Week 40 - Kuwait F3 ($10,000) - Meshref (Hard)

Shhh · Challenger level

RE: Week 40 - Kuwait F3 ($10,000) - Meshref (Hard)

Salmon · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:
I am sure Marcus knows what he's doing but, the next rest/training period is going to have more influence on where his ranking goes over the next 12 months than the next few tournaments in my (unqualified) opinion.

Exactly. Setting goals are fine, but being ranked 20 places higher won't necessarily make you a better player. I think Marcus needs to start competing at a higher level fairly soon because I'm not sure he is facing too many top players in the present environment.

indiana · Tennis legend

Really great to see how far Marcus has come this year, and sensible goal setting does tend to be a good motivater.

But as I understand it Marcus has easily achieved his original targets for this year and I think maybe revised ones too. He has had a long and successful season and as I understood it planned much hard work in the off season.

So, yes, go for as many points as possible in the upcoming two or three British futures. But that should then surely be him for the year.

Overplaying at the end of the year in the pusuit of new short term goals would seem to me well pretty daft ( sorry ). He and his team just need to congratulate themselves for a great 2013, and then start working for 2014 and beyond.

Be interested to hear what the current post British futures plans are from Gary or maybe Troubleshooter if he manages to speak to Marcus again.

korriban · Challenger level

Congratulations to Marcus Willis. Meshref Kuwait F3 Singles Champion 2013. biggrin

Jan · Hall of fame

Just catching up - a huge "well done" to Marcus!

Salmon · Tennis legend

Gary, have you people decided where Marcus will go to after the British Futures? And how long he plans to keep playing this year?

It's just that Aurelius has an outside chance of making it to the Australian Open qualies, but he must be very wary of pushing himself too far. Rest can also do wonders, and even if he doesn't make the AO, he'll probably play the other three Slams next year.

-- Edited by Salmon on Saturday 5th of October 2013 09:07:49 PM

Safta · Improver

Al-HUM-du-li-la Well played Marcus

-a stroke of genius - Gary chosing Kuwait!!

I said you'd love the sunshine!!

CONGRATULATIONS

plankton · Social player

It does need saying - although some may begrudge it (wink), congrats to Gary Lewis and A1 for having the faith in Marcus and giving him the support he needed to achieve what he has. Whatever anyone's views, it's great to see Marcus obviously enjoying his tennis and getting on the way to achieving his full potential and Gary has been a major factor in that. It's also good to feel part of a team. I still think we're only part way there - it's only playing top 300 players day in day out that will see if he has the answers to that intensity of tennis. Although it was a great win today, Wang's record wasn't brilliant, as he is predominantly a futures player. Marcus' performance against Klek (who is/was a very good player), and earlier in the year against (off top of head) Harrison, Evans, Corrie, Cox, Bloomfield and others have demonstrated a better indication of his potential. Would be great if the LTA can get onside too. I don't really think the number of tournaments Marcus plays for the rest of the year will make much difference either way when he's obviously enjoying hitting balls at the moment and he sounds motivated to work on the physical side too. He's got some momentum and in this tournament has demonstrated much more precision in dispatching of his opponents instead of the usual three set up and downers. That could translate into quite a few extra points by year end and make challenger tournaments a bit easier in qualifying, seedings, etc.
Looking forward to seeing how he does back on UK soil bearing in mind the advantages of Marcus playing in Kuwait that Gary mentioned..

korriban · Challenger level

Safta wrote:
Al-HUM-du-li-la Well played Marcus

-a stroke of genius - Gary chosing Kuwait!!

I said you'd love the sunshine!!

CONGRATULATIONS

Yes. Well done to Gary. This really is all down to you, Gary. Although we know you don't like to talk about it.

There seem to be so many people out there who have suddenly come out of the woodwork who are attributing messianic qualities to Mr Gary Lewis. Most promoters/managers tend to "big up" their charge and play down their own contribution. I just find it odd that posters are so keen now to talk about Mr Lewis first and foremost. I'm assuming Marcus was in fact the primary factor in his tournament victory!!!!

However in this case the player himself gets "well played Marcus". Polite and in perspective. However his sponsor gets.....

"A stroke of genius - Gary chosing [sic] Kuwait!!"

Can we please make sure the PLAYER gets the credit he deserves.

steven · Tennis legend

In essence, I agree with korriban but I doubt Marcus minds too much about Gary taking some of the credit if he's getting the support in return, particularly when he probably knows that most people will rightly be giving him, i.e. Marcus himself, most of the credit for his success this year.

korriban · Challenger level

steven wrote:
In essence, I agree with korriban but I doubt Marcus minds too much about Gary taking some of the credit if he's getting the support in return, particularly when he probably knows that most people will rightly be giving him, i.e. Marcus himself, most of the credit for his success this year.

One would hope, Steven, one would hope!

Salmon · Tennis legend

korriban wrote:

There seem to be so many people out there who have suddenly come out of the woodwork who are attributing messianic qualities to Mr Gary Lewis. Most promoters/managers tend to "big up" their charge and play down their own contribution. I just find it odd that posters are so keen now to talk about Mr Lewis first and foremost. I'm assuming Marcus was in fact the primary factor in his tournament victory!!!!
However in this case the player himself gets "well played Marcus". Polite and in perspective. However his sponsor gets.....
"A stroke of genius - Gary chosing [sic] Kuwait!!"
Can we please make sure the PLAYER gets the credit he deserves.

I'm going by a small sample size, but I think Marcus is the most popular British player after Andy.

Happycynic · Pro player

Salmon wrote:
korriban wrote:

There seem to be so many people out there who have suddenly come out of the woodwork who are attributing messianic qualities to Mr Gary Lewis. Most promoters/managers tend to "big up" their charge and play down their own contribution. I just find it odd that posters are so keen now to talk about Mr Lewis first and foremost. I'm assuming Marcus was in fact the primary factor in his tournament victory!!!!
However in this case the player himself gets "well played Marcus". Polite and in perspective. However his sponsor gets.....
"A stroke of genius - Gary chosing [sic] Kuwait!!"
Can we please make sure the PLAYER gets the credit he deserves.

I'm going by a small sample size, but I think Marcus is the most popular British player after Andy.

Male player, not player methinks.

Even then, not sure. Folk here are fond of Fitzy (me included) as he posts here a bit and gives us his human side. Kyle also ranks as a nice person who works hard at his tennis. Not to begrudge Marcus any success at all. Loving seeing his rise up the rankings, and hope he goes further...

indiana · Tennis legend

I essentially agree with you, Salmon, I don't see any real problem in this forum.

Most of us ( while questioning some of Gary's "antics" here ) have acknowledged that his support undoubtably seems to have been great for Marcus, and it'd probably good to have such a guy in the British tennis.mix.

But Marcus has rightly had a lot of praise himself ( and yes a few critical comments about you know what, but only because we want the best for him ), certainly from the forum regulars with some of the maybe OTT gushing concentration on Gary coming from newer additions here.

I tend to think we've got it about right.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

The boy did his Family proud , this support team proud , even his Country proud but most importantly Marcus did himself proud .

I first saw a young GB teenager with "Star quality" at junior Wimbledon in 2008 taking a shaken Bernard Tomic (no1 ITF junior ) to 3 sets he's now maturing into a "young man " with star quality .

The fact that he stumbled as a teenager was a failure of management if nothing else and everybody deserves a 2nd chance , this is not dig at the LTA because they have some great people who have been extremely supportive this year but please make sure that you don't let talent like this slip through the net that easily again ! .