There is a rumour here that Billy was up a set and a break at 3-1 but ended up losing in 3 sets. This is NOT confirmed yet. Working on it.

Seems like the rumours were true sadly. But still a terrific week from Billy. He is now officially on my Top 500 potentials list ........... and he knows it 

Sitting here on the sofa with Billy right now. He is in Cartagena this week and will play Tarragona next week. Then maybe a week off as he is suffering with a sore shoulder - the same one that was operated on last year. After that, he is not sure.

If there are any more questions, now would be a good time to ask.

OK. I spoke to Billy at length today about the defeat against the young Aussie (who has since gone on to make the final, by the way, with a comfortably straight sets SF win). When Billy and I briefly watched him play the previous day, he picked up that the Aussie likes to play very flat, particularly on the backhand side. The extra pace actually suited Billy's game and I know he fancied his chances. Billy also felt that by keeping the ball higher to the backhand, he could create chances.

From what I have heard today, it was working to a dream in the 1st set which Billy took 6-1. At the changeover between sets, however, the Aussie's coach went to sit behind his player's bench and although Billy did get ahead in that 2nd set at *2-1, the Aussie changed his game plan completely. He either hit with slice to take pace off the ball, or with more exaggerated top spin, again slowing the ball down. From that point on Billy did say that he found it difficult to cope with the variety that was being thrown at him. Once again, it seems as though the advantage for players that travel with a coach, was more than apparent.

Victory yesterday would have been his 1st ever semi, it would have taken him inside the Top 1000 and given him an SE into Cartagena this week. Those facts were not lost on Billy who was dwelling all morning on the missed opportunity. Given the Aussie's easy victory today, you would also have to say that Billy would have had an excellent chance to make the final.

He is desperate to get his ranking to the point where he doesn't have to play qualies, not least because the wear and tear on his shoulder from playing through qualies is not helping him at all. The chance to give it an occasional rest over the weekend would be of enormous benefit.

There is no doubt in my mind that Billy has Top 500 potential and he told me that this was his end of season target. Had he not missed a large chunk of last year following shoulder surgery, I know he would be a lot closer to that already. He has a big game that if developed correctly could do some damage against good players. But traveling around in the back of a van, with no coach and no assistance, it is going to be a very tough ask. We spoke about the chance to go further afield in search of easier draws where he could maybe get directly into the MD pick up some points, but finances are very restricted.

It actually makes me angry that lads like this are given almost no help at all by the "powers that be", when a little coaching support and travel assistance would go a long way. There were one or two Spanish coaches asking him about his "coaching setup" and couldn't believe that he had none. And the look on their faces when they found out he has to live in a van, well ........... the less said, the better.

I am not saying that he could cruise up to the Top 100, but given two or three years with the right support and in the right environment, who knows.

So come on LTA ......

#20JamesWards