QR2: (q3) Andrew Watson vs Alexandre David (FRA) UNR OR Jacob Hansen (USA) UNR
Bruce Strachan will apparently be in the MD.
18-year-old Andrew has just a 4-1 record so far this year - his last tournament was in May in Tampa, FL, where he made it through the Qualifying Round only to lose to 3rd seed Tennys Sandgren of the States. Last year, he made it to the Quarter-Finals of the Ilkley Futures, beating George Morgan and (more impressively) 2nd seeded Ed Corrie before falling to Lewis Burton. Those three points are the only ones he has - and they come off soon.
-- Edited by BradMarx90 on Friday 12th of June 2015 07:14:33 PM
No idea about Adanali but Andy Watson found this really hard-going - the second set always looked like getting away from him, and closing out the first was hard too.
But he comes through in two, saving a SP in the tie-break.
Hansen has just been signed by Rice uni for next year from Bolletieri's. He was rated a blue chip recruit - one of the top 25 targets for US colleges in this recruitment cycle so probably was a tougher opponent than UNR suggests.
Rices athletic programme always puzzles me, very impressive in a quiet unassuming sort of way. Most people around the word live their lives never knowing it as an institution exists.
Rice sought of falls between two stools ie genuinely very highly rated academic institution in a city you would only go to for a reason, but its own little oasis. Definitely not a party school dominated by jocks but play in a second tier conference for sports and then they take it really seriously, but basically students who can play sports rather than athletes chucked into a university for a bit.
That probably sums up Hansen ie good quality junior because he has taken tennis seriously and lots of money spent but who we won't of heard off because there are 25 a year in the U.S. and he can get good quality competition indigenously. Not quite good enough to travel to junior slams. Will spend all 4 years in college because he won't be quite good enough to step out and make a living but be right up their likely beating the types of guys who go from the UK and loosing to the ones we send but should be supporting while they gave a crack at the ITF.
I feel he is probably a realistic barometer of where elite US college tennis sits in relation to the pro game, ie if it goes really well absolute effort and dedication he might be the next James which in my eyes would be a massive success but likely to make a living but it will get a good degree that will allow him to make one.
-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Wednesday 17th of June 2015 06:22:45 AM
Sorry, was directed at that British Tennis Twitter troll slagging people off for losing to much higher ranked opponents. Will edit my post as agree it misleadingly looks directed at you.
-- Edited by Jeff Stelling on Thursday 18th of June 2015 01:03:11 PM
