Good luck to you and the team, A1.

And to all the teams.

Can anyone come along? Assume it's open access? Do they always take part at a given time? Am keen to come along to one and see - probably the Paddington home match v your A1 team, on 31/5. But just possible the Sutton home match, as well or instead.

Who is in A1's team this year?

Our ATP ranked Aegon team players in 2015 : 

7 ATP ranked pro players includes the return of  "the vicar " Neil Pauffley and our first foreign player republic of Ireland Davis cup player Peter bothwell 

marcus willis

neil pauffley ( returned after absent 2014 ) 

toby Martin 

Matt short 

Peter bothwell ( new ) 

Harry Meehan 

Jamie Delgado 

 

Other players with ratings of 4.1 or better 

Matt Illingworth 

nikki Roen ( new ) 

Elliot Lewis  ( new) 

sam taylor ( new) 

piers perfet-Jones ( new) 

 

 

 

EddietheEagle wrote:

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Would playing the finals at the All England provide greater motivation to teams and greater interest for the tennis public? After all, this is our national tennis centre.

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I thought this sounded an excellent idea. And, after all, what else do they use those pristine courts for, apart from some junior tennis coaching in the half-term holidays?

The only minus might be that you don't get the same number of spectators, especially if two northern teams get through to the finals, and the expense for the northern teams in coming down.

Coup Droit wrote:

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EddietheEagle wrote:

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Would playing the finals at the All England provide greater motivation to teams and greater interest for the tennis public? After all, this is our national tennis centre.

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I thought this sounded an excellent idea. And, after all, what else do they use those pristine courts for, apart from some junior tennis coaching in the half-term holidays?

The only minus might be that you don't get the same number of spectators, especially if two northern teams get through to the finals, and the expense for the northern teams in coming down.

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 Currently the northern teams have to come down to bournemouth anyway . It's become a bit of a tradition with players going to a night club the night before the finals which for a captain was a little disconcerting . I would certainly prefer Wimbledon although I guess cost of hotels as the LTA host the finalists might be an issue 

A1 tennis academy wrote:

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Without a doubt it would be fantastic to have the national finals at the all england club and the grass would suit our no1 Marcus Willis 

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We need as many players as possible 'walking the talk', gazing onto those hallowed courts that are Wimbledon and feeling suitably inspired for their tennis careers.

I've always said that building the NTC where it is, was, on a psychological level, rather like creating a tradesmens' entrance, a throwback to the gentlemen and players era. It was Draper-inspired madness to concede the LTA's 50% ownership of the Wimbledon grounds to a wholly private interest group. There was only one place for a national training centre in my view, and that could only ever be in SW19, never SW15 or anywhere else. What an obvious missed opportunity to really do something to inspire those with genuine aspiration to our professional ranks. 

paulisi wrote:

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Is Harry still planning on playing?

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 Harry has officially retired and is coaching in the Liverpool area 

, the benefit to the team is now that he is not on tour he's available for all 6 group matches & the finals