What a win for Smethy, he just looks a far better player than 12 months ago, Ricey in form too, should make for a top evenly contested final.

A bit off-topic but does anyone who why Liam Broady hasn't been in action yet this year?

And Luke Bambridge for that matter.

-- Edited by TMH on Friday 24th of January 2014 02:20:27 PM

TMH wrote:

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A bit off-topic but does anyone who why Liam Broady hasn't been in action yet this year?

And Luke Bambridge for that matter.

-- Edited by TMH on Friday 24th of January 2014 02:20:27 PM

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They have been in La Manga this week on pre-season training. They have started later than others as they were playing deep into December last year. Liam has flown back today and Luke is here until tomorrow along with Oli, Evan Hoyt and Toby Martin.

Try this link

http://britishtennis.activeboard.com/t55803613/gb-off-season-2013/?page=5

and you will see I was down there with them yesterday. All of them were looking good, although somewhat tired after a tough pre-season workout.

 

Shhh wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Shhh wrote:

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spud wrote:

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Mertens always seems to do well in the British futures, would be such a shame for him to go on and win it. Hopefully Smethurst can keep up his recent form and take him

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 I agree, I seem to think he's going to beat David Rice in the final.....I say this because I am always wrong and hoping to make it so by putting it in print.

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Excellent tactic

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 I expect no thanks but this all Brit final is obviously down to me

-- Edited by Shhh on Friday 24th of January 2014 02:03:33 PM

-- Edited by Shhh on Friday 24th of January 2014 02:03:58 PM

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Take a bow ! Your agent should get in touch with the lads, posthaste

 

Can't help thinking that it was that sudden US Challenger success that somehow made it all happen for Dan S. - his year had been really pretty disappointing till then and suddenly all seemed to come together - must have been a great uplift before the off-season.

 

And 'Dave is my fave', as ever (although, on form, Dan S's tennis is more to my liking than Dave's) but I remember watching the livestream back last April in  the doubles in the US and posting why wasn't he doing more singles - and 400 WR places higher, the man's done good!

Great to see Steven's ranking predictions - some more top 300 players, and a few knocking on the door, it certainly raises a smile, would be nice if we had a handful in that top 250 group before Wimbledon wild-card time.

 

 

Yes, absolutely, and hopefully it might take a bit off the pressure off the approx. 1994-ers too - ie not saying, obviously, that we don't want the Liam/Luke/JWH lot to zoom up into the top 250 but the Draper 'it's now or never' mentality when you're only 19 must put a lot of pressure on you and I'd have thought that it must be good for the younger lot to see the 'middle' lot suddenly making pretty significant moves up the board.

very encouraging results from this tournament (and Kyle in usa). shaping up to be a great year for following challengers :)