Ash and Toby lost their doubles too

After seeing the draw, I thought it would be a bit of a shocker if a Brit didn't reach the semis from the top quarter, yet there isn't even a Brit in the top quarter QF You'd think they didn't want to be there ... ahem

L16: Toby Martin WR 856 lost to Connor Smith (USA) WR 720 (CH 717 last month) by 4 & 2
L16: (5) Luke Bambridge WR 570 lost to (WC) Nathan Pasha (USA) UNR (21yo US college player) by 6-7(6) 6-2 6-2
L16: (2) Ashley Hewitt WR 452 beat Hans Hach (MEX) WR 1107 (CH 1097 in Apr) by 3 & 4

QF: (2) Ashley Hewitt WR 452 v Jason Tahir (USA) WR 842 (CH 796 last Jul)

indiana wrote:

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Very disappointing.

While one might argue that Liam and Luke should always try to be professional and give of their best, I just wonder how much they wanted to be that side of the Atlantic at all and whether that might have had any effect.

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Indeed. In spite of everything I do try and be fair to the LTA but I am increasingly of the opinion that those to whom the development of this country's better youngsters has been entrusted are a bunch of retarded morons who couldn't arrange a merry evening in a facility that produces alcoholic beverages. I fully understand, and in fact support, the idea that our elite youngsters should play more clay court tennis but they have the option to do this for at least 10 months of the year. There are 7 weeks of the year where they can potentially play grass court tennis on home soil and the opportunity should be embraced. Even if Liam or Luke had won this pitifully weak event Oli would still have had a week that that is far more encouraging.

It makes some sense for Ash to be there because he (a) has basically a clay court game, and (b) as far as I know, is not funded by the LTA and so it's far more important for him to chase 'easy' pay cheques and 'cheap' points, that will then pave the way for easier pay cheques going forward. His choices are more limited.

And Toby's case can be argued either way.

But Liam and Luke both have very good grass court games and are part of LTA's 'dream team' of youngsters - so what the fig are they doing over in the US, cheap points or not ? (and 'not' is obviosuly the answer from the first tournament). (And, anyway, what is the point of 'cheap' points in the long run? If someone gives you 100 points for Christmas, it doesn't make you a better player).

It's the exact opposite of the French approach. For the French, it;s a constant source of pain and heartache that, despite having the clay court Grand Slam, all their recent best players have tennis that is far better suited to hard courts (Tsonga, BArtoli, Mauresmo, Simon, even Gasquet etc). SO they are constantly building new clay courts and doing everything they can to get their players to train and play as much clay court tennis as they can. The thought of sending them abroad to play grass when Roland Garros is taking place is really funny.

Of course, they still haven't even got a finalist at Roland Garros and Andy won Wimbledon so what does that tell you? But I agree that, net net, Oli must be riding high (and even Katie/Katy/Freya, too, as well as Gabi of course) whilst Luke and Liam must be feeling that it;s been a pretty poor week. I don;t understand either . . .

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 20th of June 2014 07:32:40 AM

FFS.

While I very much respect players who decide for themselves that missing the grass court season one year might be a good thing for their longer-term development, trying to prevent players who actually want to play the grass court season seems crazy. I'm glad Oli got that excellent Wimbledon QR1 win, thus pretty much proving that he did the right thing.

Meantime, we have Kyle Edmund..

Seemingly pretty smooth well planned development and schedule last year with coach Colin Beecher.

Now moved on to coach Greg Rusedski ( presumably basically Kyle's decision, but it strikes me that there are maybe far too many voices in that young man's ear from the LTA, sponsors, etc. ). Anyway, he seems to have had a pig's ear of a schedule so far this year and now has a coach about whom, while enthusiasm is undoubted, there do seem to be many questions.