Week 46 - Challenger ($50,000) - Yokohama, Japan (Hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Week 46 - Challenger ($50,000) - Yokohama, Japan (Hard)

TMH · Futures qualifying

Sounds like an absolute grind - from Bob's comments, it seems the majority of games went to deuce, and Kyle failed to consolidate his first five breaks in a row - but great to see he edged it out.

Soeda is one of the most inconsistent tennis players known to man. I remember watching him come from 0-5, 15-40 down to David Rice only to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Another player that Kyle is certainly very capable of beating.

Great to see him right back on Liam's tail after seemingly falling by the wayside a bit recently. C'mon Kyle.

Spectator · All-time great

Glad that Mr Edmund won.

Indiana, I follow your concerns, but I was feeling rather like Jaffa about this thread. I really enjoy reading the critiques that help me better to understand why a player might want to work on an aspect of their game, for example, or (and I'm thinking about RJA's and BiS's match reports, among others) that give you a really good sense of a match, specific instances of player deportment that reveal character, etc. But I get a bit concerned about generalisations, especially if they seem harsh, and I'd be slow to suggest a player had a general issue about giving his all when the people closest to him have consistently said that he is a very hard worker.

-- Edited by Spectator on Friday 14th of November 2014 11:21:21 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

I'll concede that there is certainly subjectivity as well as objectivity.

And I am prepared to say if I think someone has gone too far and / or is factually wrong. My boundaries though clearly stretch further than some and haven't been crossed here. And within reason speculation comes into it.

But one of the beauties of this forum is such a range of opinions and standpoints.

Jaffa · Challenger level

That's fine indiana and I also see where you're coming from.

I'm just a naturally positive person, Kyle coming through a match of this nature will do him a world of good - if he can do this when not playing anywhere near his best at least he is learning how to grind out big results. We can't perform at our best all the time but it's all about the results at the end of the day

paulisi · Tennis legend

Anyone outside the top 150 will generally have a rollercoaster season, that's why they are outside the top 150 - they lack the consistency to pick up regular points.

Kyle has the talent, as do quite a few others, he just needs to be more consistent and rewards will come.

-- Edited by paulisi on Friday 14th of November 2014 12:37:35 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

To a large extent, yes, many players outside the top 150 can play top 150 level tennis, even top 100 level tennis. The old James was a prime example of this, being held back by his inconsistency.

But you do get some players that play pretty consistently at various lower levels and quite a few pretty inconsistent top 100 players that I can think of.

The real trick is being very good consistently :)

indiana · Tennis legend

And younger players like Kyle are in general naturally more inconsistent. Nothing wrong though in mentioning that in context.

RJA · Hall of fame

Regardless of the performance it is at least good to see Kyle grinding out some wins at the end of what has been a very poor season. His game has clearly regressed in many areas but I think that is largely down to the catastrophic mismanagement of his season, something which a few of us have been harping on about since pretty early in the year. I don't know whose advice Kyle has been listening to this year but I really hope that the decision to part ways with Rusedski means that those who advised such an obviously poor course of action are also out of the picture.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Anyone outside the top 150 will generally have a rollercoaster season, that's why they are outside the top 150 - they lack the consistency to pick up regular points.

Kyle has the talent, as do quite a few others, he just needs to be more consistent and rewards will come.

-- Edited by paulisi on Friday 14th of November 2014 12:37:35 PM

I tend to agree with Indy. Many players outside the top 150 are wonderfully consistent - just consistent at WR 250 or WR 500 or whatever. GB has lots of players who very consistently pick up the same number of points all the time - unfortunately just not a very high number of points (Toby Martin is a case in point). There've been some dead solid French players too in the 150-350 range who just keep racking up the same sort of wins, week in week out.

However, obviously there are also the more mercurial ones, and the younger players often fall into this category. Kyle definitely has shown excellent potential. But I don;t think one can say 'now all he has to do is play more consistently' because this is like saying 'now all he has to do is get a bigger serve' or whatever. Consistency is a skill in itself, maybe linked to fitness, experience, mental toughness . . .But he certainly has all the tools to move forward. From a fan's point of view (and maybe even from his own) it's just a shame when he's out there all alone - nowhere to hide - so here's to Liam carrying on his excellent run, and anyone else who'd care to join them - the 'Welcome' mat is out !

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
Regardless of the performance it is at least good to see Kyle grinding out some wins at the end of what has been a very poor season. His game has clearly regressed in many areas but I think that is largely down to the catastrophic mismanagement of his season, something which a few of us have been harping on about since pretty early in the year. I don't know whose advice Kyle has been listening to this year but I really hope that the decision to part ways with Rusedski means that those who advised such an obviously poor course of action are also out of the picture.

I have to say that "a very poor season" is an incredibly harsh statement. Kyle has risen approx 170 places from 370 to 200 in the rankings this year and will end on a CH. Perhaps this statement is more a reflection on the incredibly high expectation most people have for Kyle because that sort of ranking rise would be celebrated when talking about most players at 19 years old.

The management and coaching situation is more of an issue. Kyle is going to have to make a big decision in the close season. Who will he appoint as coach ? Is James Trottman making a case for himself. He could clearly be heard shouting encouragement throughout last nights match (at least I assume that is who I could hear) but is he the long term solution ?

There were definitely "discussion points" with regard to his scheduling in the first 6 months of the year, but in the 2nd half of the year, he has done exactly what most people were calling for, which was to play regular challenger tournaments.

It has been said many times that the route to the top is never a straight line. Kyle has had his ups and downs this year and I certainly feel that off court issues - coaching in particular - have played their part, but overall I would say this has been a solid if unspectacular year for Kyle.

TMH · Futures qualifying

RJA wrote:
Regardless of the performance it is at least good to see Kyle grinding out some wins at the end of what has been a very poor season.

Somewhat of an exaggeration, in my personal opinion.

RJA · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
RJA wrote:
Regardless of the performance it is at least good to see Kyle grinding out some wins at the end of what has been a very poor season. His game has clearly regressed in many areas but I think that is largely down to the catastrophic mismanagement of his season, something which a few of us have been harping on about since pretty early in the year. I don't know whose advice Kyle has been listening to this year but I really hope that the decision to part ways with Rusedski means that those who advised such an obviously poor course of action are also out of the picture.
I have to say that "a very poor season" is an incredibly harsh statement. Kyle has risen approx 170 places from 370 to 200 in the rankings this year and will end on a CH. Perhaps this statement is more a reflection on the incredibly high expectation most people have for Kyle because that sort of ranking rise would be celebrated when talking about most players at 19 years old.

The ranking rise, or indeed fall, of a young player is less important in my view that the progression of their game. I'm still optimistic that Kyle will have a very good career but his game is no better than it was 12 months ago and in many areas it is worse. For me that makes it a very poor season regardless of ranking progression.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Looks like another solid effort from Kyle.

Regarding Kyle's season is depends what your expectations were.
If I was marking it out of ten I'd give it a 6, which for me is satisfactory/solid. His best tennis has been better than last year, take his run during the summer, but he's also had setbacks inc. coaching changes. However he is ending the season on a high. The physicality of the men's tour is something you've got to adapt to, and it will take Kyle a bit longer than maybe your average young player. However he has so much potential, that it is only a matter of time before he is top 100, but it may take another 18-24 months.

Sim · County player

Interestingly Kyle has exceeded the average ranking prediction from those who entered the prediction competition so he can't have had too poor a season!

Currently estimated at 203 (unless he wins again!)

	Picks	Average	High	Low
Kyle Edmund	22	220	130	320