Oli Golding

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

RE: Oli Golding

KK · Club Coach

I wonder if he has found the last couple of years difficult because he has been brought up to believe he is brilliant. I can't forget the excruciatingly embarrassing websites blowing his trumpet, telling us how brilliant and talented he was - both the acting and the tennis one. A highly successful junior career, with win after win, is likely to give young males in particular a huge ego, making some of them insufferably arrogant. They need a home life which keeps their egos under control. (Not saying Oli didn't have this, just that the websites presumably set up by his parents suggest otherwise.) The more wonderful you believe you, are the greater the reality check when transferring to the senior tour with its inevitable run of losses. I also recall the rather unpleasant and arrogant tweet re Fitzy when Oli beat him in the final of what I think was Oli's first 10K win in 2012. (Fitzy, who had won the last 10K event, having shown a picture of an enormous blister, which obviously had impeded him.)

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

KK wrote:
I also recall the rather unpleasant and arrogant tweet re Fitzy when Oli beat him in the final of what I think was Oli's first 10K win in 2012. (Fitzy, who had won the last 10K event, having shown a picture of an enormous blister, which obviously had impeded him.)

Actually I felt Fitzy was just as much in the wrong then, putting up a tweet saying only an injury had stopped him from winning and Oli called him out on being disrespectful towards him, don't see what's hugely unpleasant about that...

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Some good points, KK.

Also, one of the GB problems of being a big fish in a little pond. Or an 'OK-sized' fish, in fact.

I would again point back to Spain, say, and how a junior could never, ever, be allowed to think they were anything great (or not great in any meaningful way) as, not only are there a heap of others, all not far off the same level, but by playing a lot of adult tennis, both individually and team, you get your come-uppance on a very regular basis, often made to look quite ridiculous by a wily 35 year-old, which you then have to suck up and get on with. It's a great reality check.

I hope he does well. I truly hope he comes back soon and with a renewed appetite for the journey. GB tennis needs him.

I also think it is very likely that, if KK's comments are apt, there is, in fact, more chance he will come back. With (I believe) practically zero academic qualifications, his options will be limited and he may well soon realise that, although tennis is tough, earning a good living/being in the spotlight any other way is far from easy either. And his chances in tennis are actually quite reasonable.

KK · Club Coach

The Knight wrote:
KK wrote:
I also recall the rather unpleasant and arrogant tweet re Fitzy when Oli beat him in the final of what I think was Oli's first 10K win in 2012. (Fitzy, who had won the last 10K event, having shown a picture of an enormous blister, which obviously had impeded him.)

Actually I felt Fitzy was just as much in the wrong then, putting up a tweet saying only an injury had stopped him from winning and Oli called him out on being disrespectful towards him, don't see what's hugely unpleasant about that...

Perhaps I was too much of a fan of Fitzy's at the time to see it.

RJA · Hall of fame

KK wrote:
I wonder if he has found the last couple of years difficult because he has been brought up to believe he is brilliant. I can't forget the excruciatingly embarrassing websites blowing his trumpet, telling us how brilliant and talented he was - both the acting and the tennis one. A highly successful junior career, with win after win, is likely to give young males in particular a huge ego, making some of them insufferably arrogant. They need a home life which keeps their egos under control. (Not saying Oli didn't have this, just that the websites presumably set up by his parents suggest otherwise.) The more wonderful you believe you, are the greater the reality check when transferring to the senior tour with its inevitable run of losses. I also recall the rather unpleasant and arrogant tweet re Fitzy when Oli beat him in the final of what I think was Oli's first 10K win in 2012. (Fitzy, who had won the last 10K event, having shown a picture of an enormous blister, which obviously had impeded him.)

I think there is certainly an element of truth to this. Oli has always had a bit of an ego although I certainly wouldn't describe him as "insufferably arrogant". I always get the impression that he is nice guy who is bright and personable but a little immature, a bit naive and perhaps a little spoiled. I don't think for a minute that he hasn't worked hard or that he lacks the desire to maximise his potential but there is distinct lack of professionalism about him. He of course must take ultimate responsibility for that but I don't think he has been helped by those around him who have clearly indulged his flaws for far too long.

Hopefully this break will allow him to clear his mind and come back focused on what he needs to do if he is to have a good career as professional tennis player.

korriban · Challenger level

RJA wrote:
KK wrote:
I wonder if he has found the last couple of years difficult because he has been brought up to believe he is brilliant. I can't forget the excruciatingly embarrassing websites blowing his trumpet, telling us how brilliant and talented he was - both the acting and the tennis one. A highly successful junior career, with win after win, is likely to give young males in particular a huge ego, making some of them insufferably arrogant. They need a home life which keeps their egos under control. (Not saying Oli didn't have this, just that the websites presumably set up by his parents suggest otherwise.) The more wonderful you believe you, are the greater the reality check when transferring to the senior tour with its inevitable run of losses. I also recall the rather unpleasant and arrogant tweet re Fitzy when Oli beat him in the final of what I think was Oli's first 10K win in 2012. (Fitzy, who had won the last 10K event, having shown a picture of an enormous blister, which obviously had impeded him.)
I think there is certainly an element of truth to this. Oli has always had a bit of an ego although I certainly wouldn't describe him as "insufferably arrogant". I always get the impression that he is nice guy who is bright and personable but a little immature, a bit naive and perhaps a little spoiled. I don't think for a minute that he hasn't worked hard or that he lacks the desire to maximise his potential but there is distinct lack of professionalism about him. He of course must take ultimate responsibility for that but I don't think he has been helped by those around him who have clearly indulged his flaws for far too long.
Hopefully this break will allow him to clear his mind and come back focused on what he needs to do if he is to have a good career as professional tennis player.

Perfectly judged comments IMO.

Ratty · County player

Lordy, talk about making mountains out of molehills.

Thespian type gets the blues, and makes like a drama queen. News .... NOT!!!

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

KK wrote:
I wonder if he has found the last couple of years difficult because he has been brought up to believe he is brilliant. I can't forget the excruciatingly embarrassing websites blowing his trumpet, telling us how brilliant and talented he was - both the acting and the tennis one. A highly successful junior career, with win after win, is likely to give young males in particular a huge ego, making some of them insufferably arrogant. They need a home life which keeps their egos under control. (Not saying Oli didn't have this, just that the websites presumably set up by his parents suggest otherwise.) The more wonderful you believe you, are the greater the reality check when transferring to the senior tour with its inevitable run of losses.

I think the websites were designed to impress theatrical agents and tennis sponsors rather than necessarily reflecting Oli's image of himself. My understanding is that Oli's mum needed all the help she could get to fund the tennis.

korriban · Challenger level

Ratty wrote:
Lordy, talk about making mountains out of molehills.

Thespian type gets the blues, and makes like a drama queen. News .... NOT!!!

On a discussion forum about GB tennis, the fact that a 20 year old top 10 GB player who is a former junior Grand Slam winner is taking a break from the game is........well.........news! It's not quite at Gaza, Ukraine or Ebola levels of newsworthiness, but then this isn't Newsnight!

indiana · Tennis legend

Indeed.

RJA · Hall of fame

Ratty wrote:
Lordy, talk about making mountains out of molehills.

Thespian type gets the blues, and makes like a drama queen. News .... NOT!!!

While your cynicism is often justified I sometimes wonder why you bother to post on a forum dedicated to following British tennis. You don't seem to derive any enjoyment from watching the sport or take any pleasure in the success of British players.

Ratty · County player

Fair point. Let's have another go:

Young chap has been finding it difficult to step up from Futures to Challengers. Exacerbated by gruelling recent travel schedule. Wonders whether it's all worth it. Will probably decide to carry on.

smile

indiana · Tennis legend

The "young chap" is Oli Golding - see Korriban's post as to why this is very naturally of interest and a discussion matter on a GB TENNIS FORUM !!!!

Spectator · All-time great

But let's give credit where credit is due ... the second attempt is a distinct improvement on the first!

Ratty, your point is taken. And I do sometimes wonder what the players must think of our willingness to spend time writing about their decisions! But I'd hope that they'd understand that a thread like this is actually a way of showing encouragement - people noting Mr Golding's talent and wishing him well at a time of frustration. And in terms of "news," well, probably like many others on this board, I spend quite a lot of my working life looking at pretty grim and newsworthy situations. Following tennis is a bit of a break, and joining a group of people who wish the players well makes it much more fun.