Week 39 - Challenger (€106,500), Orleans, France (Hard, Indoor)

thejester · Satellite level

RE: Week 39 - Challenger (€106,500), Orleans, France (Hard, Indoor)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Evo's hand continues to strengthen, he hasn't really put a foot wrong since participating in the player off for Wimbledon qualifying with the worst fears of the board failing to materialise, regardless of his occasional lapses when he is failing to be competitive in a game I think the bloke loves playing tennis and while not necessary having Kyles skill set he may well be the last man standing when it comes to taking on Titin, Jean Claude Van Dam and all those other famous Belgians that don't immediately spring to mind.

indiana · Tennis legend

I take it that it's OK some of us having fears about James, Oakland ?

( I'm not sure "the board" has views in spite of it at times being accused of being too harsh and too generous. Its many members have a variety of views though )

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 30th of September 2015 03:39:28 PM

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Oakland2002 wrote:
Evo's hand continues to strengthen, he hasn't really put a foot wrong since participating in the player off for Wimbledon qualifying with the worst fears of the board failing to materialise, regardless of his occasional lapses when he is failing to be competitive in a game I think the bloke loves playing tennis and while not necessary having Kyles skill set he may well be the last man standing when it comes to taking on Titin, Jean Claude Van Dam and all those other famous Belgians that don't immediately spring to mind.

Not sure withdrawing from 3 successive tournaments and showing no inclination to play on clay is strengthening his hand although with the worrying form of our other potential second singles players he may get in by default. I really think that if Aljaz wins his appeal we may just have to be pragmatic and pick him unless somebody else can make a strong case in the next few weeks. The opportunity to win is too precious to be squandered by worrying about loyalty to players who were in form 12 months ago.

-- Edited by theemptyvessel on Wednesday 30th of September 2015 04:36:02 PM

LouieG · County player

Surely Ward will try to put himself in contention for the Davis Cup final, this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity, I can't see him taking an extended leave. Not sure what he can do though, maybe play a futures tournament, find a few wins?

paulisi · Tennis legend

I think his ranking is too high to enter ITF at the moment.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

James Bogging form continues.

Brydan to overtake within a couple of weeks

Spaced · Lower Club Player

Jaggy1876 wrote:
James Bogging form continues.

Brydan to overtake within a couple of weeks

He seems really bogged down at the moment.

Not sure what could cause such a loss of form, it's mind boggling.

Ratty · County player

I doubt there's any empirical evidence to suggest that Ward would do better to take time out to rebuild/find his mojo/[enter cliche of choice], as opposed to just carrying on playing tournaments.

Those of us with long memories will remember Vince Spadea's legendary record of 21 straight losses back in 1999/2000. His extraordinary loss of form - which continued after he broke the spell by beating Greg Rusedski at Wimbledon - resulted in a fall from 19 to 236 in the rankings.

No taking time out for Vince, he kept on plugging away and fought his way back up the rankings to a career high of 18.

TMH · Futures qualifying

Ratty wrote:
I doubt there's any empirical evidence to suggest that Ward would do better to take time out to rebuild/find his mojo/[enter cliche of choice], as opposed to just carrying on playing tournaments.

Those of us with long memories will remember Vince Spadea's legendary record of 21 straight losses back in 1999/2000. His extraordinary loss of form - which continued after he broke the spell by beating Greg Rusedski at Wimbledon - resulted in a fall from 19 to 236 in the rankings.

No taking time out for Vince, he kept on plugging away and fought his way back up the rankings to a career high of 18.

Donald Young did something similar a few years back. He won something like one match in the first seven months of the season, and that was around February (if memory serves - might be a little hazy).

indiana · Tennis legend

Maybe these bad runs would have ended earlier if they had taken time to regroup ( sorry for not finding a new phrase

).

Seems to me a very legitimate thought that you should maybe stop for a bit, consider your game and why your form is so bad in comparison to what you have previously produced and you keep losing as opposed to just turning up at a new place each week and err losing again.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

It's not a question of having fears, it is what it is. Evo's hand gets stronger by not playing and there is a distinct lack of any form on any surface let alone clay from players eligible to play.

Brydan is probably the next player showing any form. I can't see James getting back his mojo in a timeframe that will allow selection. Hopefully Kyle will turn things round and make a strong case for selection, ie we will have an opportunity to pick a player in form on his favourite surface. If not it will just have to be the player in best form and everyone bar Evo is loosing

emma · Strong Club Player

as far as I remember James has a pattern where he goes up in rankings then falls back and then starts rising again eventually going higher than before. and so on. so as far as his form is concerned maybe nothing to worry about. but davis cup is another matter.

it would be good to see the men start getting good results now just like the ladies.

bigboyjumbo · Lower Club Player

shouldn't even be remotely in contention

paulisi · Tennis legend

Neal and Ken play later this afternoon