Week 32 - Spain F21 ($10,000+H) - Béjar (Hard)

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 32 - Spain F21 ($10,000+H) - Béjar (Hard)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I wonder who Kyle will be cheering for? I have a certain fondness for Frederico given that he has been partly responsible for the only British tennis slam of any sort glory moment since I have got interested in British tennis, RG boys doubles.

Bizarrely I exclude Andy's achievements, although they do give unrestrained joy as being achieved despite of, as opposed to, due to the conventional British tennis structure, very grateful to the Canadians for handing over Greig who now wants to coach too! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

EddietheEagle · County player

5-2 up first set. Not bad.

Watched him at Bournemouth. Lovely technique and a good competitor all round. Can't see what all the fuss is about and why there is some reluctance to get behind him.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Has now got the first set 6-3.

Agree that he has a very nice technique - as have some of the other Aussie players of a similar age - some good coaches back in Oz, I think.

indiana · Tennis legend

Clearly got ability, but has had quite a period of relatively pretty poor form as against his best.

Been better signs recently though and a win here should take him up to around WR 320 on Monday week and to GB no 9.

EddietheEagle · County player

You could sense his previous top 200 level is still there despite his huge ranking drop. I hope he keeps his game moving forward as from what I saw and on current form, he clearly is a worthy addition to the current GB group.

indiana · Tennis legend

I have never seen Brydan in action and only read stuff about him on this forum.

But generally what I did read was pretty specific as to the reasons why some folk have a reluctance to get behind him.

EddietheEagle · County player

Which is what exactly? People seem rather mealy-mouthed about him. Not the Greg Rusedski syndrome, is it?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Klein runs out the - again!

Final: (6) Brydan Klein WR 367 defeated (7) Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) WR 391 by 3 & 3

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
I have never seen Brydan in action and only read stuff about him on this forum.

But generally what I did read was pretty specific as to the reasons why some folk have a reluctance to get behind him.

Just my take:

Brydan's racist offence is on public record and obviously pretty odious and it's equally obvious and understandable that many won't support him because of it.

But it was 5 years ago now, he was young, and he's paid the fine and served the ban and one can't keep bashing him over the head with it ad infinitum. I've also heard that he's been unpleasant at some other matches but (a) for me, that's hearsay, (b) there's a whole heap of difference between being a bit disrespectful and actually commiting an aggravated racial abuse and (c) the only match I've seen him play, i.e. NOT hearsay, (this year at Wimbly Qs), it was a tight match, Klein lost BUT he behaved 100% fine.

The other reason for lack of support is that he has no natural affinity to the UK, and only changed because he'd blown his bridges with the Oz federation. There's got to be some (a lot?all?) truth to this. But this is one of those things where time will tell. i.e. from what people have said, he's getting no LTA support as such (apart from the bonus top-up?). And so he has to let his tennis do the talking and show, over time, that he's changed and is commited to his tennis and wishes to stay representing the UK.

And, while tapping this, he won. So, well done to him smile

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Sunday 10th of August 2014 12:00:39 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Good win, indeed good tournament, for Brydan.

As to the other stuff, Eddie, I will leave it to others with more knowledge / experience of Brydan to comment if they wish.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And special congrats, of course, because he's done the double - champion in singles and doubles :)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Interestingly I had no knowledge of this and my comments were purely based around Fredrico being kyles doubles partner in both his Junior slams, so follow him also. Shame the game wasn't closer, he does seem to be progressing more slowly than Kyle but today's final a step forward. Any idea how they become a doubles partnership as juniors?

EddietheEagle · County player

I doubt many on here think any the less of Muhammad Ali despite the many disgusting remarks and putdowns he made against some of the opponents, many made in broad public view and publicised worldwide. And how many of us saints have not been guilty of the same or similar behaviour at some point in our tennis careers or lives? Some coaches argue a touch of badness goes with the territory and have a specific term for it (e.g. cattiveria, in Italian)

Brydan Klein has a strong and very obvious connection to this country. His mother is English. Mine was too.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

The comment about him being racist is a bit harsh especially when you consider that in Australia certain sayings are more acceptable than they are in the UK. Having lived in over there myself
I can vouch for this, not that I would condone any more serious a comment that was racist. Liam and Oli who has been inappropriate on social media before have said similar on court and off. Young boys being frustrated on a tennis pitch having an outburst hardly makes them racist or whatever especially when all things considered.

We should get behind him he's just as talented as any other Brit bar Andy of course.