Week 3 - Great Britain F1 ($10,000) - Sheffield (Hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Week 3 - Great Britain F1 ($10,000) - Sheffield (Hard)

paulisi · Tennis legend

I'm not sure on Tom's situation - he doesn't play regularly enough to suggest he is full time, which may be due to injuries or finances. Anyone know?
He is not playing Sunderland and not entered at Glasgow although he could just sign in there.

Topemp · Strong Club Player

Had a chance to pop in and watch fairly routine wins for Marcus Willis and Dan Cox.

Marcus hits the ball sweetly, but is also a very intelligent player, sometimes guilty of being a little over-ambitious with his shots, but is good fun to watch and always had too much for his opponent today.

Dan Cox had to work hard early in the second set after being broken, but still moves well enough to be pretty hard to put away, though James M battled gamely

The gossip on the floor suggested that Dan Cox, Josh Milton and Lewis Burton are all thinking that they might have to quit if they can't make it pay pretty soon. Suspect new LTA approach of removing a lot of incentives for doing well, will result in considerably fewer British players playing, can't say I think it's a good idea.

No-one wants players getting an easy ride, but cant think of another sport that makes such a virtue of making it harder for its own players to do well, and incentive programme that rewarded success seemed to be the right balance.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Great to hear a review of today's activity, topemp.

And interesting, although a little sad, about the possible retirements to come.

However, Josh Milton is 25 now, and has rather plateaued, so it's not that unreasonable that he is having serious second thoughts as to how far he's going to go and whether, net net, he thinks it's worth it and what he wants to do.

Lewis is only 22 and, in my opinion, has not reached his potential. But there may be reasons for that that he doesn't feel he can conquer. And it's true that his earnings are very low, it can;t be easy.

Dan Cox however is 24 and had a pretty lucrative year last year (obviously would be a lot tighter next year if Wimbly wildcards are tightened up) but i would be surprised if he quit just when he's had his best year by far. However, maybe he has other opportunities.

spud · Challenger qualifying

Topemp wrote:
Had a chance to pop in and watch fairly routine wins for Marcus Willis and Dan Cox.

Marcus hits the ball sweetly, but is also a very intelligent player, sometimes guilty of being a little over-ambitious with his shots, but is good fun to watch and always had too much for his opponent today.

Dan Cox had to work hard early in the second set after being broken, but still moves well enough to be pretty hard to put away, though James M battled gamely

The gossip on the floor suggested that Dan Cox, Josh Milton and Lewis Burton are all thinking that they might have to quit if they can't make it pay pretty soon. Suspect new LTA approach of removing a lot of incentives for doing well, will result in considerably fewer British players playing, can't say I think it's a good idea.

No-one wants players getting an easy ride, but cant think of another sport that makes such a virtue of making it harder for its own players to do well, and incentive programme that rewarded success seemed to be the right balance.

Lewis really needs to just play doubles now in my opinion...

He seriously needs to get out of this awful futures rut of very little success in singles and usually winning the title of the dubs (there's just no money or progress as a player doing it)

Needs to just give challenger doubles a shot with a player whose willing to do the same thing (e.g. Thornley)

Surprised about Dan Cox's thoughts on quitting especially after making much further inroads into challengers last season, as a player I think his peak would be around 150 if he continues to give it a good go

indiana · Tennis legend

Yep, the let's just particularly help those who we see as potential top 100 players approach and / or "tough love" ( or just "tough" ? ) approach with most of the rest will probably have consequences.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Lewis probably needs to aspire to Challengers with a commited partner.

So, Marcus's apparent more prioritising on singles ( something which I sense most of us agree with ), now that Gary appears to no longer think of him as practically the next cab in line for Davis Cup doubles, needs to be taken account of although hopefully that will be more and more in challengers.

If it is to be doubles all the way for Lewis, he needs a regular partner with similar doubles aims, to have much chance of making it pay.

freerider · Futures level

A1 tennis academy wrote:
Again thanks , H2H results does not surprise me but so will be particularly good result if Marcus manages the win on hard for first time v Dan C

-- Edited by A1 tennis academy on Thursday 22nd of January 2015 01:18:04 PM

Hi gary. Notice that marcus is on the qualies list for maui challenger for next week. Is he going to make the trip if he a) loses today. Or b) has to play tomorrow?

Cheers

freerider · Futures level

paulisi wrote:
I'm not sure on Tom's situation - he doesn't play regularly enough to suggest he is full time, which may be due to injuries or finances. Anyone know?
He is not playing Sunderland and not entered at Glasgow although he could just sign in there.

Unless i am kostaken i believe that he had a injury troubled season last year. Heres hoping the 4 semi finalists here will be startong the season in australia next year :)

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

I want Marcus to go to challengers in china is that the challenger your talking about. ?

Lewis is a good partner but with it's tough to make a living from doubles alone if your not getting income from singles prize money particularly with LTA cut backs . Listening to marcus , this forum , and his coach it appears wise to focus on singles and play doubles when appropriate . Both Marcus and Lewis have shown they can compete with top 100 doubles pairs but that could become a focus later if fail to break into top 100 singles by age of 28/29 .

strategies must be fluid and primarily match Marcus's goals and aspirations .

A win today would be a boost

g

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

Any one know current score SF

marcus W v Dan cox ?

paulisi · Tennis legend

first set tie break - Marcus v Dan

Tom won first set 6-1

paulisi · Tennis legend

Marcus won the tie breaker 7-4

indiana · Tennis legend

Scores are on bet365 for one.

Marcus leads Dan C 7-6(4) *0-0
Tom leads Dan S 6-1 3-2*

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

thanks now on desk top and live scores Marcus had B point to break back going to tight and likely to make me late for club doubles afternoon that starts 12.30 the downside of managing Marcus again ! Lol

i will go in 10 mins so appreciate of give forum updated . Good to see bomb making a fight of it

only 1 break point from 6 something to work on compared to dan's 2 from 2 . Looking like a 3rd set tie break come on Marcus !!!