Week 14 - ITF ($25K) - Barnstaple, UK Hard

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 14 - ITF ($25K) - Barnstaple, UK Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

It looks as if the main draw will have a pretty strong field.

BUT the qualifying draw has only 6 seeds ( 6 of the 7 byes to QR2 ) since it has only 6 ranked players. We will have at least 2 unranked Brits qualifying and getting one ranking point for that.

Beth Askew and Lucy Brown have been given main draw WCs. The other WCs would appear to be for players not on the list.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Although Jazamay Drew withdrew from entry, she seems to have got a main draw wildcard. I expect Katie Boulter to get the other, although Laura Robson might be a possibility.
Naomi Broadly will be seeded
Very few GB girls names I recognise on the qualifying list, but I'm expecting bagels and bread sticks for those who make main draw.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I know what you mean, paulisi - on the one hand one thinks 'well done for having a go' and it'd be bizarre not to try out and see how you fare.

But getting beaten up for nothing seems a thankless exercise. And I remember when there were 9 points for winning R1 and two British (weakish) girls got drawn against each other and one ended up suddenly now ranked top 1000. It was completely 'false' and a daft outcome, really.

I've seen most of those (GB) girls play in British Tour events - a couple not. Again, it's a shame it's not a 10k . . ..

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Would say that the 3 strongest of the youngsters are Alannah G, Holly H and Mollie C and unfortunately 2 of those are drawn against each other. Laura S is a bit of a dark horse as she hasn't competed much lately but is a very solid young player.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
I know what you mean, paulisi - on the one hand one thinks 'well done for having a go' and it'd be bizarre not to try out and see how you fare.

But getting beaten up for nothing seems a thankless exercise.

It doesn't have to be a thankless task, it depends on the player. If their response is "I'll never be that good, I might as well give up" then it is a thankless task. On the other hand if their response is "Wow! I want to play like that, what have I got to do?", then it can provide the inspiration the player needs.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Peter too wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
I know what you mean, paulisi - on the one hand one thinks 'well done for having a go' and it'd be bizarre not to try out and see how you fare.

But getting beaten up for nothing seems a thankless exercise.
It doesn't have to be a thankless task, it depends on the player. If their response is "I'll never be that good, I might as well give up" then it is a thankless task. On the other hand if their response is "Wow! I want to play like that, what have I got to do?", then it can provide the inspiration the player needs.

I don't really think so. Watching a match of a really good player can do that. But playing one, i.e. playing in a match that is completely and utterly one-sided, has no merit, in my view. (Not saying that everyone will take it personally and 'give up', just there's no merit - practically anyone can find a player who is hugely better and can hammer them, I don't think it's a learning experience). And not saying that this will apply to these girls, some may well be near enough the level. Do hope so . . .

Olivia seems to be having a good match with 16 year-old Chipan (french but I assume based in the UK as she has no French licence). Not surprised that Hillyer is making quick work of her match.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Peter too wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
I know what you mean, paulisi - on the one hand one thinks 'well done for having a go' and it'd be bizarre not to try out and see how you fare.

But getting beaten up for nothing seems a thankless exercise.
It doesn't have to be a thankless task, it depends on the player. If their response is "I'll never be that good, I might as well give up" then it is a thankless task. On the other hand if their response is "Wow! I want to play like that, what have I got to do?", then it can provide the inspiration the player needs.

I don't really think so. Watching a match of a really good player can do that. But playing one, i.e. playing in a match that is completely and utterly one-sided, has no merit, in my view.

That is not my experience, I remember many years ago as the top player in the bottom division of our local table tennis league I drew a top Div 1 player in our local tournament and faced the loop shot for the first time. I kept missing the ball or had it flying off my bat in all directions. It made me want to learn the loop shot so I sought coaching from wherever I could. A few years later I was also playing the loop shot and also beating most Div 1 players. As I say it depends on the player.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

As you say, it's horses for courses. And personal experience is important. But nearly all coaches will schedule their players' plans around playing some a bit weaker, some a bit stronger and many similar-level players. But most are completely anti having them play what they call, at best, thirty minute 'meaningless' matches and, and at worst, potentially damaging matches.

Peter too · Tennis legend

The key to being a good coach must surely be to understand what motivates each individual student to bring out their best. Both Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha spent several years just outside the top 100 and then found the right coaches and quickly moved into the top 50. If I remember rightly with Anne it was making her believe in herself and have the confidence to play as she wanted rather than trying to confirm to the LTA manual. With Elena it mainly came down to managing the limitations imposed by her health problems. I agree that most of the time you need to play a mixture of players around your own ability, but occasionally being thrown in the deep end against a much stronger player can be invigorating. Some students need the challenge.

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

In my experience, you are both making very valid points. At the end of the day, it all boils down to the individual. What works for one might be damaging to another and vice-versa.

-- Edited by TennisLover on Sunday 5th of April 2015 02:01:36 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

You're right. Nothing's black and white. And every rule has an exception.

But my own opinion re Anne is that her success was very much due to managing to stay completely supported by the LTA for her whole career, and then becoming part of the corporate package, as well as other spin-offs, and yet staying completely schtum on the situation for all the players who are following in her wake and getting nothing.

(Will now duck for cover, and know it's off on a tangent, but that's my view).

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
You're right. Nothing's black and white. And every rule has an exception.

But my own opinion re Anne is that her success was very much due to managing to stay completely supported by the LTA for her whole career, and then becoming part of the corporate package, as well as other spin-offs, and yet staying completely schtum on the situation for all the players who are following in her wake and getting nothing.

(Will now duck for cover, and know it's off on a tangent, but that's my view).

No need to duck for cover :). You have every right to say things as you see it :).

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q1: ROGERS, Megan (GBR) UNR lost to BYRNE, Julie (IRL) UNR 5-7 1-6
Q1: PARSON, Olivia (GBR) UNR lost to CHIPAN, Nency (FRA) UNR 2-6 6-4 4-6
Q1: MULLINS, Ceire (GBR) UNR beat GHODRATI, Lily (GBR) UNR 7-5 6-3
Q1: CROUCH, Mollie (GBR) UNR beat HUTCHINSON, Holly (GBR) UNR 6-3 6-2
Q1: HILLYER, Natasha (GBR) UNR beat HARRINGTON, Lauren (GBR) UNR 6-1 6-2
Q1: SAINSBURY, Laura (GBR) UNR lost to GENOVESE, Elaine (MLT) UNR 5-7 6-7(2)
Q1: HURST, Emma (GBR) UNR v Bye
Q1: DYSON, Katie (GBR) UNR beat HEPBURN, Natalie (GBR) UNR 6-3 6-4
Q1: RAWSON, Nadia (GBR) UNR beat PHILLIPS, Lisa (GBR) UNR 6-1 6-1
Q1: GRIFFIN, Alannah (GBR) UNR beat SANDY, Shannon (GBR) UNR 6-1 6-1

Q2: MULLINS, Ceire (GBR) UNR v CAZEAUX, Amandine (FRA) 3 685 CH=64924/11/14

Q2: CROUCH, Mollie (GBR) UNR v GARCIA-PEREZ, Georgina (ESP) 4 690 CH=685 2/3/15

Q2: HILLYER, Natasha (GBR) UNR v LISTER, Cornelia (SWE) 5 691 CH=686 16/2/15

Q2: HURST, Emma (GBR) UNR v DYSON, Katie (GBR) UNR

Q2: RAWSON, Nadia (GBR) UNR v GRIFFIN, Alannah (GBR) UNR

-- Edited by Peter too on Sunday 5th of April 2015 03:04:48 PM

-- Edited by Peter too on Sunday 5th of April 2015 03:06:00 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

That's the FQR, so as was known we were always going to have at least two British qualifiers. Will be tough in the other three matches.