Obviously a little disappointed for Kyle, but definitely needs to be put in perspective ie he is 19 and it is where he is out when the same age as Brydan, Dan Smethurst and Evo that is more significant. I still think there is a good chance that he will be an ATP regular by then striving to make the next step. If being top 200 as a teenager was an objective it could have been achieved by playing and winning less competitive tournaments and a different early season schedule.

Realistically he is sitting not too far away from where he was last year at futures level ie done well in some but not really dominating but after a very constructive close season moved up a notch to clean up in the early 2014 US tournaments. A year on he has been competitive on the challenger tour but struggled against mature players at their peak.

Although a good size he is probably still growing and doesn't have the advantage of the really tall young players who have pushed on this year with whom it is tempting to compare. The service box indeed the whole court is just bigger for these guys and therefore increased gain in strength does have to necessarily have to have the corresponding incremental technical improvement to unleash it effectively.

Assuming he stays fit an exciting 2015 awaits, I would be more than happy to see him go deep in challengers , and qualifying for slams and ATP events this time next year.

Somebody give him Beechy's number - as if he hasn't already got it.

Of course I can only go on impressions, but I never felt Rusedski was a good "fit" for Kyle, their personalities seem too different. The main reason may have been lack of time given by Greg, but I can't help but suspect there are other reasons. I hope he can find somebody that can really help him.

Great writing typical of Dale Maile, I interpret it as it's all the LTAs fault that OG has given up and that George Coupland plays doubles. Sheer fluke that Liam has matured and got his head round what he needs to do to be a success absolutely nothing to do with the LTAs advice and support.

Personally I don't see 2014 as a disastrous year for men's tennis precisely the reverse, indeed there was bet hedging at the end of this pious piece re Kyles long term prospects which given his progress this year remain good. All that said the actual news that Kyle has split from Greg with a view to getting more regular and consistent input is probably good news for him, I just hope he gets it.

EddietheEagle wrote:

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The upshot to Edmund's defeat is another megabucks, superstar, part time coach bites the dust.

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2811533/Kyle-Edmund-ditches-coach-Greg-Rusedski-five-consecutive-round-defeats.html

Lessons to be learned, no doubt. Lessons to be learned.

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Best news of the day.

However, I don't see why Trotman is kept on (large questions, in my view, about him too) and yet Colin Beecher isn't on the phone list . . .

I have long been critical on this forum about Greg and will be curious to see how one can justify his salary by running a few junior training camps.

I would agree that 2014 most certainly has not been a disastrous year for British men's tennis and it is not something that I have seen anyone on this forum suggest.

But neither has it been precisely the reverse - we've had a conversation about this quite recently. You have to discount far too many things to come to that point of view.

Looking at all the ranking moves, the depths at various levels and the particular players that have gone up and down or left the scene, I still would maintain it has been a pretty mixed year with to my mind on balance the positives outweighing the negatives. The good and the bad has been reflected through the year in many conversations with almost all the more critical comments aired while still wanting the best for British tennis. We discuss and don't just cheerlead and I like that.

I respect those that prefer not to be critical or relatively much less critical than others. Just don't try and sell something as something it isn't, because then I am tempted to respond.

And there have no doubt been various positives and negatives from the LTA, a big negative has been how the NTC has developed or not developed as wished for and a further negative appears to have been the apparent foisting of Greg onto Kyle, which hasn't worked out.

My view on Greg as Kyle's coach was admittedly skewed because I like Greg. However, Kyle is probably at a stage where he wants, or even needs, more regular coaching and more dedication. Here's hoping this works out well. As for Greg's coaching, I really couldn't comment as I have no idea what effect it had and what form it took.