wants to do it than if it is forced on him and, as I mentioned the other day, maybe the success and support he has had this year has made making an even bigger commitment on his part feel more worthwhile. His determination in matches is plain to see and makes him very easy to support and it's fair to say he must be fitter than he looks to be coming through 3-setters in the intense heat like he did today!

If you look at other threads, we have been celebrating Marcus's successes this year. On my Twitter account, I very much emphasize the positive (the tournament wins, the number of finals he has reached, the doubles streak, etc), not least because the journos who follow me need no help finding negative stuff to write about but often seem to need reminders that good stuff is happening too (though to be fair to them, they are getting to be less unremittingly negative than they have been in the past, partly because things really are improving in some areas), but this message board goes a lot deeper than tweets ever can and it would be a lot less interesting if it stopped seeing both sides of the coin and just turned into a mindless cheering forum.

I don't think there's anything wrong with constructive criticism if it's done from a base of being supportive - it's completely different from people having a go at players because they don't like them or envy them or whatever, or for other non-tennis related reasons - something which fortunately doesn't happen very much here, and tends to be quickly balanced by others if it does.

Anyway:

L16: (3) Marcus Willis WR 415 beat (Q) Ken Onishi (JPN) UNR (junior WR 48) by 3-6 7-6(5) 6-0
L16: Lewis Burton WR 705 lost to (2) Tak Khunn Wang (FRA) WR 340 (= CH) by 1 & 1

QF: (3) Marcus Willis WR 415 v Tristan-Samuel Weissborn (AUT) WR 597 (CH 503 in July)

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

On the earlier subject of Marcus' opponent. I must admit my surprise at his age was mainly down to him being called Ken. Somehow I just cannot imagine a young person being called Ken. What where they thinking :o)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

chavkev wrote:
On the earlier subject of Marcus' opponent. I must admit my surprise at his age was mainly down to him being called Ken. Somehow I just cannot imagine a young person being called Ken. What where they thinking :o)

Yep, it's funny how names have different connotations in different countries. Bit off topic, but there are tons of little Cedrics in France and quite a few Cyrils too - always made me smile . . .

korriban · Challenger level

Josh wrote:
Marcus's match report:

"Got the win! Was 63 65 and a break down. Ken the 5ft 4 Japanese ninja was hitting monster kickers and rrrrripping inside out and inside in ferehands to which willy Willis had little answer. However. At 0-15, ken made a rookie error. I can allow him it this once because he is young. But after kicking it to the Willis forehand (wise) he earnt himself a gershunken short ball and decided to go for the old back behind and in combo play, what he didn't realise was he was making a rookie error as he approached to the wilder beasts forehand there was only one outcome. The swinken swunken swirler of a pass that threaded the needle line for 0-30. Then Willis gave him a disapproving look and carried on. 36 76(5) 60 later, the win was mine. #sillyken #fingerwaggle #rookie #obvs #hadnt #heard #amer #mirza #paulclutchins"

-- Edited by Josh on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 11:40:50 AM

Really starting to warm to Mr Willis now!!!! Pundit duties post-career if he can make top 100 at any point?

steven · Tennis legend

I'm trying to work out where Josh found that (clearly not on Twitter despite all the #tags!) or whether it's meant to be a parody that he has made up himself. Very funny either way

(and looks too detailed to be a parody)

Josh · Challenger level

steven wrote:
I'm trying to work out where Josh found that (clearly not on Twitter despite all the #tags!) or whether it's meant to be a parody that he has made up himself. Very funny either way (and looks too detailed to be a parody)

No it was on facebook, just thought it was too good not to post on here!