Week 44 - Great Britain F23 ($10,000) - Edgbaston (hard)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Week 44 - Great Britain F23 ($10,000) - Edgbaston (hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

Qualifying Round 2

Tom FARQUHARSON (GBR) [1] 6-1 6-2 Matthew PEARCE (GBR)
Nicholas JONES (GBR) [11] 3-6 6-3 7-6(5) Alexis CANTER (GBR)
Romain BAUVY (FRA) [2] 6-4 6-1 Sebastian JACKSON (GBR)
Clay CRAWFORD (GBR) 6-4 6-4 Samm BUTLER (GBR) [10]
Peter BOTHWELL (IRL) 7-5 6-3 Imran ASWAT (GBR) [3]
Simon DICKSON (GBR) 6-2 6-2 Ryan PENISTON (GBR) [14]
Nicolas ROSENZWEIG (FRA) [4] 6-4 6-3 Sizya Ernest KIVANDA (GBR)
Peter ASHLEY (GBR) 4-6 6-2 7-5 Jesper BRUNSTROM (SWE) [9]
Evan HOYT (GBR) [5] 7-5 6-3 Mason RECCI (GBR)
Harry MEEHAN (GBR) [16] 7-6(8) 6-3 David PORTER (GBR)
Adam THORNTON-BROWN (GBR) [6] 7-5 2-6 6-3 Tomasz SOLTYKA (POL)
Oliver HUDSON (GBR) 6-7(4) 7-5 6-3 Aaron BANASIK (GBR) [13]
Piotr LOMACKI (POL) [7] 6-3 6-2 Adam SKALSKY (GBR)
Harry SKINNER (GBR) [15] Walkover Maniel BAINS (GBR)
Tom ALLEN (GBR) [8] 6-1 6-2 Marcus GAN (GBR)
Nick EECKELAERS (GBR) 6-2 6-4 Scott DUNCAN (GBR) [12]

RJA · Hall of fame

A1 tennis academy wrote:
Did really well to get as far as he did but hasn't got the talent to be a top
200 player , but then that may not be his goal

You could say that, or worse, about the vast majority of British tennis players. There are plenty of people who would make such an assessment of Marcus.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree, steven.

I do not believe that you need any particularly large amount of talent to make the top 200.

But, for the less naturally talented, you do need 100% work and commitment for a longish period (you're probably going to make the top200 in the latter half of your career). AND you need funds. And you need to avoid major injury or illness.

The funds are particularly important because they impact the other two. i.e. if you're not top 200 until age 26 then you need very good financial support to actually get to 26 while still full-time in tennis.
And if you do get injured, then you need good funds to see you through the non-earning time and, possible, to pay for extra physio/rehab etc.

I don't know about Fitzy's talent or top 200 potential but I do know that funding was/is a HUGE issue for him and injury/illness had a bad impact this year. . . .

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Monday 28th of October 2013 10:43:57 AM

paulisi · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Is it really that strong ?? Evan v Harry Meehan, wow...?

In terms of strength there are a lot more ranked players in the qualifying draw. Evan is a decent prospect and i thought he may have been in considation for a wildcard.

Harry is someone who is being talked about due to his huge serve and has potential to step up if he can work on the rest of his game.

-- Edited by paulisi on Monday 28th of October 2013 12:48:02 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Final Qualifying Round

Tom FARQUHARSON (GBR) [1] 6-0 6-3 Nicholas JONES (GBR) [11]
Clay CRAWFORD (GBR) 6-4 6-2 Romain BAUVY (FRA) [2]
Simon DICKSON (GBR) 2-6 6-1 6-2 Peter BOTHWELL (IRL)
Nicolas ROSENZWEIG (FRA) [4] 6-1 6-1 Peter ASHLEY (GBR)
Evan HOYT (GBR) [5] 6-7(2) 7-6(2) 6-4 Harry MEEHAN (GBR) [16]
Adam THORNTON-BROWN (GBR) [6] 6-2 6-1 Oliver HUDSON (GBR)
Harry SKINNER (GBR) [15] 6-2 6-4 Piotr LOMACKI (POL) [7]
Tom ALLEN (GBR) [8] 3-6 6-1 6-2 Nick EECKELAERS (GBR)

Edit

Just went back to the ITF site to see if the final result was in for Evan v Harry, and now ALL of the results have disappeared again. But they were there - honest smile

Now edited to include the result for Evan v Harry

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 28th of October 2013 04:26:03 PM

Priesty · Challenger level

Always wondered whatever happened to Simon Dickson after his promising junior career. Anyone able to fill me in?

steven · Tennis legend

Priesty wrote:
Always wondered whatever happened to Simon Dickson after his promising junior career. Anyone able to fill me in?

He's a coach at Edgbaston Academy, which no doubt explains why he is playing here in his first ATP-ranked event for 6 years.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

RJA wrote:
A1 tennis academy wrote:
Did really well to get as far as he did but hasn't got the talent to be a top
200 player , but then that may not be his goal
You could say that, or worse, about the vast majority of British tennis players. There are plenty of people who would make such an assessment of Marcus.

The 2nd biggest singles riser in the country this year & 10 pro titles ( 2nd largest tally by a GB player in 15 year history of ITF futures ) suggests that our plan is not only working but it's a huge success . Marcus is easy to work with a natural team player with the right pedigree . Theres a mutual respect between the players , coaches and manager . Our support team has contributions from 9/10 different specialists Eg 2 tennis coaches , fitness coach , Pyschologist , mentor/manager , administrator , accountant , doubles partners, hitting partners . So we now have a well Balenced professional support team in place .

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

steven wrote:
Priesty wrote:
Always wondered whatever happened to Simon Dickson after his promising junior career. Anyone able to fill me in?
He's a coach at Edgbaston Academy, which no doubt explains why he is playing here in his first ATP-ranked event for 6 years.

If Simon has qualified for main draw I Will try and speak to him tomorrow about his future goals

steven · Tennis legend

A1 tennis academy wrote:
RJA wrote:
A1 tennis academy wrote:
Did really well to get as far as he did but hasn't got the talent to be a top
200 player , but then that may not be his goal
You could say that, or worse, about the vast majority of British tennis players. There are plenty of people who would make such an assessment of Marcus.
The 2nd biggest singles riser in the country this year & 10 pro titles ( 2nd largest tally by a GB player in 15 year history of ITF futures ) suggests that our plan is not only working but it's a huge success . Marcus is easy to work with a natural team player with the right pedigree . Theres a mutual respect between the players , coaches and manager . Our support team has contributions from 9/10 different specialists Eg 2 tennis coaches , fitness coach , Pyschologist , mentor/manager , administrator , accountant , doubles partners, hitting partners . So we now have a well Balenced professional support team in place .

A good support team is excellent, and has no doubt helped Marcus to do as well as he has this year. I think all RJA was trying to say is that people can still say that the jury is out on Marcus, at least until he starts doing well in Challengers - they might not be correct, they might be being overly pessimistic and hopefully Marcus will prove them wrong, but winning lots of Futures won't stop some people thinking he still has a lot to prove, in the same way as you think about Fitzy.

Indeed, the fact the Marcus has made such progress this year with a professional support team in place is as good evidence as any that it is possible for players with career highs around 500 to make a significant leap upwards if they get on the right track and are no longer having to worry about where every last penny is coming from every week

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I have no idea what Fitzy's ultimate upside was / is, but I am sure that it is much higher than he has reached in his career so far.

This was a guy that was reaching his CH with very little support and really struggling to make ends meet. So, I am sure with more support he would a) have continued playing full time and b) have got higher in the rankings.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Tweet from Jonny O'Mara

Road trip to Edgbaston with @oli_golding and @Marzi7

I wonder if that means Oli has a WC as well

indiana · Tennis legend

As for Marcus, the fact that 7 of these 10 pro titles this year are 10K futures doubles titles, puts much more context on their relevance to his future singles career.

These titles are certainly still worthy of note in their context, and Marcus has had a great year.

He has risen so much in a relatively short time with the great support that he has had, that especially with that support ongoing, it is reasonable to expect much more to come.

We will begin to learn much more when he steps up to challenger level.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Nick Eeckelaers seems to be having a few decent weeks. He's put out Bruce and Scott already this week and qualified a couple of weeks ago.

I've not seen his name on the ITF scene prior to this. What's his story?