JonH comes home wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Billy Harris beat Piros, 6-2 6-4

****** But Stuart Parker got the excellent, stand-out top-100 win, beating Alexander Shevchenko WR 78, 6-4 6-1

And - surprise - JoMo turned up today, and played as #4, for Bressuire, and beat Loic Namigandet Tenguere 6-3 4-6 10-3

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 Lambda mentioned JoMo is in France to also play the Paribas World Unis event taking place  

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 That makes sense - I wonder when he joined the team - he's listed as a 'new arrival' - the rule used to be that nobody could join the team mid-year - but they might have changed it - or maybe he joined in summer but could only really make it out now?  

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The other Paribas players for Britain include James Story, Finn Bass, Millie Rajecki, Eliz Maloney and Esther Adeshina - are any of them also playing some club tennis? 

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 No. But, tbh, apart from Millie maybe, none of them has a ranking that would be interesting for the clubs to pay much for, if anything, certainly not at Pro A and Pro B level.

So unless they have an existing tie to a club, it's not likely that any of those would play  

Eden Silva won her singles against Lauren Seye, 7-6(4) 4-6 10-8

And won her doubles and the team drew 3-3

cya wrote:

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This league club tennis looks interesting . How do the Brit players know which clubs to join, is it by referral ?

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 I've often wondered that myself - I think it's probably all very hotch-potch - I've never heard of any centralised or formal aspect i.e. a website that acts as a marketplace or whatever

A lot of players seem to join based on word of mouth from others (i.e. Marcus Willis was at Capdenac and then suddenly so was Jack Carpenter etc etc)

And presumably from word of mouth from French (and other players) on tour 

I think some players look into it when they play an individual event at the club i.e. player X plays at Saint Gaudens W50 and knows that the Saint Gaudens top team is in Pro A, say, then asks about joining the team while she's there   

But honestly I'm not much the wiser than that .....

the addict wrote:

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I've wondered in the past how players are recruited - and it has to be who you know. I aked Lucy Brown about this a few years ago and if I recall she was recruited by a coach she knew. I'm sure the clubs are careful who they recruit - they are paying the players after all !

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 I wouldn't bet on it (the being careful, that is) 

And they only pay them when they play (and now most clubs have a win premium) 

So they often have a lot on their books, and put 12 or 15 players, say, in the initial team inscription at the start of the season. And then use who they use. And don't pay the ones they don't use (for whatever reason) 

Lucy played in a lot lower league. I think the top end is a little different. But, as said, I know lots of different stories, for different players, but have no idea what the most usual method is. 

That's a lovely link, Lambda - and I've copied and pasted her post because it really should be here, and remembered, for posterity - such an endorsement of team tennis, and the French league


"Today was truly one of the highlights of my career. For those unfamiliar with French league, its a competition where the best clubs in France face off for the title. Clubs in French league sign and pay players from all over the world to compete, making it one of the most competitive and prestigious leagues to be part of.

The league is divided into different divisions, and last year, we earned promotion from the second division to the first for the very first time - a massive achievement for both us and the club.

Coming into this season, we had no expectations. Our goal was to avoid relegation, and on paper, we had no reason to believe we could win. Week after week, we were up against current / former top 100 players, so reaching the final was a dream. To actually winwas beyond anything we could have imagined.

Im sharing this because it shows how far passion, team spirit, and chemistry can take you. Our team is built on a lot of love we fight for one another, and it means everything to us. Tennis is a crazy sport, anyone can beat anyone on any given day - I say this all the time, but its a hugely important lesson for aspiring players. This group is truly incredible, and being part of it is something Ill always treasure. Im so proud and grateful for the club, the volunteers, Jérôme, and the entire team.

A special shoutout to Alba, our incredible vice-captain, who leads by example for all of us. From the moment I met her, it was clear how much this club means to her, and I knew Id give it my all for her too. She inspires us all with her passion and dedication.

Thank you to my family for traveling from Scotland to support, to all the girls for your passion, to the Villiers community & club, and to Jérôme for believing in us. Ill treasure this moment forever. "