Week 24 - ATP 500 (Queen's) - London, UK - Grass

LordBrownof · Futures level

RE: Week 24 - ATP 500 (Queen's) - London, UK - Grass

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, I was pretty amazed when I looked at it, by chance. And, after all, it's not THAT long ago, i.e. can hardly claim there was a different culture to youth tennis at the time, or whatever....

He was obviously in Spain for a while (not that that's overly relevant but maybe he got matches within the Spanish domestic system or something).

I don't know but, as you say, it does ask a question, and adds more fuel to the 'junior ranking, who cares?' argument....

Jamie Baker (same age) made it to ITF Junior WR 6 !!!! (And got to 186 in the adults)

So Jamie, 6, and James Ward 1200+......

(Not knocking Jamie B's achievements, by the way, just noting....)

EddietheEagle · County player

Coup Droit wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
The shirt is in the worst possible taste. Thank God he won't be able to wear it in SW19!

I really like the shirt !!!!
It goes with his socks......

A Paul Smith design (mates apparently), adopting what has lately become legitimised as the Wawrinka tactic.

Spectator · All-time great

Well, he only played four tournaments ... but there must have been something that convinced his father to make all the sacrifices involved in sending a child to Spain. Not something that one would do lightly, at a guess. Impressive to have had the independence of mind (he and his father!) to get so far without a whole apparatus of national support.

With Jamie Baker, one always wonders what would have happened if he hadn't had that illness. It's these things that make life so unpredictable, no? I'm not saying I think he would have reached the starry heights of the top 20 ... but I do think he would have gone higher.

Funny that the person who beat Mr Ward in that one G4 tournament should also be a known quantity - good chance to revisit this: www.youtube.com/watch.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

It's a good point, Spectator.

One of the main problems for us, I think, as British tennis supporters, and for British tennis as a whole, is simply the lack of numbers. I don't mean to state the obvious but simply that we don't have enough depth to soak up the vaguaries of life and so each person is under a microscope.

It's certainly true that James Ward, as per this thread, has his little demons and his head often seems AWOL. But that's just part of him and no one would use up any ink over it really, if he was one of 10 others of about the same level - i.e. it would still be true but it wouldn't be the spotlight of attention.

If you look at France, Guillaume Rufin was the great white hope, at age 18 or 19, making the top 100. But he's been absolutely plagued by injuries and now, 25, is still struggling.

Josselin Ouanna is one of the most talented guys to ever hold a racquet - Tsonga has often said there's so little between them when they practice, and Joss can set a court on fire. But he's never really made it (again, head things probably) and now probably won't (although I'd love to see him have a run).

But the system can soak up the losses and, as such, often the problems look less serious anyway, because you don't scrutinise every part of it. Not saying we're wrong to scrutinise the details of James, say, - we don't have much choice - but if only there were a bunch of them (not just one Andy) the whole issue would be so much easier.

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

RJA wrote:
It would obviously be unfair to criticise James for not being good enough to beat the world No8 but I would suggest that this match does show why he isn't in the top 100. In the first set he played beautifully but was never put under any pressure by a rusty Raonic who was absolutely useless whenever his serve didn't win him the point. He started the second set well at they key point of the match when the pressure was on he did indeed crumble. The way he was serving he should never have been broke 3 times in a row but he was and each time it was it was a poor unforced error on break point.

I would agree with this and even though I'm not a great fan of James Ward he does have some ability and as Savvi alluded to, he may not get a better opportunity to beat a top 10 player, albeit a rusty one, but 28 is not that old so you never know. May have to eat my words but can't see Raonic ever winning a slam.

Jeff Stelling · Club Coach

That Josselin Ouanna chant at Wimbledon qualies about two years ago was absolutely class. To the tune of "Walks Like Rihanna" by the Wanted.

He can't play
He can't win
But who cares
It's Josselin Ouanna

Jaffa · Challenger level

^ That is hilarious! Haha

TMH · Futures qualifying

savva0122 wrote:
At 28 he's not going to get any better than this, in fact his ranking flatters him at the mo. I think the focus should be on Kyle, Liam and even Aljaz and Brydan now as they've still got chance to improve.

Sorry to be a party pooper

Why not?

Many players are peaking into their 30s now. He's still got a few years yet.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Erm, are we making too big a deal of James' junior ranking here? It was so low because he pretty much never played them. Presumably he was playing domestic tournaments elsewhere and made the jump to the seniors at a young age? Frankly it's irrelevant. Rafael Nadal's JCH was a mere #145. Like I say, irrelevant.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

TMH wrote:
Erm, are we making too big a deal of James' junior ranking here? It was so low because he pretty much never played them. Presumably he was playing domestic tournaments elsewhere and made the jump to the seniors at a young age? Frankly it's irrelevant. Rafael Nadal's JCH was a mere #145. Like I say, irrelevant.

No one's making a big deal out if it, quite the opposite. i.e. people were saying that it IS irrelevant, everyone agrees, the numbers speak for themselves - Jamie 6, James 1200+ etc. etc.

But it's interesting and adds to the mix, (was he playing Spanish events or not ?) and may support the argument that James is more of a late developer. It's only an aside.....

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

EddietheEagle wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
The shirt is in the worst possible taste. Thank God he won't be able to wear it in SW19!

I really like the shirt !!!!
It goes with his socks......
A Paul Smith design (mates apparently), adopting what has lately become legitimised as the Wawrinka tactic.

Would that be the poncey pink jobbies?!!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

So, having paid all that money and got all the hoo-hah of having Nadal back at Queens, he loses in the first round......

PS Cheers, Jeff S - that chant is great - never heard it before - brilliant

TMH · Futures qualifying

Coup Droit wrote:
TMH wrote:
Erm, are we making too big a deal of James' junior ranking here? It was so low because he pretty much never played them. Presumably he was playing domestic tournaments elsewhere and made the jump to the seniors at a young age? Frankly it's irrelevant. Rafael Nadal's JCH was a mere #145. Like I say, irrelevant.

No one's making a big deal out if it, quite the opposite. i.e. people were saying that it IS irrelevant, everyone agrees, the numbers speak for themselves - Jamie 6, James 1200+ etc. etc.
But it's interesting and adds to the mix, (was he playing Spanish events or not ?) and may support the argument that James is more of a late developer. It's only an aside.....

Well yes, but I'm not really sure why it warrants said discussion in the first place.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

Bad day for Stan at the office yesterday.