Dan Cox

Salmon · Tennis legend

RE: Daniel Cox.

Drew · Nov 22, 2006

Hope ur right...would b good to see him in a challenger event

Bladetiger · Pro player

Iwas talking to someone at the LTA about Evans and Coix yesterday and haveto say they weren't particularly excited about either prospect , basically feel that they have both got a fair bit of growing to do to be able to cut it at adult level.

The consensus was that neither of them are as good as Mark Hilton was at their age and that they just arent exceptional enough to overcome their physical disadvantages unless they really grow some this next couple of years, both of them are small and light.

Obviously boys do grow later than girls so it's quite possible they could grow a fair bit yet, and nothing to say that my contact will be right, but thought some might be interested in the view.

Drew · Nov 22, 2006

Bladetiger wrote:

Iwas talking to someone at the LTA about Evans and Coix yesterday and haveto say they weren't particularly excited about either prospect , basically feel that they have both got a fair bit of growing to do to be able to cut it at adult level.

The consensus was that neither of them are as good as Mark Hilton was at their age and that they just arent exceptional enough to overcome their physical disadvantages unless they really grow some this next couple of years, both of them are small and light.

Obviously boys do grow later than girls so it's quite possible they could grow a fair bit yet, and nothing to say that my contact will be right, but thought some might be interested in the view.

I hear what you are saying.....but this was said exactly of Andy Murray...'too short'....'he will never grow'....I hope that Mrs Cox and Mrs Evans can keep feeding their boys with the best home grown royal jelly !!!!

Salmon · Tennis legend

Are they mental?

If they aren't excited by Cox, I really don't know what to say. And Evans too will become a good player.

The point about not growing could become a reality, but I am pretty confident that Cox will grow in the next two years or so.

And Cox has done enough to make us believe that he can compete with stronger players. Fabrice Martin, his econd round opponent is Wrexham, is over six and a half feet tall. Cox defeated him and reached the quarters there, thereby becoming the youngest Brit ever to reach the quarters of a Futures( most probably).

I agree with Drew, it's the same case as it was with Andy. And Cox's career at this point of time is much better than Andy's at his age.

Thanks a lot for the inside info, Bladetiger.

Keep on posting such stuff regarding Dan whenever you encounter it.

-- Edited by Greenleaf at 13:52, 2006-11-22

Bladetiger · Pro player

Greenleaf wrote:

I agree with Drew, it's the same case as it was with Andy. And Cox's career at this point of time is much better than Andy's at his age.

-- Edited by Greenleaf at 13:52, 2006-11-22

Confused by this

, within 2 months of andy's 16th birthday he had reached a challenger quarter final and reached final qualifying round of nottingham atp event, Cox hasnt done anything like this in mens tennis.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Cox hasn't reached 16 years and 2 months.

Here is how he fares better than an Andy of his age:

1) At his age, Andy was unranked and wasn't able to qualify for a single Futures! And Matt Smith had to retire against him in Queen's qualifying.

Cox got his first ranking point at the age of 15 and 2. That's a full year ahead of Andy!! My guess is that that is earlier than everyone in the present top 100.

2) Daniel reached number 2 in the ETA 14&U rankings, Andy reached a career high of number 3.

3) As a fifteen year old, Andy reached the round of 16 of Roehampton and lost to someone ranked outside the top 100 of juniors in Wimbly first round. Dan defeated three top 50 players in straight sets on his way to the quarters of Roehampton and became the only 15 year old to win a round at this year's junior Wimbly. He lost in the second round to someone in the top 20.

I am not saying that Dan will be a better player than Andy Murray. You can't say such things at this age and it's highly unfair to compare them in that sense. Dan himself acknowledged the fact that it's really tough to make the transition to the men's tour.
All that I know is that so far, things have been really good and he has been showing the right signs of a top ten player in the making.

I just hope that the LTA will give him what he and his mentors think is right for him. He is world class, there is no doubt about that.

Bladetiger · Pro player

If we've learnt anything from history it's that how successful a boy you are is totally irrelevant to how good a man you'll be. Murray probably wasnt as good a 14 year old as mark hilton, lee childs or matt smith, the fact is by 16 years of age he could reach challenger quarter finals , Dan Cox hasnt qualified for a challenger, and at mens level he has struggled so far.

To be talking about whether he could make the top 100 yet is wildly premature top 10 is laughable, how often have you seen him play against Men to make a statement like that?

I'm not writing the kid off, not at all, but it doesnt do anyone any favours to overhype him before he's really achieved anything either.

Salmon · Tennis legend

I am not saying that he will. No one can tell that.

All that we know is that he is capable of it.

-- Edited by Greenleaf at 18:18, 2006-11-22

Bladetiger · Pro player

Greenleaf wrote:

All that we know is that he is capable of it.

-- Edited by Greenleaf at 18:18, 2006-11-22

How ?

Salmon · Tennis legend

Because of the results so far.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Since we were discussing Mark Hilton and Dan, I must point out a fact that they share in common - they both won the 14 & U World Junior Tennis tournament.

But here are five of the ten names that featured as winners of that competition between 1996 and 2000 while playing singles rubbers -

Nalbandian, Coria, Nadal, Gasquet, Tsonga. Dan is in some great company.

While it doesn't mean that he will become like them for sure, we can see that he has been doing things the way other top players did. Signs are good.

As long as he keeps his head straight and works on his body, we have every reason to be optimistic.

Bladetiger · Pro player

I think if he wins the 18 & U it might be time to start getting excited !!

Salmon · Tennis legend

Sadly they did away with the 18&U edition in 2001.

Bladetiger · Pro player

Oh right what did Donald young win last year? Was that 16 & U?