Also there today. Saw some of what Paulisi saw but more of Ashley and Hoyt.

Thought Ashley had game, but he also had a mouth on him - really down on himself and so loud - disrespectful of the other 5 courts going on if you ask me. Rude to his entourage etc. There's talking yourself into playing well and then there's putting yourself down to the point where it's not useful. "This is the worst set of points I've ever played", early in the first set tiebreak. 4-1 up second set before combusting again, but pulling off the last two games for the win. But he had game! Particularly his forehand on the run - was complaining that he constantly had a chest infection.

Wirral tennis centre is always sooooooooo cold - I know its January but I can't believe the players sit around all day freezing like they have to - surely it could be better heated? Are lots of Futures tournaments held in freezing cold conditions?

Hoyt was playing his first match of the year and it showed early on, but he showed glimpses of class. Best player on show in my opinion. Great passing shots and hung in there until his body started doing what he wanted it to. Big, strong physique - I'm quietly confident he could do well this year. He had Mark Hilton in his corner and some of the other La Manga boys - Broady, Bambridge, as well as George Morgan.

In terms of improvement since last year I was impressed with Adam Skalsky. Can't get the scores from last year because the Wirral Qs links on Steven's table now open a Colombian ATP 250 draw sheet but I think he lost in QR2 last year. I remember thinking he struck the ball nicely but he ran out of gas, This year, he had added more power to his game, and he took Strachan very much by surprise. That said, I think Tutu will probably win tomorrow, Marshall has a lovely single handed backhand.

Aswat a little improved on last year too. It really was a case of being a wall last year, and whilst he's still based around being solid he had added a little power and a bigger serve imo. He was beating Godlewski early on but the Pole won the mental battle. I felt a little sorry for Godlewski - Kivanda's request for a let was within the rules but really soft and on a big point so he blew his top. The officials sided with Kivanda on very little evidence, and then watched Godlewski like a hawk. He received an incorrect call on his baseline, which was in and naughty of him, but he then got screwed over on a let of his own, as a ball came across into his vision but as Aswat was running away from it and didn't see it. Godlewski momentarily stopped but Aswat played on unknowingly and when Godlewski dumped it in the net no one believed him and given his "history" earlier in the day. Anyway, he powered past Aswat after that. Man vs boy.

Godlewski is coaching Piotr Lomacki - playing too but Josh Goodall style. Tom Allen should have the weight of shot to beat Lomacki, who looked young and small but had too much for the inexperienced Newis, though Jac but up a much better fight second set.

Enjoyed watching Nic "2 forehands" Rosenweig bamboozle Curtis Clarke. Curtis, whose sister Yasmin used to play and now coaches their little brother Jay (top class junior) was just going for too much lulled into it by Rosenweig's array of slices. Curtis off a college in the US, so watch out for him again in a few years possibly?

Peniston / Stoute was attritional with neither able to out hit the other, Peniston just the more solid - he looks a bit like Ash Hewitt.

Vidal was a little disappointing, but having already played one match, possibly just lacking a bit physically - McCullough didn't have to do too much to beat him.

Enjoyed seeing glimpses of Walters - although he lost he was much the more eye-catching and classy player - just lacking power and Clayton eventually had too much in the tiebreaks.

Got to work all week but hope to make the final if any Brits reach it.


Malik was saying the futures tournaments in Sharm and Antalya only let players use the practice courts if they stay in the resorts, so its hard to get court time if you save money on accommodation, and not cheap if you stay in the hotels.

paulisi wrote:

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Jathan is a real nice guy. He has been struggling with injury last year and again is struggling financial and relying on parental help especially with two tennis players in the family and no funding. He trains at Sutton with Adam Skalsky and was thus pleased when Adam beat Bruce. Adam even switched to singlehanded backhands!!! He came down early expecting to sign in for qualifiers only for some late drop outs to make main draw. He knew all the players and was giving insights into them and tour life. A couple of things that I wasn't aware of was that the entry fees had gone up this year and the lack of tournaments in the South East where the majority of players are based.

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Jathan is indeed a nice lad, albeit a bit of a hot head on court. He was very lucky not to default a match at Nottingham last year for seriously abusing an umpire, who in all fairness was absolute pathetic at his job. I really hope he can press on this year because he has a nice game, a very good fighting spirit and lost a lot of close matches to some pretty good players last year.

Thanks for the reports - very interesting!

Thanks to you too Johnnylad - again so good to read about the 'other' lot.

Just curious, '2 forehand Rosenweig' ??? Does he really play right and left-handed forehands all the time ?

Anyway, thanks again.

RJA wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Thanks to you too Johnnylad - again so good to read about the 'other' lot.

Just curious, '2 forehand Rosenweig' ??? Does he really play right and left-handed forehands all the time ?

Anyway, thanks again.

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Yes he does. He repeatedly changes hands during rallies so that he only ever hits a forehand. He also varies on serve, right handed to the duece court and left handed to the ad court.

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Where in God's green land did he learn that ???

 

No wonder he's had to leave France - was probably forcibly deported by the tennis police . .

Thin doubles draw this week - only one first round match & seven byes! - & a Board favourite is getting a bit more match practice!

R1:  Sam Hutt & Harry Meehan CR 2130 vs Karol Drzewiecki & Robert Godlewski (POL/POL) UNR

*****

QF:  (1) David Rice & Sean Thornley CR 412 (207+205) vs Hutt & Meehan or Drzewiecki & Godlewski
QF:  (3) Luke Bambridge & Ross Hutchins CR 1058  (488+570) vs George Morgan & Neil Pauffley CR 1650 (691+570)
QF:  Piotr Lomacki & Giorgio Portaluri (POL/ITA) UNR vs (4) Liam Broady & Toby Martin CR 1134 (446+688)
QF:  Richard Bloomfield & Peter Torebko (GER) CR 2556 vs (2) Ed Corrie & Dan Smethurst CR 652 (370+285)

Bonkers, isn't it LOL - first Futures Ross has played for 7 years. Presumably he's just after some court time.