GB futures in early 2014

Salmon · Tennis legend

RE: GB futures in early 2014

RJA · Hall of fame

Let's get real here. The LTA can afford to host challengers. The decision to only have two of them last year was not a financial one.

indiana · Tennis legend

One can discuss / argue about the sense of drastically reducing the number of GB challengers so much and as to what strategy there may have been involved.

But with the number of challenger players or players verging on challenger level that we now have, I can see no really legitimate reason for not increasing the number of GB challengers next year.

I would agree with RJA that I wouldn't count finance as a legitimate reason for not having more than 2.

I would suggest that there should be at least 4 including at least 2 hard court events

Salmon · Tennis legend

I would suggest that there should be at least 10 - 4 on grass, 5 on hard and 1 on clay.

(Well, I can dream.)

indiana · Tennis legend

If we are having 10 ( in dreamland ! ) I want 6 on hard. 3 on grass is quite sufficient.

indiana · Tennis legend

I'd even have 2 on clay before 4 on grass !

Salmon · Tennis legend

The calendar for Feb is now out and boy, Yuki Bhambri is gonna get a big ranking boost... http://www.atpworldtour.com/~/media/685187F58E8249EA904280CB4ED546DF.ashx

RJA · Hall of fame

The full calender is out and surprise, surprise it is exactly the same (a few changed venues aside) as last year.

2 Challengers both at Nottingham on grass

2 15K futures on hard court

21 10K futures (12 indoor hard, 3 hard, 3 grass, 3 clay)

Not happy, not happy at all.

-- Edited by RJA on Friday 27th of December 2013 09:15:39 PM

Spectator · All-time great

Certainly interesting, given the high proportion of GB players who could benefit from more 15Ks and Challengers ... and who can't really go any further with 10Ks. Is the idea that the 10Ks will be for the emerging players, and others will be encouraged to go overseas?

-- Edited by Spectator on Friday 27th of December 2013 09:42:21 PM

Salmon · Tennis legend

Salmon wrote:
I'm afraid that the 2014 calendar will be a mirror image of 2013's, with only a few cosmetic changes. I'll get a pleasant surprise if I see some hard court Challengers.

Can't be too happy with this prediction, I guess. hmm

paulisi · Tennis legend

Surprise suprise the women have only 4x10k, which doesn't help any girls trying to get on the ladder.

Also seems to be a lot more joint tournaments than I remember.

not sure if the women's rule differ from the men, but for the men you generally have to put a 3/4 week series on at the 10k circuit.

-- Edited by paulisi on Friday 27th of December 2013 11:23:59 PM

Reeltime · Satellite level

Surprised Glasgow is on. Disappointed (but not surprised) at 2 10ks .

indiana · Tennis legend

Pants !

paulisi · Tennis legend

Seems they have also switched some of the events round. Men at Manchester and Wrexham this year.

Also see the girls events are all 25k now, bar pre-Wimbledon, which means Barnstaple has been downgraded.

Sim · County player

I have always wondered why Barnstaple hosted one of the leading UK women's tournaments ahead of say Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle... especially in winter. However does not explain downgrading Barnstaple without promoting another tournament to 50k.

Surely the LTA should have taken full advantage of the Andy Murray effect by having some Scottish challengers???