Week 19 - Challenger (€85,000+H) - BNP Paribas Primrose, Bordeaux, France (clay)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Week 19 - Challenger (€85,000+H) - BNP Paribas Primrose, Bordeaux, France (clay)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

R1: (3) Mariusz Fyrstenberg & Artem Sitak (POL/NZL) CR 129 (63+66) vs Jonny Marray & Adil Shamasdin (CAN) CR 205 (94+111)

Michael D · All-time great

James is playing now, won first set on a TB 7-6(6)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L32: teve Darcis (BEL) WR 177 defeated James Ward WR 176 by 6-7(6) 6-4 6-2 cry

-- Edited by Stircrazy on Monday 9th of May 2016 08:02:43 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

I take it that the second set was the other way round and they weren't playing doubles or quits or anything like that. Pity whatever.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

I give up on James. Saw most of the third set, had Darcus at 0-30 having been broken and capitulated awfully.

Just so predictable

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

I'd love to say James Bog...etc but miles from that. Futures level tennis these days very sad indeed. Unless he picks up points soon he won't make qualies for the US Open.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I don't think all hope is lost, James although looking a little lacklustre was close to breaking back in the second, there were opportunities at 4-5, Darcis was just able to lift his game to clinch the second and the rest is history.

Unfortunately for them both I had Alexander Zevrev the second on sky simultaneously and the difference in athleticism, pace and power between an up and coming teenage phenom and a couple of journeymen playing patball on what looked like a beautiful Bordeaux evening in front of one man and his dog was stark.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't have Sky but, yes, Oakie, isn't Sascha Zverev an absolute joy to watch?

He's one of my absolute favourite youngsters (beating quite a few of the US young guns, for instance, hands down). Just beautiful in motion.

And another of my 'family' stars - mum was ex-WR 22, dad is ex-top 200 (both when difficult for Russians to travel), brother is ex-top 50.....

RJA · Hall of fame

Coup Droit wrote:
He's one of my absolute favourite youngsters (beating quite a few of the US young guns, for instance, hands down). Just beautiful in motion.

Yes, in full flow he is absolutely great to watch. That being said the repeated histrionics and tantrums are starting to become somewhat annoying.

wolf · Tennis legend

R1: (3) Mariusz Fyrstenberg & Artem Sitak (POL/NZL) CR 129 (63+66) beat Jonny Marray & Adil Shamasdin (CAN) CR 205 (94+111) 6-3 3-6 [10-8]

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
He's one of my absolute favourite youngsters (beating quite a few of the US young guns, for instance, hands down). Just beautiful in motion.
Yes, in full flow he is absolutely great to watch. That being said the repeated histrionics and tantrums are starting to become somewhat annoying.

You're not wrong.

But I've given him until age 21 to grow out of it....

Oakland2002 · All-time great

It's difficult to know why he behaves that way, is it because he is the prodigal son (nurture) or a response to an uncontrollable drive to win (nature), I agree fabulous tennis player but he is going to have to sort it out to retain a non German (Britishtennis.net) fan base.

Spectator · All-time great

Funny ... I almost posted something yesterday after having also seen a bit of Alexander Zverev play. Didn't know about the histrionics - and am sorry to hear about them - but the little bits I've seen of him at work are somewhat staggeringly good.

I wonder whether there's something about being the only one of your age at your level. The little I've seen of Zverev's play is at a different level from, on the whole, the little I've seen of the young Americans ... but they do have the advantage of numbers, which relieves some of the pressure, makes you less likely to believe your own PR, and can, I suspect, involve a fair amount of friendly comment on behaviour that people do/don't appreciate.