Freerider, you want to leave the site over something as petty as this? Maybe you'll reconsider.




Thanks, CD, I'll have a look later tonight.



I have noticed that quite a few late bloomers are French, for example, Prodon got there when he was 30! I suppose one reason is that you can actually earn a living from tennis just by playing in France - 21 Futures (many of them 15K+Hs), nine Challengers, seven major events, plus a strong club circuit, so there's no reason to give up early.

No doubt that the LTA think that having more home Challengers could make the British players feel more privileged/negatively affect their kundalini or something wonky like that, but it doesn't surprise me that people like Goodall are giving up the game so early. Perhaps I am heavily guilty of post hoc, but I think having ten Challengers a year is a "risk" worth taking.

-- Edited by Salmon on Saturday 19th of October 2013 09:23:19 AM

*2-3 in the 3rd - Grigelis broke but Dave has just broken back ... and has now held for 3-3*

-- Edited by steven on Saturday 19th of October 2013 12:32:13 PM

wolf wrote:

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I might be wrong, but looking at the excel sheet we were discussing in the Sunderland thread I think Dave & Sean now hold the all-time record for futures titles for a single pair. Might be worth checking with ITF?

This is an outstanding achievement that can only be achieved with dedication & loyalty to the partnership Which Sean & david have clearly demonstrated & it's definitely inspired Marcus & Lewis to achieve a similar success .

Lewis signed a sponsorship contract with A1 yesterday which helps fund their doubles partnership for the next 30 tourmaments . They have won 4 titles in last 7 attempts which is a good 

Sean & david won their latest title in toughest draw at a GB futures with exception of Preston when the skupski bros dominated . We are certainly glad that they won't be challenging in Tipton but genuinely wish them well in challengers that they are clearly ready for ! 

          

 

 

 

freerider wrote:

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steven wrote:

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I've taken out tonight's latest batch of school playground posts plus one or two that weren't too bad but had nothing to do with tennis and made no sense with the playground posts taken out.

Those still determined to prove how 'ard they are might like to take it outside - by which I mean, outside the forum.

-- Edited by steven on Friday 18th of October 2013 11:07:05 PM

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 I'm afraid that I am guilty of this and will therefore resign from the forum.

bye all

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 Apologies steve & the forum will stick to tennis in future 

Salmon wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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re A1's post:

 

The last figures I saw had the average age to break into the top 100 for men as a bit older (more like 26, from memory - got the file somewhere). But there's not much in it and some of the figures don't agree because some 'weight' it by taking into account how long they then spend there. The 28 years old average for the top 100 seems to be universally agreed on!

Net net, though, A1, I quite agree - the average age is so much older than most non-tennis people think (they're still in the Boris Becker days or just focusing on the absolute top ones, which is a different story).

Also agree that good fortune (i.e. injury free and funding) plays a big factor. And motivation is the absolute key fundamental.

Dave Rice is one of my 'faves' but I don't quite see him as top 100. Marcus, maybe. Alex Ward has more mileage in him too. And several of the youngsters.

My personal view (based on experience with juniors) is that any player age 21 with a good solid game (properly learnt), a good physique (i.e. not 5 ft 5), good health and funding can make it into the top 200 if they are 100% dedicated to do so. Maybe they won't stay there long, some will find it harder than others, but it's possible, there's absolutely nothing magical about being a top 200 player. (Top 100 becomes a bit more tricky).

 

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I'm assuming that the table refers to breaking into the top 100 for the first time in a player's career? If so, isn't 26 a bit on the higher side? Apart from Matosevic, Lorenzi Edouard RV and Przysiezny, I don't think too many got there at 26+ amongst the current top 100? Of course, there are people outside the top 100 who have been there, but there's a Harrison or Berankis to balance out every Gicquel or Stephane Robert.

I'm not doubting you. But can you please dig out the table, because I'm very curious now!

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I've been looking but the folder must be back in France so I'm not going to state gospel style. And, from recollection, it was done over a carefully selected period when there had been a heap of older players who'd just snuck into the top 100 and then disappeared again (which is why A1's age 24 might be right today or at least more relevant overall).

But certainly de Scheppers was 26 and Roger-Vasselin 27 when they first made the top 100 (so it's JUST possible that it was an all French list I saw but I didn't think so). I've emailed someone to see if they can find it and I'll let you know if they get back to me.

By the way, I've know idea who he/she is or the validity of their numbers, but for all the mega stat-heads out there, take a look at this guy's research :

http://beveldevil.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/atp-top-100-statistics.html

A1 tennis academy wrote:

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A1 tennis academy wrote:

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With improved nutrition,conditioning ,  technique , and physiotherapy players are frequently having longer careers we now have real age & biological age . 

I think that we can have 3 GB players in the top 100  within next 3 years . Know  Evo could do it then there is KE , Dan cox and I believe Ed Corrie or Marcus Willis . 

Marcus Willis has just turned 23 we don't expect nor have  we planned to break into top 100 until 25+  because we lost some time about  2 years in the wilderness through lack of funding but there is still plenty of time - the strategy is patience slowly slowly catch a monkey . 

 

 What I forgot to mention is we also have some excellent young players coming through including J malik, rob carter who have made significant progress this year . 

A  huge nugget of talent that hopefully a new CEO & inspired team at the LTA can exploit to its not inconsiderable potential .

 

 

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Good points Salmon. And you might be right about there being more older French guys who come through than other nationalities - interesting.

You cite the ATP/ITF/WTA tournaments but, yes, the strong club circuit has to be emphasised - there are so many big domestic tournaments (open to all) which pay as much (sometimes way more) than the 10k Futures. And the draws are progressive so you can often easily play two a week (in summer lots end on a Wednesday so players can arrive on Tuesday for the quarters, play the semis and final Wednesday, then leave get to somewhere else for quarters on Friday, final on Saturday).
For the smalller tournaments (still good prize money) some manage to even play three a week (Sunday finishers too). Lodging is often free.

A couple of other points help:
Because there's so much tennis, there's also a huge demand for tennis coaches. So lots of the players qualify as a coach at age 20, say, teach during the term-time (and practice hard and play team league tennis), then take the big summer holidays off (and the Xmas ones) to play thousands of tournaments (futures and domestics). This keeps them going until, hey presto, age 24 they suddenly find they're playing well enough to try the big time.
All basic university degrees allow 'top' sportsman to take an extra year to do the course so as to accomodate sports training/matches.
Parents expect/allow kids to live at home far longer and expect to pay for their studies/support them whatever they're doing so that's normal.
Clubs get a lot of public and corporate sponsorship so most good team players (even those who are not in high leagues) don;t pay for their rackets, stringing, etc. - it all helps.

NB A1, your age 25 goal for Marcus for top 100 sounds spot on.