Oli Golding

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Oli Golding

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I got the Steven bit impressed with the tinned can of French vegetables but what was that about Oli Golding?

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

You are surely not accusing us of going off-topic?

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

It's not a lot of fun being a British player with potential but disallusioned with not be able to make a living from the sport .

I have accompanied players on the futures tour it's not a lot of fun

Jaffa · Challenger level

Why don't you look to sponsor Oli now Gary with him having his funding cut by the LTA?

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Accepted it is not an easy option but there are many tougher and indeed easier ways to earn a living, it is the individuals right to choose. We all have good days and bad days, some days are so bad you want to quit, however if you have a job you are good or in Olly's case very good at relative to the rest of the population, so good others are prepared to back him, maintaining that desire through the tough times is the key to realising ones own potential. The fiscal reality is that the stands are empty in Cincinnati yet you can make a decent living playing there, in real terms tennis is not a big sport and the fans don't flock to futures tournaments like they do to Leyton Orient V Chesterfield. I understand the frustration but Olly is at 20 still a top 100 player by the time he is 26 and then who knows the rewards beyond that are potentially phenomenal, I wish him every success but it won't come to him on a plate he really has to take it. While he sleeps others are practicing.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well said, Oakland.

Not talking specifically about Oli (as I don't know his personal situation) but funding is hardly a problem for someone who has been funded by the LTA right up till very recently (and still now, presumably, if he wants it).

In many ways, British players have more funding than most other countries (either directly or indirectly, via wildcards etc.).

James Ward is about WR 150 and has, according to the ATP website, earned about $170,000 from singles, in only the 8 months till now. (I know the Wimbledon WC helps but I always think that James shows some savvy tennis scheduling choices). And WR 150 is a perfectly reasonable goal for Oli in the next couple of years. The money is there for him.

But, as Oakland, says, it takes 100% commitment - there's a lot of people fighting for a few places.

gazzpash · Club Coach

wales1994 wrote:
He popped up on my tinder the other day.... Found it quite funny!

Is Oli gay? should of swiped right just to see if there's a match lol

On the topic I think a couple of weeks away night help him refocus and find his drive. I hope he comes back stronger

wolf · Tennis legend

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/usopen/11060041/US-Open-2014-Oliver-Golding-turns-his-back-on-tennis-as-development-hell-takes-toll-on-brightest-prospects.html

Sensationalist headline with no direct quotes, but does suggest Oli might be away for a little while at least.

Also a bit of info on Kyle's coaching situation.

indiana · Tennis legend

Strikes me that it was maybe rather more than a coach "suggestion" that Oli play a series of challengers rather than Wimbledon and other grass court tournaments for him to be dropped from the LTA performance program.

I know Oli has his obvious faults, but this dictat still strikes me as at the very least strange. A few weeks on grass including Wimbledon qualifying looked a nice focus, one he was suited to and where he could also pick up points ( the article talks about chasing challenger points as distinct to challenger experience, but may have that wrong ). I doubt though that the controversy at that time or since was remotely helpful.

Maybe more to it all than meets the eye re the dropping by the LTA, but pretty ridiculous if it's simply their way or bye bye, especially as this particular call could be viewed as pretty questionable.

It's all rather sad.

Priesty · Challenger level

I for one would be absolutely gutted to see Oli quit altogether. This situation should never have been allowed to happen, and surely now is the time for Downey or one or more of his deputies to try and sit round a table with him and at least try to talk things through and sort something out. Oli has shown more potential than any other British male youngster behind Kyle and we really can't afford to lose him.

sherbert · Lower Club Player

Sorry I've come to this conversation a little late - and I don't really know Oli that well, but I do know about LTA funding. It's great to have and does help out a lot - but it is only for flights and accommodation. If you aren't playing that well and making much money, it's difficult to even cover the cost of stringing and food, let alone any money to spend outside of tennis.

PaulM · Tennis legend

But, but, but the Spaniards drop all funding at 18 don't you know?!

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

I 100% agree Oli should still be funded and I do question how much the early injuries may have affected his decision to continue and seeing his former rivals continue to develop rapidly must make it hard for him.

I do think players should be more grateful for the funding though. I have no doubt that money will be tight for many, but at 20 years old a lot of guys in this country are living on student budgets and having to manage their money carefully as well just to make ends meet, Im afraid its a normal part of trying to build a career. Do I feel sorry for a player who doesnt have much money to spend outside of tennis if he isnt playing well? Not really, Im afraid, thats life and the tennis tours cannot afford for people to make comfortable careers when ranked outside the top 300, because these players are not generating much income, if any, from spectators.

I would love to see a breakdown of where the LTA spend their money, though. It seems crazy to me that these 'fringe hopefuls' (as the article calls them - seems that you have to be pretty good if Broady is now a fringe hopeful rather than a genuine prospect, not sure where we are hiding them all!) are no longer funded. What is the point of the LTA? What are they actually doing if we have no NTC, no funding for prospects and limited playing facilities?!

sherbert · Lower Club Player

I don't know how players continue if funding does stop at 18.

Please don't think that players aren't grateful for the funding - because they are. I know that I didn't realise at all how much everything costs until I became more involved in tennis. Like I said, I don't know Oli but I know other players who found the transition from being an LTA wonder kid...to a non funded tennis player very difficult. They have to go from completely concentrating on futures/challengers to having to play British tours to generate some money to continue playing.

To a lot of people that may seem ridiculous - but I've seen it first hand and it's hard to watch. All they've ever known is tennis and they have to learn how to do it differently.