So you believe , A1, that the LTA, through funding or whatever should give more encoutagement to doubles players, which could lead to yet more singles players being lost to the game ?

Ratty is saying, even with the status quo, that there could be much more of a long term future in doubles for Marcus as opposed to singles.

Under the current arrangements , until quite recently GB had 1 singles player in the top 250 as against 7 doubles players in the top 100, and it's not a lot better now, though great to see Dan Evans' progress.

Also, 4 of the top 6 GB male prize money earners, as Ratty sets out, are doubles players, 4 of the 7 that have earned over $100,000 this year.

I certainly favour more widespread funding, but in my view the real priority area for more funding and support is clearly GB's up and coming singles players, not doubles players.

Ratty's post ( back on page 1 ) helps make that case.

A1 tennis academy wrote:

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What's funny ? 

I rest my case on fact that funding in Marcus 's case has made  a huge difference .

Even though challengers are naturally a preferred option they are mostly foreign and thus expensive to travel to 

 

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I'm still struggling with this. I assume that Marcus's tremendous improvement in results are down to a lot of hard work in the off season and early in the year, added to his undoubted talent. Most of us think he's one of the most gifted GB players out there at the moment. I'm sure your funding (and thank you on behalf of all of us) has helped him with training, and to some extent with travel and equipment costs.

Clearly he's not living the life of a model top 100 pro - with respect, that's plain for all to see - and in my eyes, whilst I applaud his results and look forward to even better things to come, I think this sends out very mixed signals to his young GB peers. The LTA offered Marcus full funding in the past, undoubtedly more generous in terms of both financial and expert support that you could (or probably should) offer a GB player, yet I presume they pulled that funding because of his attitude and lack of results.

I have to give you and A1 tremendous credit for what you are doing, and there's no question Marcus is working harder than before, seeing improved results and showing real gratitude to you for the support......but I just don't understand how being significantly out of shape (frankly, this is VISIBLY the case) can be acceptable to Marcus himself, to you as his sponsor or British tennis/the LTA in terms of its impact on those around him.......either he takes his career seriously/professionally or he doesn't.........just as I'm sure you take all your investments very seriously.

Please don't take this as a criticism. More a case of being confused about why someone with Marcus' obvious talent has what seems from the outside as such a strange attitude to his career.

-- Edited by korriban on Monday 23rd of September 2013 11:05:09 AM

I'm assuming that you really ARE Gary Lewis, given that polly didn't object (unless she is on this 'joke', but yeah, I'm sure she has a better sense of humour) and not simply trying to annoy us and/or help me get to 10,000 posts.


 I love your enthusiasm, and I'm sure everyone shares the same sentiments, but I'm not sure you are helping your genuine cause by creating too many similar topics. You are probably coming across as slightly unprofessional with respect to interwebz etiquette by doing that, which could eventually turn off people who are potentially willing to contribute to what you are trying to do. Just my two cents, and you are surely free to carry on doing whatever you want.

 

 

-- Edited by Salmon on Monday 23rd of September 2013 01:40:22 PM

Lol

After today's win in the Kuwait F2 Marcus Willis ATP singles points total climbs to 92 points just 2 points away for joining the 300-400 ranking range for the first time .

I would like to help at least another 6 GB ATP players who badly need additional funding if anybody knows anyone that could help With funds or services eg i need fund raisers

I have set up a charitable foundation  Gary lewis Foundation to help talented but financially disadvantaged young people in sport ( focus on tennis at the moment ) , business and education . We currently have funds of £50,000 over 2 years and it's working but needs to be expanded . 

My idea is that local businessman could support a ATP player performance fund  tennis clubs eg an optional subscription as little as £5000 pa can make a huge difference to a player currently ranked 500-1200

 

As mentioned before, if the LTA managed to create a large, thriving sport of tennis that was played by the public, then the licence fees would generate most of the income needed and, along with Wimbledon rights, it would become self-funding.

In France, there are about 1.2 million tennis licencees (i.e. regular players who pay their federation dues each year). The licence fee is 23 euros, 14 euros for under 18s. So that generates somewhere about 20 millions euros. The government (rather like Sport England) then add to this because it is the second most widely practised sport in the country. Roland Garros obviously adds another huge chunk.

I'm not saying that other corporate/affluent private individual sponsors wouldn't be good in the UK - it's a great idea. But the finances are a larger issue than simply finding more sponsors.

However, I completely agree with funding 'older' players. I think the matrix for 20-25 year-olds (as far as I understand it, and certainly by its results) is wrong - if players, on average, now reach their prime after the age of 25 (more like 27), it is daft to view a 22 year-old as significantyl different from an 18 year-old.

Most GB ATP players rely on private funding eg parents & relatives and can only gain support from the Lta by winning eg around £800 for winning a futures Which is great and it works when your winning .

But what if your a talented player that's only 17 doing well and qualifying for futures Your prize money would not cover travel expenses . I am saying the system is obviously working because we have a record number of men's ATP players and an increasing number in the top 400 but it could be improved . 

A tiny few less than 5% find a corporate sponsor as in Marcus Willis case this has been a success that I would like to see replicated with other players .