Week 49 - Qatar F3 ($10,000) - Doha (hard)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Week 49 - Qatar F3 ($10,000) - Doha (hard)

Spectator · All-time great

Agree that cameras distort ... but not sure I'd characterise Mr Bambridge's progress this year as "steady if unspectacular." I rather think that if people weren't quite so excited about Mr Edmund, there would be a bit more excitement going around for someone who, while still a junior, had been a singles finalist in a futures tournament, beaten a player ranked 76 (OK it was a Latin American on grass, but still), taken Stakhovsky to three sets (just before the latter beat Federer), and, barring one loss to Mr Farquharson, hadn't really had a bad loss all year. Oh, and (with all the caveats associated with futures doubles) who could well crack the top 500 in doubles fairly soon, having in four weeks with three partners won three titles and been in a finalist in another tournament.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Liam wins, 7-5 6-3. His opponent for the final is still unknown with "Ilie" taking the first set off Sam Barry.

korriban · Challenger level

Spectator wrote:
Agree that cameras distort ... but not sure I'd characterise Mr Bambridge's progress this year as "steady if unspectacular." I rather think that if people weren't quite so excited about Mr Edmund, there would be a bit more excitement going around for someone who, while still a junior, had been a singles finalist in a futures tournament, beaten a player ranked 76 (OK it was a Latin American on grass, but still), taken Stakhovsky to three sets (just before the latter beat Federer), and, barring one loss to Mr Farquharson, hadn't really had a bad loss all year. Oh, and (with all the caveats associated with futures doubles) who could well crack the top 500 in doubles fairly soon, having in four weeks with three partners won three titles and been in a finalist in another tournament.

Bit harsh on Tom F!!!! He's top 500, so it's hardly a bad loss for Luke.

With all respect, I don't think in WORLD terms that ANY of our young pros, except Kyle, could be described as having made spectacular progress in the last year. Kyle got within sniffing distance of the top 300 and without an injury-affected end to the season I'm sure would have dipped inside, even with quite a few points to defend. He also looked like he could contend at ATP level.

The rest of our younger players are for the most part going in the right direction, moving up the rankings, anywhere from the mid 350s to the 700s which is terrific to see, winning 1 or 2 $10ks and making finals (Oli, Ashley, Liam, Richard), but nothing really spectacular......YET!! It may come wink

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
Agree that cameras distort ... but not sure I'd characterise Mr Bambridge's progress this year as "steady if unspectacular." I rather think that if people weren't quite so excited about Mr Edmund, there would be a bit more excitement going around for someone who, while still a junior, had been a singles finalist in a futures tournament, beaten a player ranked 76 (OK it was a Latin American on grass, but still), taken Stakhovsky to three sets (just before the latter beat Federer), and, barring one loss to Mr Farquharson, hadn't really had a bad loss all year. Oh, and (with all the caveats associated with futures doubles) who could well crack the top 500 in doubles fairly soon, having in four weeks with three partners won three titles and been in a finalist in another tournament.

I agree with all your points about Luke, Spectator, but I guess that Korriban means that Luke was WR 789 this time in 2012 and is currently WR 785 now in 2013. In fact, he's been in the high 700s / 800s ALL year - remarkably little deviation, quite amazing really.

And on the other hand we've got a large number of 'mega-risers' (Tom +738, Josh WH + 567, Marcus + 611) not to mention Ash and Richard (+333 and +303) and the Gosling Trio, all with rises well over 200 places (and these all towards the top end of the pyramid table where obviously each place up becomes increasingly more difficult).

I'm a big fan of Luke and really hope it's falling into place but I don;t think I'd rave about his 2013 year. However, 2014 could well be a different story . . . . smile

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Evan and Luke 3*-0 up already in their doubles final

steven · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Spectator wrote:
Agree that cameras distort ... but not sure I'd characterise Mr Bambridge's progress this year as "steady if unspectacular." I rather think that if people weren't quite so excited about Mr Edmund, there would be a bit more excitement going around for someone who, while still a junior, had been a singles finalist in a futures tournament, beaten a player ranked 76 (OK it was a Latin American on grass, but still), taken Stakhovsky to three sets (just before the latter beat Federer), and, barring one loss to Mr Farquharson, hadn't really had a bad loss all year. Oh, and (with all the caveats associated with futures doubles) who could well crack the top 500 in doubles fairly soon, having in four weeks with three partners won three titles and been in a finalist in another tournament.
I agree with all your points about Luke, Spectator, but I guess that Korriban means that Luke was WR 789 this time in 2012 and is currently WR 785 now in 2013. In fact, he's been in the high 700s / 800s ALL year - remarkably little deviation, quite amazing really.
And on the other hand we've got a large number of 'mega-risers' (Tom +738, Josh WH + 567, Marcus + 611) not to mention Ash and Richard (+333 and +303) and the Gosling Trio, all with rises well over 200 places (and these all towards the top end of the pyramid table where obviously each place up becomes increasingly more difficult).
I'm a big fan of Luke and really hope it's falling into place but I don;t think I'd rave about his 2013 year. However, 2014 could well be a different story . . . .

I was really surprised when I was looking up the info to go on the the top 25 table (he's on week 50's table as certain to be in the top 25 from week 51) and found he had moved up so little this year, because it has felt subjectively as if he has been doing better. Then again, that final on Crete is the only time he has gone past QFs this year, though he does seem to have more than his fair share of tough early round draws.

In fact, he is a fair bit ahead of last year despite his ranking not having moved up that much (it will rise a bit more on Monday week, obviously), with 25 points so far in 2013 c.f. 18 last year and 20 match wins in ATP-ranked events c.f. 12, so 39% and 58% higher respectively.

Comparing the rankings of players he has beaten, the proportions are not massively different:

4 in the top 500 this year c.f. 3 last year (though 1 of this year's was a top 100 player, obviously!)
5 in the 500-750 range this year c.f. 4 last year
2 in the 750-1000 range this year c.f. 1 last year
8 ranked 1000+ (including unranked) c.f. 4 last year

-- Edited by steven on Friday 6th of December 2013 02:38:23 PM

steven · Tennis legend

SF: (5) Liam Broady WR 510 beat (Q) Mats Moraing (GER) WR 1235 (CH 1165 in Sep) by 5 & 3

FINAL: (5) Liam Broady WR 510 v (4) Sam Barry (IRL) WR 466 (CH 465 last week)

H2H 0-1, 3 & 3, Bournemouth Futures back in 2009 when Liam was just 15. Barry is on a 5-match Brit-bashing streak since losing to Evo in Sunderland in March.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

SF: (5) Liam Broady WR 510 beat (Q) Mats Moraing (GER) WR 1235 by 7-5 6-3

F: (5) Liam Broady WR 510 v (4) Sam Barry (IRL) WR 466 (CH 465 last month)

Edit

I need to remember that ITF livescores is about 15 seconds behind other sites. I post the results within a millisecond of Livescores showing the end of the match and still get beaten to the punch. cry

Edit 2

But at least I beat SC for once. smile

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Friday 6th of December 2013 03:18:39 PM

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

SF: (5) Liam Broady WR 510 defeated (Q) Mats Moraing (GER) WR 1235 by 5 & 3

*****

Final: (4) Sam Barry (IRL) WR 466 (a place lower than his CH last month) vs (5) Liam Broady WR 510

steven · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
SF: (5) Liam Broady WR 510 beat (Q) Mats Moraing (GER) WR 1235 by 7-5 6-3

F: (5) Liam Broady WR 510 v (4) Sam Barry (IRL) WR 466 (CH 465 last month)
Edit
I need to remember that ITF livescores is about 15 seconds behind other sites. I post the results within a millisecond of Livescores showing the end of the match and still get beaten to the punch.
Edit 2
But at least I beat SC for once.

biggrin

Yes, it always takes longer when you take the trouble to look up the H2Hs too.

Oh wait ... wink #amateurs

Sorry, that was very, very, very bad of me (suitably ) but I couldn't resist ...

Anyway, it shouldn't be a race - I just selfishly want all the info I might need there (e.g. for Twitter use) - if someone else puts it there first and I know they tend to be accurate (well, at least as accurate as me anyway, which as you all know, isn't too difficult! wink ) so I don't have to check it, I'm more than happy smile

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Final: (2) Adam Chadaj & Dominik Schulz (POL/GER) CR 1205 (692+513) defeated (4) Luke Bambridge & Evan Hoyt CR 1480 (547+933) by 1-6 7-6(4) [10-4] cry

The boys got off to a great start, but were inexorably overhauled by the second seeds! hmm

steven · Tennis legend

That's a pity - I thought they had that one won, a bit surprised it slipped away

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Made me smile . . .

Liam Broady ‏@Liambroady 2h

I've found that futures finals are remarkably like the 192 bus on the A6, you wait forever for one then they all come together! #Stocky

Spectator · All-time great

All points taken - thank you, Korriban and CD, for making them so graciously. For what it's worth, I didn't mean that losing to Mr Farquharson was in itself problematic - but if you look at Mr Bambridge's results, it's the only match where he lost to someone with quite a lopsided score (6-2, 6-2). Generally (leaving aside January, which wasn't great), he's only lost to people ranked higher than or at about the same level as he is, and he's pushed those ranked above him to two tight sets or three sets.

Congratulations to Mr Broady on making the final again - hope the buses continue to arrive!