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PockyTastic


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RE: A1 Pharmaceuticals Academy news
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Slightly off topic - I've just noticed a website called Point to Prove that is seeking funding for a group of British Players who do not receive sponsorship beyond perhaps rackets and LTA top ups for results. The players are: Neil Pauffley, Lucy Brown, Amanda Carreras, Richard Gabb, Ash Hewitt and Ireland's Amy Bowtell. Not sure if they've drummed up any money for these players.

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A1 tennis academy


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A1 Pharmaceuticals 2 year sponsorship of Marcus Willis is successfully completed
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biggrin The 2 year sponsorship of Marcus Willis by A1 Pharmaceuticals has come to a successful conclusion . A1 Sponsorships are normally for 1-2 years the idea is to kick start or boost a players career .In return we expect a play to complete all our Aegon team matches this became a problem in the summer . 

A1 pharmaceuticals have always made it a condition of sponsorship that their sponsored player(s) play all 6 Aegon matches ( (only 4 in 2014 2 W/O ) & finals . Marcus felt that he could not comply with this requirement in 2015 which was a stumbling block in consideration of a 3rd year . When a sponsored player misses a match it costs as much as £500 to replace a player and also a lot of stress for the manager if he's chasing a replacement player if a sponsored  player withdraws at the last minute . 

In 2015 A1 will increase its fees for players that complete 4 Aegon matches or more in order to become more attractive than french league Div2 which involves the hassle of travel and 2 days for 400-500 euros + flight which is significantly worse than A1s package which is nearly double this per match without the hassle of travel . The idea is playing Aegon would be more financially rewarding than futures or french league & a useful contribution to funding . 

I have no regrets funding Marcus for 2 years and I feel that it's demonstrated the difference that funding can have when a player has a ranking of 800-1000 so insignificant prize money to fund their tour . I believe that Marcus has achieved a lot in the last 2 years and is airborne so to speak . 

A1 would consider sponsoring a pro tennis player again but it would always be a condition that the player completed our Aegon team fixtures this has frequently been cited as a problem in the past so it's difficult to find a match with the right player  . I recently set up the garylewisfoundation.org and we are in 2015 now focusing on a charitable project in South Africa and sponsoring of junior football leaside in East London . Good luck to marcus and I am confident that with the right application he can reach top 200 singles & top 100 doubles and continue to enjoy a successful career 



-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Thursday 25th of September 2014 08:10:29 AM

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Gary Lewis
The Optimist


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Am pleased that Marcus has had success with you.  However not sure why you have posted in the Junior section - wouldn't this fit better in the A1 News thread in men's tennis?



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indiana


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All the best, Gary, in finding a new player to sponsor.

Marcus was playing at a level far below his potential with arguable commitment ( we don't see these how fit is he discussions any more, because he clearly is very much fitter ). It is great what he has achieved with your help, particularly in the first year or so.

This year seemingly his performance level and certainly his ranking has rather flatlined, albeit at a level more commensurate with his talents.

It would be great to see him kick on again, to the top 300 in singles and indeed towards the WR 200 level. Where he can go in doubles is to me pretty unclear. I know you feel he has great abilities in doubles, it is just that these have rarely been tested at higher levels.

It may be that he seeks a bit of a change of direction to push him on again and the league fixture commitment didn't really fall in line with this ( I seem to recall he put off a hoped for spell in the USA earlier in the year partly due to league commitments ).

Now, of course that is a commitment you are perfectly entitled to ask for with the great help A1 are giving the player, while presumably satisfied that it doesn't particularly conflict with his tennis progress. And for the player to weigh things up and make his choice.

Again, all the best to you and Marcus in your now separate journeys.

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Madeline


Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

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The Optimist wrote:

Am pleased that Marcus has had success with you.  However not sure why you have posted in the Junior section - wouldn't this fit better in the A1 News thread in men's tennis?

 I have moved it into General Tennis Discussion. I haven't any more time at the moment, if another Mod doesn't merge it before I get back, I'll do it then.



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steven


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RE: A1 Pharmaceuticals Academy news
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Sounds like it all ended fairly amicably, so that's good. In a way, it's probably quite a good sign that Marcus didn't want to commit to all the AEGON team matches in 2015, in the sense that it suggests that he is confident that he will have much bigger fish to fry in ranked tournaments by then. Also good though that you are trying to offer a financial alternative to playing French league for an as yet unknown player who might otherwise have no other option.

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Coup Droit


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Nice of you to take the time, Gary, to let us know what's happening. Appreciate it (and it prevents idle speculation later - although where would we be without a bit of idle speculation ? ::)) )

Wish Marcus all the best going forward - he's got a few decisions to make regarding his scheduling and planning.

And all the best to you and your future projects, too, tennis or otherwise.

Your funding for Aegon matches sounds an excellent idea, and very in keeping with European practice (the guys I know in France get more like 600-700 euros per match, but it is dropping, with some top clubs now refusing to pay at all, prefering to showcase their youngsters and not worry about the 'glory'. Some players also get 'win' bonuses and 'perf' bonuses i.e. one guy I know gets 600 per match plus a 100 bonus for a win and 100 euros extra for each ranking level that his opponent is ranked higher than him, if he wins - frankly, I think this last bonus is a waste of money, and too generous, but a win bonus seems pretty logical).

I do hope you manage to find an under-ranked, under-funded tennis player with good potential, and attitude, that you can help - I think you'll rather miss not having one :) Let us know how it goes .. . .



-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 25th of September 2014 12:09:29 PM

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stevemcqueen


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Cheers for your efforts and your posts, I'm sure you'll stay in touch with us.  I like the idea of there being some money in top club tennis - it is an efficient way of putting money into the right hands and promoting the sport.  I wonder if Aegon might be persuaded to give a few £K to the winning teams?  That might start to make things worthwhile for players who have the odd ranking point....And perhaps we could start streaming them too?

 



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The Optimist


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Aegon already do give a few grand to the winning teams.  I think there's a payout to the clubs that win their region and then extra if they get through any of the knockout stages.  I think it's just over £4000 to the winners down to £500 for being a regional winner.



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A1 tennis academy


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Just a little careless that posted in wrong section 



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Gary Lewis
A1 tennis academy


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I would be happy to offer some generous remuneration for playing Aegon it's £3000 and bonus of £500 if win title surprised players like Neil don't take advantage because it's equivalent to 2 weeks work but same funding as winning 4 10,000 futures which again reiterates how badly renumerated futures  are ! 

600 euros is the highest in french div 2 this is under £500 for 2 days work & all that exhaust travel where as a top 750 player or top 150 doubles player can earn that per match playing Aegon for A1 . 

one of my pet hates is top GB 25 players being lost from aegon to french league . Last year we had a record number of ATP players nominated for french league and playing in the finals . 

The final between A1 & sutton was high quality match involving at least 4 Top 25 players the doubles match between josh Goodall & partner and Marcus & shortie could have a graced a Davis cup fixture . I hope that as the quality of the top teams continues to increase we will be more spectators and hopefully some level of TV coverage which would support the search for further sponsors 

 

 



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Gary Lewis
A1 tennis academy


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As winners of Aegon title sponsors generously gave the A1 Pharmaceuticals Tennis academy £8,500 but cost of team was about £20,000 But felt this was pretty generous . 



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Gary Lewis
A1 tennis academy


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Coup but that top end fee 600-700 euros is for 2 days of matches where our highest fee of around 625 euro is for 1/2 day plus bonus for winning title problem is at moment players are in habit of going over to France but they come back bl.ody exhausted for a futures the following week . 

My additional idea is that it raises the level of British club tennis rather than french ! 



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Gary Lewis
A1 tennis academy


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Too be honest will miss it a little but it took up a lot of my spare time and I manage 10 teams and play in 6 teams winter/summer . But already got my eye on a player that think could benefit who's struggling with funding but done a lot better than I expected . 

 



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Gary Lewis
LouieG


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My guess you're looking at Jonny o' Mara

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