Week 13 - Challenger (€42,500 +H ) - St Brieuc, France (hard)

paulisi · Tennis legend

Week 13 - Challenger (€42,500 +H ) - St Brieuc, France (hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

paulisi wrote:
One more win for Evo should see a new CH - unfortunately it may be at the expense of another Brit, if Ed wins tomorrow.

He needs to make the SF for a new career high. The best he could do off of a QF would be to match his current high of 123.

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Going by this live ranking he would need to reach the semi finals, so Two wins.

thejester · Satellite level

I fancy Dan to remove any doubt and win the whole thing again this week. Just call me Optimist Prime

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Me too, I'm a believer

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

Great to see Dan on a roll. Anyone know his plans over the clay court season? He's not really played on clay since 2013

RJA · Hall of fame

savva0122 wrote:
Great to see Dan on a roll. Anyone know his plans over the clay court season? He's not really played on clay since 2013

He hasn't entered anything for the next three weeks and it is possible that French Open qualifying aside he won't play on clay. Week commencing the 25th April there is a challenger in Taiwan on carpet followed by two hard court events in South Korea or one in Uzbekistan. A couple of those events may be more appealing to him than playing on clay but we will have to wait and see what his plans are.

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

We've speculated about his plans previously, I don'y thinnk anybody knows, maybe not even Dan himself. Dan doesn't like clay and he doesn't like Asia either. However, if he avoids the clay and Asia, his next tournament would probably be the Manchester grass court challenger - 8 weeks without playing. That couldn't be described as maintaining his momentum! If he does go to South Korea, he would most likely be seeded. Some good results there would put him on the cusp of the top 100 which must certainly be an objective.

Robin · Lower Club Player

Asia, he can learn to like. Clay, maybe not so much?

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Love his ITF profile : preferred surface: clay

RJA · Hall of fame

stevemcqueen wrote:
We've speculated about his plans previously, I don'y thinnk anybody knows, maybe not even Dan himself. Dan doesn't like clay and he doesn't like Asia either. However, if he avoids the clay and Asia, his next tournament would probably be the Manchester grass court challenger - 8 weeks without playing. That couldn't be described as maintaining his momentum! If he does go to South Korea, he would most likely be seeded. Some good results there would put him on the cusp of the top 100 which must certainly be an objective.

It doesn't have to be South Korea. He could play Taiwan (25/4) and Uzbekistan (2/5) followed by a week off then Roland Garros qualifying (16/5) or he could look to play on clay somewhere in Europe between now and Roland Garros (where he will surely turn up even if it is just for the first round prize money). Either way I would be surprised to see him go 6 weeks without playing somewhere.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

He generally doesn't play in April and in the past when he went to RG he played the Rome Challenger 2014, no RG in 2013 but a Swedish Futures win. No tournament play in April and a couple of weeks in Eygpt Playing futures worked well for him last year.

A clay court challenger and RG would be consistent with 2014.

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

I don't think he'll fancy Uzbekistan! Do you remember the scary week that Johnny Marray had a decade or more ago? They might be a little strange in S. Korea, but they are much friendlier than the Uzbeks! Craig Murray wrote a book about his time there (he was British ambassador). Highly, highly unpleasant regime! Anyway, I am hoping to watch several of Dan's matches this week.

paulisi · Tennis legend

When is the cut off for French Open entries? He may push for direct entry and I suspect will want some clay court practice before either main draw or qualifying.

RJA · Hall of fame

paulisi wrote:
When is the cut off for French Open entries? He may push for direct entry and I suspect will want some clay court practice before either main draw or qualifying.

The cut for the French Open is 11th April so it is all but impossible for him to make that since he isn't playing next week. If he were to win this tournament the highest he could go would be 106 and that won't be enough.

What would be a worthwhile aim would be a direct entry to Wimbledon. I know he is basically assured of a wild card but it would be great for him to make it "on merit". He has till the 16th May to get his ranking high enough for that.