A1 Pharmaceuticals Academy news

Ratty · County player

RE: A1 Pharmaceuticals Academy news

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

I can understand why he's done it but it have been nice to have discussed it beforehand

It's about teamwork , loyalty it's difficult to give 100% on court when you don't feel the guy next yo you is 100% committed .

The thing I first learnt in tennis was that singles it s an individual sport it's 100% selfish but doubles that's a different ball game if you want to be successful it's all about Teamwork . There is no "I " in teamwork .

Marcus and I are a great team I demand as Marcus's manager and sponsor a partner who is dedicated unwavering to the cause

Particularly when he's accepting our funding . He's not being funded by the sponsor to play with another player he's being funded to pair with Marcus willis .

"A ounce of loyalty is worth more than a pound of sweat "

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Ratty wrote:
The mention of Alex Ferguson reminds me that he was legendary for his "hair-dryers".

But also, that what he said in the dressing-room STAYED IN THE DRESSING-ROOM ...

But then I am not Alex ferguson and I would not be loyal to myself if I was not totally honest with my views - thats gary Lewis maybe the comparison with Alex ferguson wasn't accurate he would be a much better liar than me .

I tell it as I see it open my heart and put it on my sleeve ! Right or wrong my true honest view

baxi2 · Lower Club Player

Gary - if you had anything about you ,you would keep the business end of things between you and your players private !

It's not really any incentive for anyone to get involved with your team when they know all the details and complications are likely to be spelt out on this forum.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

As I said before there's always another player theres rarely another sponsor whose willing to put their hand in their pocket Without a cut of future earnings !!!

Won't be the first or last time a player forgets that theres no "I " in team work its endemic in GB pro tennis and is the ill of all there problems . But it's our key to success .

Let it be known that in my teams loyalty is everything ! No body is bigger than the Team even if your name is rodger Federer .

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

It's not business its charity

TMH · Futures qualifying

I don't think anyone's name is Rodger Federer.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

What I am saying for sure is that I am not Mr Lloyd nobody is bigger than the team at A1 that is !

Spectator · All-time great

Mr Lewis, please stop. You are of course free to say whatever you want when you are speaking with your players. But speaking about them in derogatory terms to others on a public forum is a different thing.

You have had a disagreement on strategy. As someone who has put a great deal of time and money into developing the partnership, you feel aggrieved. You may or may not be right (like others, I can see where a strategy that benefited one player more than another might logically lead the other player to decide that he was better off trying an alternative ... if that is in fact what has happened). But whatever the case, it doesn't in any way, shape or form justify broadcasting the disagreement using the language that you're using. That doesn't come across as bluff, forthright honesty; it comes across more like petty playground name-calling, and it's not worthy of someone who is genuinely trying, as you are, to build a team of fine GB tennis players.

-- Edited by Spectator on Friday 2nd of May 2014 08:00:12 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Indeed. Although in many ways this is "gold" for the forum, I became pretty uncomfortable with the way things quite rapidly developed last night.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Hmmm loyalty or doing what's best for your tennis career? I know what I'd chose. Good on Lewis for having the cahonas for trying something different. Would be ironic if his singles improved as well by playing challenger doubles.

bobobobo · Improver

In fairness, I don't think anything has been said that is particularly defamatory. It could be argued that it should be kept behind closed doors, or posted in a more diplomatic manner, but nothing has been said that wouldn't have been deduced through speculation when you see Lewis playing with Evans abroad, and Marcus playing the futures with a different partner in the UK.

Clearly Marcus, and somewhat Gary, must feel a bit that they have been jilted at the alter, with the key part of the season approaching, with a number of good tournaments on home soil and the possibility of wildcards.

Gary, is that it for Lewis and Marcus/A1 or is the door still open for a return of this partnership? It would be a shame for this to be the end of a blossoming partnership. Surely it can be worked out when things settle a bit?

plankton · Social player

!!! Can't believe what I've just read!
Honesty is great, bitterness less so, public criticism disastrous. Impression given is 'my way or the highway' which doesn't allow players with their own aspirations ideas much room. In a team some flexibility needed to accommodate ideas and aspirations of all parties?? Why close the door on a successful partnership even if someone tries something different.
Again, so frustrating. Gary doing a great job in backing players but then completely undermines it with these sorts of comments.
Humbly yours, Plankton

KK · Club Coach

I've been irritated by Gary in the past, to the extent that I have found myself supporting Marcus less (which I know is illogical), and I still have to try to ignore and look beyond Gary's grammar and punctuation, but I am with him on this. Having bank-rolled Lewis he is entitled to be furious and to let us know he is cross. I know I would do the same in his shoes. It is a very different situation from Alex Ferguson who, along with the players, was employed by Manchester United.

tennis gossip · Improver

Clearly everything wasn't turning out as Lewis maybe hoped. Had he been completely happy then surely he wouldn't be moving on, leaving the security of Gary's backing behind.

It's Lewis's career, and he has to make career choices that are right for him, not for Marcus & not for Gary.

In fact Lewis should be respected for taking what must have been a difficult decision, to move away from a path that was backed by Gary's generous funding, to follow another route.

... A free ride is only worth taking if it's going in the right direction for you, for Lewis, it clearly was going in the wrong direction, and I'm sure that after reflection Gary as a businessman will understand, that Lewis just made a career decision.

From what I can gather he worked with Marcus and Gary for about a year, and I'm sure he was very grateful for all the support.

My question to those who have issue with his move would be how long did Lewis have to stay in the A1 fold? Was he never allowed to leave?

I'm sure it was nothing personal, and business is business..... and there is an 'I' in buisness! wink