Week 9 - Portugal F2 ($10,000) - Faro - Hard

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 9 - Portugal F2 ($10,000) - Faro - Hard

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

indiana wrote:
So we have 64 guys contesting one MD ( I assume it's MD ) (WC) place followed by however many contesting eight further MD (Q) places ... hmm ...

Do WC competitions maybe happen quite often and we are generally just unaware of them ?

I read somewhere about the Indian Wells pre-qualifying tournament being about to get underway. Something similar maybe?

Bob in Portugal · Social player

Another false start this morning. Scott was due to be first on at 10am. Players were warming up when the rains came again. No play until 12 noon at the earliest. Forecast is sunshine and showers all day so it may be a struggle to get 7 matches in per court, although they do have floodlights.

Had it not rained yesterday, there was a good chance the Scott would have made the MD. One SE place went to Brechemier who is playing in Vale de Lobo this week and has made the QF as a qualifier. He was due to play the top seed yesterday and had he lost that match, he would have played qualies and Scott would have made the MD.

Scott isn't too bothered as he hasn't played a competitive match since Glasgow, where he played Liam, and so a few qualifying matches might be a good thing. He will be playing here for the next two weeks. Then it is back home for a couple of weeks training before heading out for a 3 week stint in Greece.

Also, can confirm now that Matt Short is NOT playing this week. He is hitting with Joel today for some practice but flies out tomorrow.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Scott at 5-5* 30-30 and the rain is coming down again. Going to be another lengthy delay.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 27th of February 2016 02:15:27 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Back on court and Scott takes the set 7-5

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Scott wins 7-5 6-2

Bob in Portugal · Social player

Jonny wins 6-2 6-1

Bob in Portugal · Social player

Scott's match was played in the worst of the conditions. He was never in serious danger of losing the match. Having raced into a 4-0 lead in the 1st set, he thne proceeded to whack himself on the shin on one shot and the damage was there for all to see. He was icing it at changeovers to try and bring the swelling down, and the Brazilian took advantage and fought his way back into the match. There was a rain delay of about an hour at 5-5 30-30, but Scott won the 1st two points back after the delay, to break, and then served out the set. He cotrolled the 2nd set throughout to run out a straightforward winner at 7-5 6-2.

Jonny's match was a real jovial affair. His 6'4", 31 yo, never ranked Spanish opponent with long hair and a humungous yellow bandana straight out of the 60's was never going to provide Jonny with anything more than a bit of hitting practice. Sñr Rodriguez was showing signs of wear and tear to his right elbow, his right knee and his left achilles and this was ALL before the end of the 1st game. The only line call disputes came when each player tried desperately to give his opponent the point, only for the opponent to refuse and try to give it back again. The best moment of the match came for me when Jonny hit a solid forehand winner, only for the Spaniard to announce in his broad American accent, "That's way to good for me, man".

Jonny cruised through to a 6-2 6-1 win, doing his best to take it seriously and get some kind of practice out of the match. I was just glad to get out of the cold wind.

Most of the other Brits due to play today have been put back until tomorrow. The earlier delays have caused the OoP to be truncated, so it is going to be very tough to fit the 128 man draw into the alloted time. I wish them luck, but there are a lot of payers who may have to play twice in a day for two consecutive days.

Bob in Portugal · Social player

On the court next to Jonny was the youngest looking player I have ever seen at this level. He turned out to be 14yo, but looked closer to 12 or 13 (less according to Scott). When he walked onto the court, I actually thought that play must have finished on that particular court and that this lad was going out to have a hit with his dad/big brother. When I realised that it was a match as part of the tournament, I as amazed. Jonny actually looked across at that time and when he saw how young the lad looked, he turned to Scott and I, saying "Holy cow"

Now I have no problem with giving local youngsters the chance to gain a bit of experience, but only if (a) they have some talent and more importantly for me (b) that they have the mental maturity to handle the inevitable defeat. This poor kid didn't have either. He hit one very sweet backhand in the opening game, but apart from that had nothing to offer. More worryingly, by about the 3rd game, his body language suggested he had almost given up. He didn't chase anything down, giving up on most balls and when they were hit towards him, he resorted to just trying to chip everything back off both wings. I actually felt sorry for him and there were times when I thought he looked close to tears.

He lost 0&0 in about 25 minutes. I really do question the logic of the person who decided to throw him into this environment. I don't think he could have got anything positive from this experience and it was extremely unfair to put him in that position.

I hope the lad can put today out of his mind and go on to enjoy his tennis.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Over in Vale Lobo, Sizya lost 6-3 6-3

Shame about the youngster, Bob. As you say, no point playing 'just for the experience' if you are really a long way off the level, or don't have the right mind-set just to take it as a bit of fun. It's pretty awkward for the opponent too, it's like taking candy from a baby, you can't feel good about winning.

Well done to Scott and Jonny - hope you're there tomorrow, Bob in Portugal.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Spent a lot of time talking to Jonny today and he even cooked up a bit of lunch for us.

He told me a story about Tennis Scotland. He was looking for someone to hit with and called Tennis Scotland to ask if he could use their tennis centre. When told that the juniors were there hitting at that time, he offered his services to go and hit with those juniors. He remembered an occasion when as a youngster himself, he spent a couple of days hitting with Jamie Baker and says it helped him to improve his game enormously. However his offer was turned down.

So he asked if there was anyone he could go and hit with for some practice. Tennis Scotland then suggested that he could go and hit with Gordon Reid. He initially thought this was a joke, but Tennis Scotland kept telling him that Gordon Reid was World Nº1 and that it would be really good practice for him. Eventually Jonny politely declined and was then told that he couldn't therefore use the tennis centre. He ended up practicing on an indoor grass court against a ball machine as there was nobody to hit with.

I should add at this point that Jonny has total respect for Gordon Reid and his achievements. It would also be safe to say however, that his opinion of Tennis Scotland is somewhat different.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Oops. Tried to edit a post and hit "quote" instead.

Post deleted.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 27th of February 2016 10:56:48 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

What a 'sad' story..... My take-away is that:

1. I don't really blame Tennis Scotland for not letting Jonny come and hit with youngsters if it was last minute - it's a bit of a shame but the coaches will have planned the day round their numbers and with specific drills etc. in mind and won't want to change that.

2. I can't help but think that the person didn't know exactly who Gordon Reid is (or is a moron). And it's not disrespect to Gordon at all - but letting the ball bounce twice and having mobility governed by a wheelchair is not the same sport. Surely they didn't realise ?

3. The truly sad thing, though, is that there was nobody, in the vacinity of the capital of Scottish tennis, for Jonny to hit with. And Jonny's a decent player but not Andy Murray. And he's only wanting to hit. When you read the figures of players in Spain, say, and that they have 16,000 more coaches than GB, you know that - just like France - any reasonable club would have half a dozen players, at least, who could hit with Jonny, no problem, and the big clubs would have at least 20-30. The lack of depth in tennis here penalises everyone.

domara · Junior player

Hi all, just to add. I was present when Jonny spoke to TS on the occassion mentioned by bo b and it was meant to be a clear the air call. Jonny was frustrated that he felt he was working very hard, was moving in the right direction ranking wise, winning some itf doubles making some semis in singles and was just not getting any help from TS in any way. He and I both thought that TS were simply not getting the picture of what Jonny needed to make the next step, that was his frustration. The Stirling setup is and has been great for what its setup for but it cannot provide for what Jonny needs right now which is world class hitting and training. That's not us being big headed or above our station its just fact. So Jonny offered his services to TS to help with the youngsters to see what a young pro has to go through to make the next step (I'd argue they'd learn much more from a talented struggling pro than an Andy, or Rafa, or Roger), plus he's a hardworking hitter! In return the hope was that TS might consider some support for their number 2 player, which has been sadly lacking for some time. This is the real frustration for Jonny, he knows what he needs, he's identified where he can get the input he needs and he's not sure why TS

will not support him trying to become world class and instead just keep offering the same thing.As Jonny said hes a friend of and hugely admires Gordon, he respects the skills and efforts of university tennis players, but they have, understandably, a different agenda. In the meantime we as parents support his tournie schedule but his tennis training outside that is pretty nonexistent (he uses a local supportive gym for S and C. Is it really too much to ask your national governing body to help support your second best players training needs?
Can I just add, yes, we know Jonnys not Andy, there's only one! But its players like Jonny who could be top 100 top 50 that need the careful support of a body like TS to give the talented youngsters the more realistic targets they could be capable of. we need the thoughtful support of those holding the financial reins to communicate with, and work out what is individually best to get more players backing up the likes of Andy. That's all we and Jonny ask for.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

When I wrote Jonny's not Andy, I only meant it should be slightly easier to find a hitting partner (not that hitting partners really need to be anywhere near the same level but obviously there's a correlation).

I didn't in the slightest mean Jonny is less of a priority - in fact, quite the opposite. As you say, Andy doesn't 'need' help. Jonny does.

But my point is still that there simply isn't the players there. It's all very well him maybe helping the juniors and it's a great idea - but it's not what Jonny needs, long term, either.

The fact that you say his tennis training is pretty nonexistent means it's not working. After all, do Tennis Scotland have other players that they're hiding away? Presumably not. So I guess what you'd like - and what Tennis Scotland should definitely provide - is a coach, for training at the centre (not for traveling, necessarily).

But if they refuse, for whatever short-sighted and ridiculous reasons, there's no point bashing your head against a brick wall on a point of principle. Presumably he's thinking of moving. To Notts, maybe, and linking up with the men there. Or to Spain.