Week 14 - Challenger (€42,500+H) - St Brieuc, France (Hard)

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

RE: Week 14 - Challenger (€42,500+H) - St Brieuc, France (Hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Been in Naples so missed much of what else is going on, but wanted to say congrats to Marcus and Lewis (and Gary) on a superb first foray into challenger doubles. Well done to the whole team.

spud · Challenger qualifying

Where do they travel to next Gary?

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

spud wrote:
Where do they travel to next Gary?

Boys Want to go to the USA but I want stay closer to home prior Wimbledon .

Aegon team obligations get in the way little until 8/6 . Then could travel but hoping to Do well in the Nottingham challengers .

Will meet this week & hoping to sort out a doubles coach which should now be a top priority .

I have requested LTA to give access to louis cayer & have asked for meeting with new CEO but so far it's falling on deaf ears which is a shame because I think we could progress more quickly . I am hoping to help develop a 2nd all GB pair that train together regularly .

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Sunday 6th of April 2014 11:21:39 PM

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Thanks bob ,

I am confident that we can progress into top 100 Doubles which will be job done

Its great when it becomes clear you have made a positive difference . Let's hope doing enough to get a doubles coach from

Lta and a Wimbledon WC from the all england club . It be nice for the boys to help us lift the Aegon men's team title because any prize money would go into funding But next year I think it would be a diversion from more important goals .

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

A1 tennis academy wrote:
spud wrote:
Where do they travel to next Gary?
Boys Want to go to the USA but I want stay closer to home prior Wimbledon .
Aegon team obligations get in the way little until 8/6 . Then could travel but hoping to Do well in the Nottingham challengers .
Will meet this week & hoping to sort out a doubles coach which should now be a top priority .
I have requested LTA to give access to louis cayer & have asked for meeting with new CEO but so far it's falling on deaf ears which is a shame because I think we could progress more quickly . I am hoping to help develop a 2nd all GB pair that train together regularly .

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Sunday 6th of April 2014 11:21:39 PM

Just to repeat agagin, A1 - the LTA are not prioritising doubles; they've cut funding for doubles. It's not where the need is, and not what the public care about or where the TV money is. The LTA have been upfront about this; as such you can't really blame them if they don't back your team. Either tell the two to keep up the singles quest - there's no reason why that shouldn't work. Or accept that they're down to you as a doubles team. Or that they'll have to be self-financing, like nearly all the other doubles teams. Your boys need experience, not necessarily a coach. They'll learn a lot simply by playing at that level.

paulisi · Tennis legend

2nd all GB team?

Colin and Ross
Neal & Ken
David and Sean

Marcus and Lewis are fourth on the list.

The boys should be prioritising singles and Gary your Aegeon team competition ambitions may be restricting their development.

They should be looking for 15K or low challengers now until the grass season. Play the grass season and then move up to challengers on a regular basis.

I'm not sure there is any benefit playing the UK clay court tournaments other than costs.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Currently similar standard to Sean & Dave ( beat then recently )

And rapidly climbing .

You have missed Daniel smethurst & ed Corrie who leapfrogged Sean /Dave Marcus /Lewis last week after gained challenger title .

I think at the moment for Davis cup colin & Marcus be good match up .

Dan Evans is also a very good doubles player

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

About 6 out of 8 top earners in GB pro tennis are doubles specialists

It depends how much the Lta put into the kudos of Win Davis cup where the doubles rubber is often critical .

If leon & lta could some how Encourage best GB doubles players to pair together then we could strength in the doubles tie .

Dan Evans pairing regularly with colin Fleming could work for the GB team .

We found out with Dom even when world no20-30 what happens when you put a scratch pair out !

The standard of doubles in GB probably highest in europe at all levels .

Personally find it more entertaining & my goal is to produce world class all GB doubles pairs that win tourmaments up to GS level & compete at davis cup

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Aegon team tennis is about :

1) raising the bar of men's team tennis in GB

And the response is that To challenge the strength of clubs like Bromley , Sutton & A1 pharmaceuticals ltc clubs strengthening there teams Dan Evans is playing for a team in the midlands supporting his friend Maniel bains and queens have nonimated the Bryan bros and Dom Inglot

A1 squad has highest average world singles ranking of any team in the tournament and other wealthy clubs are responding by nominating strong teams each year and it's free to watch some great Davis cup format team tennis

2) putting something back into aegon team tennis it's not restricting Marcus & Lewis it's playing for the team sponsor that secured their funding for futures /challengers .

3) first year after huge up front expense that now in national tier can get any prize money up to £10,000 that goes back into 2015 pro funding pot

4) supporting the Lta and Matt byfords hard work & growing tournament

5) Aegon is a great sponsor and so is A1 Pharmaceuticals plc if they are seen to be recognised and supported more business sponsors will hopefully emerge ..

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Monday 7th of April 2014 06:22:53 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

A1 tennis academy wrote:
About 6 out of 8 top earners in GB pro tennis are doubles specialists
It depends how much the Lta put into the kudos of Win Davis cup where the doubles rubber is often critical .
If leon & lta could some how Encourage best GB doubles players to pair together then we could strength in the doubles tie .
Dan Evans pairing regularly with colin Fleming could work for the GB team .
We found out with Dom even when world no20-30 what happens when you put a scratch pair out !
The standard of doubles in GB probably highest in europe at all levels .
Personally find it more entertaining & my goal is to produce world class all GB doubles pairs that win tourmaments up to GS level & compete at davis cup

The fact they are top earners means the LTA doesn't need to fund them

Hence, the emphasis on singles.

The doubles rubber is only one match in 5 in the Dais cup and, as shown all too clearly yesterday, a lack of doubles is not the current problem for Britain. The overwhelming probelm is the lack of a second top-50/top-70 singles player.

The Davis Cup ranks MILES below Wimbledon in terms of kudos, public appreciation and, critically, funding generation. Hence, the LTA quite rightly rank singles success in Wimbledon (and elsewhere) as far more important.

Your aims for the lads and doubles are laudable but don't blame the LTA for not backing them when the LTA's priorities are very clearly elsewhere.

indiana · Tennis legend

"I think at the moment in Davis Cup, Colin and Marcus be good match up" ????!!!!!

C'mon, Gary, let's have some realism here. And you were the one that was putting so much ( over ! ) emphasis on rankings in selections, so quite how that works with Marcus pitchforking in over so many higher ( many much higher ) ranked and more experienced GB doubles players defeats me.

As for much of your posts recently, we have a hotchpotch of often conflicting thoughts.

You constantly complain about lack of support for Marcus and Lewis, but go on about how relatively successful doubles is in this country and how many of GB top earners are doubles players. There you identify some reasons why there has rightly become increasing moves by the LTA to support singles relative to doubles. And strangely it is far from clear to most folk just how yet Marcus and Lewis stand out for any particular special treatment.

They are progressing well ( though Lewis was similarly ranked as a doubles player two years ago, at which time he was much higher ranked in singles ). Marcus, now with a proven regular partner, has advanced very well in the doubles rankings, logically coming into line with Lewis's ranking. But really, so so much more to prove.

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

I am explaining my reasons for focus on doubles , I believe that the standard of doubles in GB is the highest In the world & improving - its also about team work and British are good team players

1) juniors are exposed To doubles in GB at an earlier age

2) Marcus combined climb in singles and doubles last year was miraculous

I will prove doubters wrong and Marcus & lewis WILL BE A TOP 50 doubles

Players and within 5 years the highest ranked all GB doubles pair .

Already proved it ! . I believe that Marcus will become GB no1 doubles because he is more talented than colin Fleming

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

People often find it difficult to comprehend genius For me thats never been difficult I guess when your a genius it's easier to recognise it in others .

I am the special one in GB tennis its just that you have not realised it yet !

Judge me by my results !!

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Monday 7th of April 2014 10:49:22 PM

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Monday 7th of April 2014 10:50:57 PM

steven · Tennis legend

Has someone been on the 'pharmaceuticals' this evening? confuse

(sorry, couldn't resist)