Week 3 - Australian Open (men's)

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RE: Week 3 - Australian Open (men's)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

So that's Liam up to British number three ?

He was number 16 this time last year smile

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 20th of January 2015 10:47:39 AM

RJA · Hall of fame

EddietheEagle wrote:
A set and a solid tie break against Verdasco is indicative, among all the other signs, that Ward can put himself in the top-100 and stay there.

Without wishing to pour cold water on the achievement I wouldn't read too much into winning a set. Verdasco was simply woeful for the first 4 games, making unforced error after unforced error. Verdasco is now such an erratic player that he rarely wins best of 3 matches in straight sets let alone best of 5 in straight sets.

Yes you can make a case that this match could have gone the other way if a few key points had turned out differently but I don't think that would have been reflectively of the match. While James did play well at times the same old mental frailties were still there. The second set was simply abysmal, after missing out on break points in the first game (didn't have any real opportunities) he simply collapsed. He was up a break in the third and was twice a mini break up in the tie break yet managed to lose it even after having a huge slice of luck of the *5-5 point. In the fourth set he handed Verdasco a break in the first game and then played a poor game at and so failed to make Verdasco serve it out.

Now I don't wish to be negative, there were positives to take from last night, James' movement was especially good. However I don't think we should delude ourselves into thinking that James was a couple of points away from a huge breakthrough win.

RJA · Hall of fame

Coup Droit wrote:
So that's Liam up to British number three ?
He was number 16 this time last year

Hopefully not, although I don't mean that in a bad way.

Kyle is currently down to play the Hong Kong challenger next week. A first round win there would be enough to keep him above Liam.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 20th of January 2015 09:07:03 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Madeline wrote:
Oakland2002 wrote:
Reform acne is also really really nasty. As is predictive texting!
Ok, my brain sorted out the "father" problem immediately, but "reform acne" still has me puzzled!

LOL. I'll go for "performance".

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Spot on

emma · Strong Club Player

tough matches for both James and Kyle, they did well. hopefully along with Liam will push each other higher up the rankings this year.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

There's quite an interesting article by Barry Flatman in the print edition of today's Times which, curiously, doesn't appear anywhere on the web site, so far as I can see. It's headed "Opponents insist British exits do no mean doom and gloom". Essentially, it offers a few crumbs of comfort to be drawn from the manner of Dino's & Kyle's defeats by their respective opponents (Verdasco: "I remember a match I played against Ward at Wimbledon and he missed so much that day. He's improved big time since then and the way he started the match really surprised me. He was playing great." Johnson: "I had to take him very seriously. I knew he was good because you don't qualify for a grand slam if you are a slouch. Even then he got to a lot more balls than I thought he would & there's a lot more to come from him.")

There are also some encouraging words from Leon Smith, who "is heartened that Ward and Edmund have been training in Miami with Murray and believes that the influence is having a positive effect". Andy is apparently "desperate to see other players succeed. So long as they are working hard and putting in the same commitment as him, he will do everything to help them". He goes on to talk about Dino's prospects of breaking into the top 100.

Spectator · All-time great

I think that the Leon Smith quotes may be similar to those in David Laws' podcast, which was also quite encouraging: t.co/NGnBLaQ2xs.

Ratty · County player

Stircrazy wrote:
There's quite an interesting article by Barry Flatman in the print edition of today's Times which, curiously, doesn't appear anywhere on the web site, so far as I can see. It's headed "Opponents insist British exits do no mean doom and gloom". Essentially, it offers a few crumbs of comfort to be drawn from the manner of Dino's & Kyle's defeats by their respective opponents (Verdasco: "I remember a match I played against Ward at Wimbledon and he missed so much that day. He's improved big time since then and the way he started the match really surprised me. He was playing great." Johnson: "I had to take him very seriously. I knew he was good because you don't qualify for a grand slam if you are a slouch. Even then he got to a lot more balls than I thought he would & there's a lot more to come from him.")

Er, how likely is it that a player is going to say his opponent is crap in a Press conference? (*) These bland platitudes mean jack sh*t.

(*) With the famous exception of Saint Roger and his pricelessly dismissive put-down of Alan Mackin: "I don't remember the last time I played such a low-ranked player and it wasn't that difficult today."

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Ratty wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
There's quite an interesting article by Barry Flatman in the print edition of today's Times which, curiously, doesn't appear anywhere on the web site, so far as I can see. It's headed "Opponents insist British exits do no mean doom and gloom". Essentially, it offers a few crumbs of comfort to be drawn from the manner of Dino's & Kyle's defeats by their respective opponents (Verdasco: "I remember a match I played against Ward at Wimbledon and he missed so much that day. He's improved big time since then and the way he started the match really surprised me. He was playing great." Johnson: "I had to take him very seriously. I knew he was good because you don't qualify for a grand slam if you are a slouch. Even then he got to a lot more balls than I thought he would & there's a lot more to come from him.")
Er, how likely is it that a player is going to say his opponent is crap in a Press conference? (*) These bland platitudes mean jack sh*t.
(*) With the famous exception of Saint Roger and his pricelessly dismissive put-down of Alan Mackin: "I don't remember the last time I played such a low-ranked player and it wasn't that difficult today."

How many times are you going to pull out that Roger quote, Ratty? I see the vendetta in your beady eyes.

Spectator · All-time great

Mr Verdasco's comments actually seem to me more than simply platitudes - indeed, there's quite a strong criticism of Mr Ward's previous play that gives the later comments the ring of truth. Mr Johnson's may be simply gracious, but that's not something we can judge.

Incidentally, Mr Mackin, a lovely and gracious player, as I recall him, who should not simply appear on this board with reference to the time when he - as so many over the years - was forced to play a Davis Cup match above his ranking, seems (via Google) to have made himself a good life as technical director of a provincial tennis programme in Canada - thus proving that the exports of high-level tennis officials don't all go one way!

EddietheEagle · County player

Just another kid with insufficient talent to match the ambition of a rich dad. The Scottish Stephen Warboys.

Spectator · All-time great

I suspect that most people would be quite happy to do as well in their chosen field as Mr Mackin did in his. I do think we tend to lose perspective of what it means to be top-250 in the world.

Leaving all that aside, on a happier note, Gilles Muller has gone through to the 3rd round. While he may not be a British player, his coach is (was). Well done, Mr Muller and Mr Delgado.

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

Hear Hear. Just imagine how rich he would be if he was 250th best lawyer or accountant in the world....But who wants to be a paper pusher or bean counter!