Week 16 - Challenger ($50,000) - Savannah, GA, USA (green clay)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 16 - Challenger ($50,000) - Savannah, GA, USA (green clay)

TMH · Futures qualifying

Another really tough draw for Liam against an in-form clay specialist.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
philwrig wrote:
So gutted I only caught the last couple of points, but Ken had his head in his hands after Neal was unable to return a Bambo 2nd serve at 10-10, then a very tricky return from Liam undid Neal on MP.
The beauty of the ATP site is that you can watch a full rerun any time. Have to confess that despite my support for Liam and Luke at any other time, I really wanted Ken and Neal to win today. They only have doubles and really needed the boost of a win. But when it gets close, you can almost see the lack of confidence. There are fine lines in doubles between winning and losing. Ken and Neal are not far away, but there just doesn't seem to be the belief at the moment and at crunch moments, that can make the difference.

Thanks for the heads up on the rerun. I know what you mean, in every other circumstance I would be rooting for Liam and Bambo, but for the Skups this is their day job.

-- Edited by philwrig on Tuesday 21st of April 2015 06:47:56 AM

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

For the record:

R1: Luke Bambridge & Liam Broady CR 592 (290+302) defeated (3) Ken Skupski & Neal Skupski CR 235 (118+117) by 6-3 3-6 [12-10] biggrin bleh

Spectator · All-time great

Agree with the comments on split loyalties above ... but now that Messrs Bambridge and Broady are through to the next round, no more split loyalties, and I hope they win this thing! Actually quite glad for Mr Bambridge, too, as he has had a bit of a rough time, with so many close losses.

Spectator · All-time great

PS: If the Skupskis (who are among my favourite players and whom I long to see lifting trophies) are feeling they should have beaten the double Bs, I think it's worth remembering that each of the Mr Bs is actually really quite a solid doubles player. I wouldn't at all be surprised if they were to make quite a good team if they tried it consistently.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Thanks for the heads up re streaming really enjoyed watching the final set, Liam looked by far the most polished player on court and very happy to see Luke get a win. Luke I feel will get there but his development may be wardesque as opposed to Murrayesque, he obviously has the physical attributes to play at the highest level but can see him playing futures for another 18-24 months while he develops the game craft and experience to execute make the right plays. Hopefully we will then see him kick on like Liam. Just hope he gets that support

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes indeed the LTA has invested a lot in Luke. It makes a great deal of sense ( well to me anyway ) to continue to give him support as he endeavours to make that real breakthrough.

It would surely be folly to totally pull the rug from under his feet, because say he hasn't developed as well / as quickly as hoped so they must focus resources on the next generation.

TMH · Futures qualifying

But it wouldn't remotely surprise you if they did, would it?

RJA · Hall of fame

I must admit to being concerned by Luke's development, not so much that it has been slow but there has be no real indication of improvement for well over a year. I would however be aghast if the LTA decided to throw him under the bus as there is clearly potential there for major improvements.

That being said I think there needs to be a very long and very hard look at what is going wrong with the development of our younger players and why our top juniors are struggling so much to make the transition. A years ago we could still hide behind the "juniors take longer to break through now" argument but when you look at Krygios, Kokkinakis, Coric, Zverev and Rublev that argument looks a lot weaker than it did.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 21st of April 2015 03:20:20 PM

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

But the only player of that calibre we've produced is Kyle in the last few years.

Yes we've had Liam and Ollie but i don't think their talent was ever to Kyle's potential.

Luke is then a step behind them.

RJA · Hall of fame

Mervatron wrote:
But the only player of that calibre we've produced is Kyle in the last few years.

Yes we've had Liam and Ollie but i don't think their talent was ever to Kyle's potential.

Luke is then a step behind them.

Yes there are differences in level of talent but all of the 4 you mention had good junior careers, as did George Morgan, and with the exception of Kyle they have all struggled with the transition to one degree or another.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, I think the real concern re Luke is probably how his progress has at best stalled.

Interesting though to compare rankings now and a year ago with Liam. Liam is just over a year older than Luke.

Liam - dob 04/01/94 :
Ranking at 21/04/14 : 447 ( a CH then )
Ranking at 20/04/15 : 177 ( his CH )

Luke - dob 21/01/95 :
Ranking at 21/04/14 : 609 ( a CH then )
Ranking at 20/04/15 : 641 ( CH 503 )

We have certainly seen what Liam has done since last year's WR 447 ( CH ) mark. So, of course, Luke could progress significantly from his now WR 641 ( CH 503 ), even though he has dropped back lately.

Other rankings I noted from last year, 21/04/14 :

Dan Evans WR 132 ( CH 123 )
Oli Golding WR 338 ( then CH )
Ashley Hewitt WR 404 ( CH 355 )

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

As an aside, I simply cannot believe that the parents of the Yank WC, Tiafoe, had him christened Frances! disbelief Only in America...

RJA · Hall of fame

Stircrazy wrote:
As an aside, I simply cannot believe that the parents of the Yank WC, Tiafoe, had him christened Frances! Only in America...

Probably not fair to blame this on America. His parents were immigrants from Sierra Leone