Weeks 12-13 - ATP Masters 1000 - Miami, USA + doubles

Jan · Hall of fame

RE: Weeks 12-13 - ATP Masters 1000 - Miami, USA

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

QR1: (16) James Ward WR 111 lost to Chase Buchanan (USA) WR 173 by 4 & 2

Jan · Hall of fame

soooooo disappointed

LouieG · County player

Don't know what to say...

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

Shocker
How long until Kyle UK #2?

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

savva0122 wrote:
Shocker
How long until Kyle UK #2?

Not that long I'd have thought - outside of Davis Cup the highest ranked player Ward's beaten all year is Copil at 168. I thought there was an outside chance that Buchanan might win but not as comfortably as he did.

RJA · Hall of fame

Disappointing for sure, but not really that surprising. Pretty much anybody in the top 200 will be a competitive opponent for James if they are on form.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I just don't understand how he can play at such a high level in DC and flop elsewhere. Sad.

indiana · Tennis legend

It is very strange.

Even with James' Davis Cup 40 points for beating Isner included, as of today's race positions Kyle is no 67 snd James no 133.

philwrig · Hall of fame

I wonder whether he has recovered 100% emotionally/physically from DC, and I don't think we can underestimate how much pressure he must be feeling knowing how close he is to that massive top 100 landmark.

RJA · Hall of fame

Madeline wrote:
I just don't understand how he can play at such a high level in DC and flop elsewhere. Sad.

I think a big part of it is that Leon has established an outstanding Davis Cup set up. There is a great atmosphere in the camp with support players there eager to do their bit, there are great facilities, there are coaches there, match ups are analysed in detail and preparation is immaculate and finally Leon seems to be a wonderful presence on court. Players are given everything they could possibly ask for to enable them to go out and play there best. Furthermore when you have got that kind of support behind you, you owe to your team to give everything in return, to dig in deep and fight like crazy even when two sets down. Out on the tour things are very different. Unless you are at the very top the support is considerably less, there is no one to force you to work hard and prepare properly for each and every match and there is no one there to pick you up when things are going wrong in matches.

indiana · Tennis legend

It could be more still a Davis Cup effect thing. This is not in keeping with the tournament consistency James found last year.

I'd be extremely surprised if the top 100 business had any particular effect on his performances. It shouldn't !

Sim · County player

James just needs to start playing well before the 3rd set!!

LouieG · County player

Needs if improve if he's gonna make the RG cutoff

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

philwrig wrote:
I wonder whether he has recovered 100% emotionally/physically from DC, and I don't think we can underestimate how much pressure he must be feeling knowing how close he is to that massive top 100 landmark.

Really don't think that the DC can be used as an excuse and effectively he only played one match and as for feeling pressure - I would have thought he would have that all year round from just trying to eek out a living which I would have thought would be even greater if he was still hovering around the 200 mark.