Boys & Girls: Trofeo Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain - clay - Grade 1 (Week 14)

Yaz3890 · Improver

Boys & Girls: Trofeo Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain - clay - Grade 1 (Week 14)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Thanks for your candid contribution Yasmin, and I hope that your family's year improves rapidly.

The player who Jay lost to is regarded as a big talent, and was part of the successful German under 14 team in his year (along with Molleker, who Ryan beat). It was a big blow to the German Federation when Nicola decided to return to playing for Spain earlier this year (he has a German father and Russian mother but has been based in Spain for many years - see newbawlgame.blogspot.co.uk/ for instance).

SF

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) v (5) Ryan James Storrie

indiana · Tennis legend

Thank you so much for contributing here, Yasmin, and all the very best for your father. Hopefully 2016 will get better for your family.

It is much appreciated when family, coaches etc, indeed occasionally players themselves, take the time to add to the picture we have and provide more context.

People do speculate often here ( frankly it would be much more boring if folk didn't ) with agreement or challenges from others and to be honest some also DO pass judgements ( and I don't exclude myself in that ) so again it is good to have a fuller picture.

All the very best to Jay, Ryan and the other Brits. I have made no secret of my concern at the overall standard and depth in the British male young seniors and juniors with the ranking facts worrying ( the latest I noticed, though you could pick quite a lot, is that Cameron Norrie is the only Brit under 21 in the top 1000 ). And I am greatly behind these individuals that are trying to break through and the people behind them, in a number of cases with seemingly strangely very limited help from the LTA direction and often many sacrifices. With such a current relative dearth it is all the more important to recognise these who really have something and aid such as Jay and Ryan.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 9th of April 2016 04:50:17 PM

paulisi · Tennis legend

Jay is still going in the doubles and a good run could see a further rankings climb.
Although rankings aren't that important, they do create profile and interest from sponsors.

It's good to see Jay is only planning on playing the bigger junior events and more ITF events, which is needed if he is to transition to seniors.
Ryan probably should start following the same route.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Yaz3890 wrote:
Sorry if my first post seemed blunt, but I don't think what was said about Jay is at all fair.
My father was admitted on Xmas eve, went into heart failure and had open heart surgery on New Year's Eve, when we left for Aus he was still in intensive care. It's been a tough year and we have tried to maintain as much normality as possible. I hope to get Jay back playing a lot more over the next few months with his primary focus on futures and a few high level junior events. Whatever people say about Jay he has been 15 in the world.. Pretty hard to 'fluke' it and considering there were a lot of Brits in attendance at the tournaments he won/ did well in.. I think people should cut him some slack. Based on the rankings and stats Jay has actually played less than most of the other Brits and still 100 points higher than the next in line.

I think you have made too much of Oakland's comments. They were not insulting in any way, merely his opinion of Jay's schedule versus Ryan's schedule. And such opinions are valid on a board like this, without them it would merely be a results reporting site. It doesn't mean his interpretation of the available information is the best one, the only one or even a correct one but it is his opinion and I believe he was as entitled as the rest of us to post it and open it up for discussion. And it has generated some good debate and given the rest of us some interesting information about Jay. I just don't think the post should have been jumped on and dismissed as BS.

We are all aware that players and parents read this board from time to time and are careful not to be insulting or offensive and (thankfully) we have very vigilant mods if anyone steps over the line in that regard.

As with all other posters, I wish your father a speedy and full recovery from his health problems And Jay every success with his tennis.

Yaz3890 · Improver

Whilst I do appreciate everyone is entitled to their own opinion there is no misinterpreting 'being found out'. Jay hasn't played on clay this year and has had 2 days training at NTC before this week as there's none open up North. I don't think playing a Spanish guy (who's also ranked top 40) in his own backyard results in 'being found out'.. Just not his day. Quarters first tournament back is decent and a step in the right direction. I do read the board from time to time and I think some of what is said can be very disheartening esp as I find most of posts on Jay are negative and don't reflect his current situation.
Also on a lighter more positive note the LTA are stepping up and will be taking the higher ranked boys to some tournaments in the summer.

indiana · Tennis legend

Good to hear re the LTA 'stepping up'. And thanks again, Yasmin, for all the context re such as Jay's 'break' since the Aussie Open, his lack of clay preparation and his opponents and timing of matches. Seems a pretty decent return from this first week back.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 9th of April 2016 02:14:34 PM

DavidC · Tennis legend

Close but Ryan is edged out. Jay though has reached the doubles final (Fran lost out in the quarters)

Boys SF

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) d. (5) Ryan James Storrie 4-6 6-4 7-6(0)

Doubles F

(1) Clarke/Sigouin (GBR/CAN) v (5) Davidovich Fokina/Guell Bartrina (ESP) or (2) Matuszewski/Zuk (POL)

paulisi · Tennis legend

Jay picks up an extra 10pts in singles and either 13.75pts from doubles or 20pts if he wins the final so should see a small climb in the rankings next week.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

That's great news that the LTA are beginning to provide some support for the best boys (and hopefully girls) we have playing junior tennis.

From my experience on this board those contributing are desperate to see all British players succeed.

Personally I would be delighted if both Ryan and Jay went on to great things.

More than most I have an intimate understanding of how important the health of ones close family is and how stressful ill health can be ,there are times when work definitely has to take a backseat. I am sorry to hear your family has had such a tough time this year and hope your father gets well and enjoys watching Jay progress over the summer.

I don't think being "found out a little" was harsh in the context of the statistical data and streamed games we have available, many on here try hard to watch as much tennis as we can and stay in gainful employment. Much of the joy of being a fan of any sort is around aimless speculation about your team's performances be it good or bad, unfortunately there aren't many who have such a niche interest as British tennis that stretches beyond the Murray brothers.

We can't meet down the pub to chew the fat and therefore do it via this bulletin board and although results are interesting, as with all sport it is the opinions they generate that sustains our/my interest.

I am delighted that you have posted and put a new context to Jays recent performances which hopefully will lead to a fine summer, at any point if you think what is being discussed is nonsense by all means correct me/us, I think Indy speaks a lot of nonsense smile but can't contradict him too often as it results in a slanging match (and he's a moderator, that's also idyl speculation based on limited data)

Jay is arguably the best junior male tennis player we have and therefore very much part of our team.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 9th of April 2016 06:23:54 PM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 9th of April 2016 07:16:12 PM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 9th of April 2016 07:50:59 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree with The Optimist.

I have a lot of time for Jay's tennis and have posted that opinion on here last year, noting (I seem to remember) that he had great athleticism. And an exciting serve (among other things).

And I have watched the Clarke family at several events and been impressed by how united and connected they are. And obviously have a font of tennis knowledge and experience.

I also heard about Mr. Clarke's health at the start of the year, and was very sad to hear it, and wish him, and all the family, all the best.

But I agree with The Optim (and Oakland) that it was not a personal comment and should not be taken as such. This is a forum: opinion is welcome, and there is even a factual basis.

Because, in much the same way that Yasmin notes that Ryan has not beaten a top 100 player this week, it is perfectly fair comment to mention that the Grade 2s that Jay won last year were slightly weaker in level than the average Grade 2.

It is not a criticism of Jay, in the same way that I don't take it to be a criticism of Ryan by Yasmin.

It's just an acknowledgement that tennis is not an exact science, and that results in tournaments always involve a multitude of factors.

I would argue that the singles points that both Ryan and Jay got this week are slightly flukey - after all, they both won their R1 match 9-7 in the third set TB. They could both, SO easily, have not been around for R2.

But they were. And the points came.

The bottom line is that junior rankings really do not matter to either player any longer. They are a temporary means to an end. And why not? Enjoy the last Junior Grand Slams, and good luck to both.

There is an unhealthy level of competition in junior tennis in the UK, in my view, in trying to be the number one Brit. One player's success should not threaten another.

Next year both Ryan and Jay will both just be part of the great unwashed. Lowly ranked young adults, in the mix, with countless other lowly ranked young adults. Junior stardom (or not) will be ancient history.

I wish them both (and all the others) the very best.

indiana · Tennis legend

Total aside : re my illustrative name call, I didn't know I was a moderator

By the way, I have read and read above again, and not sure why / where we got into things being taken as insulting as against more simply being strongly disagreed with ( with reasons ), which everyone seems to agree is fair enough. Many do indeed want discussion and debate as distinct from just results.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 9th of April 2016 07:59:07 PM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Sorry I based that assumption on the limited information I had available, and the moderators are so good!

Yaz3890 · Improver

Boys lost 6 and 1, had chances in the first but Polish lads ran away with it in the second. Decent week overall got a nice trophy and lovely pic with Ferrero :)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Now if only I was a bit more conscientious and read this section of the forum as much as I read some of the others, then I may very well have gone up to see a couple of matches in the early stages of this tournament last week. The Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy is less than an hour from where I live and I have been there on a few occasions in the past.

Anyway, congrats to Ryan and Jay on what seems a solid week from both of them and I look forward to following their progress (and that of all our other juniors) more closely as they continue their transition into the seniors and the ITF Futures circuit.