Ryan Storrie

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Ryan Storrie

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Thanks for the article, CD.

It's always hard to know what to take from articles like these, especially concerning juniors. There were some promising words and hopefully we shall see him at Wimbledon 2015. He certainly seems to have the work ethic, something I very much admire.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Like you, Beefy, I'm a more than a little sceptical of any 'promising youngster, will win Wimbledon' article.

But we thrash the same names round and round so it's always nice throw a new one into the ring, and to think that maybe there are some 'unknowns' out there . . .

And, see Junior tennis thread, let's hear it for young Ryan who, unranked, has just beaten the ITF WR 125 in the G1 event in the USA this week !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Just a little background about young Ryan Storrie who won the G5 ITF junior event last week and made the final of the G4 this week, having never played in any of these events a couple of months ago.

As he hasn't got a green card, he's not allowed to play a good section of US domestic events.

And very tight family finances have meant that he's not been in a position to travel and play ITF junior events (or adults).

But the standard of tennis is very high in California and so he's spent the last few years, working very hard, with coaches who believe in him, and playing certain local tournaments, mainly adult and under 18.

However, his dream is to make Junior Wimbledon next year. And so he knows that he has to get a ranking and crank it up (he 'obviously' gets no LTA help - 'obviously' in inverted commas because it's not obvious to me - junior tennis should be about talent detection, not about just following the ITF junior rankings which any monkey could do).

So, he's now set out, with a goal in mind, and the ultimate aim to be a pro.

Wish him all the luck in the world - it ain't easy but, who knows, fingers crossed that next June Ryan Storrie will be one of the feelgood 'stories' of the 2015 Junior Wimbledon :)

EddietheEagle · County player

Let's hope the LTA don't start on 'improving' his forehand.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Not 'new' news but just to say that it's good that Martin Weston follows and publicly tweets about the success of non-LTA chosen youngsters, as well as the pack of kids he's working with:

Martin Weston @martindweston · Sep 28

Big congrats to Ryan Storrie on winning the ITF G5 in Waco, Texas. Ryan & his family live in California & he's coached by Brian Teacher.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

As far as I am aware Martin has not (nor any other LTA coach for that matter) previously tweeted congratulations to or comments about players other than those he has worked or directly travelled with. This is a welcome development if it suggest that LTA coaching staff are becoming less blinkered and realising there are other players than those they picked out young.

I have attended quite a few junior events in this country and abroad where LTA staff have been present. They have watched 'their' players (fair enough) but then not paid even the slightest attention to any other British junior, regardless of the standard of tennis they were producing. In fact, I have had foreign competitors and coaches/families asking why this is, as to them it seems inexplicable. All part of the LTA culture of only focussing on the 'chosen ones'. If Downey can get this to change it will be a major and welcome cultural shift in the organisation.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

yes, I was surprised too.

I didn't want to say he 'never' does that because I don't follow Weston's tweets that much.

But I was certainly surprised . .. (in a pleasant way). In fact, I even wondered whether Storrie had finally shown up on their radar and it was a sign of something . . .

(NB I used to work with a French guy who was just the same as the LTA ones you mention - never took a blind bit of notice of the other kids who were not part of his select few. Barely even said hello to them. I went out of my way to go and talk to their parents and watch bits of their matches - and cheer very loudly !!! It's a bizarre approach not to . . . and not just an LTA one . .. .)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Nice photo on zoo tennis of Ryan, as part of his win this week:

3.bp.blogspot.com/-D9AXVRSCyhY/VGf8SZ36siI/AAAAAAAAazk/xZWGZB0UJNI/s1600/Storrie8-14.jpg

"The boys title went to No. 9 seed Ryan Storrie, a 16-year-old from Great Britain, who defeated unseeded 15-year-old Kyrylo Tsygura 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Tsygura had stopped the winning streak of top seed Sam Riffice in the semifinals, beating the winner of the past two ITF Grade 4s in the US 6-7(9), 6-4, 7-5. The title was Storrie's second, both this fall. He also made the final in Wichita Falls, losing to Riffice."

indiana · Tennis legend

I realise that there's not a huge deal to back this up yet, but I have a strange feeling that we'll be hearing an awful lot more in the coming years about Ryan Storrie.

Right, that's him jinxed !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
I realise that there's not a huge deal to back this up yet, but I have a strange feeling that we'll be hearing an awful lot more in the coming years about Ryan Storrie.

Right, that's him jinxed !

Yes, I agree smile

I don't know whether there's a slight fairy-tale aspect about it (unranked kid nobody had hear of or mentioned who came from nowhere) . ..

or whether it's because we've got a Corrie, and a Norrie, so we need a Storrie to make up the threesome smile

But also I think we'll be hearing Ryan's name a lot soon.

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

I don't know a lot about junior tennis and I saw somebody comment that Ryan should really be winning G5s. I'm not sure about G4s and how big a step up they are but it's still a pretty good sign that this guy has been in half a dozen or so tournaments and won a few, plus making a final, both confidence-wise and the idea of 'getting over the line' which many players struggle with.

paulisi · Tennis legend

G5 are generally start up tournaments for 14-15yr olds and the lesser older players. The levels improve the better the grade.

Ryan got through qualifying and won at grade 1 level, so it was obvious he had some calibre to his game, thus was expected to perform well at grade 5.

Unfortunately you have to start at the bottom and work up unless you get wildcards and he did.

Ryan has now climbed up to 300 in the world rankings and should get into higher grade tournaments now.(that is with 3 non scorers in the doubles)

-- Edited by paulisi on Monday 17th of November 2014 04:32:05 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

The main issue for Ryan, though, is funding.

Finances are very tight which is why he, in agreement with his family and coach, never played any tournaments as such but just trained and played local tournaments and club tennis, on the basis that the local standard where he is is very high (California somewhere). Which is why no one over here had heard of him.

Now that he has set his sights high (Wimbledon juniors) he's obviously got to get his ranking up. But, again, without being able to travel much, there's a big pressure to make every tournament count. Which can't be easy. But may be perfect motivation.

As always, one wishes him all the luck in the world.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Very interesting story. Sounds like a bright talent. Will be following Mr Storrie a bit more closely from now on. Would be great to see him make Wimbledon juniors.