And he's played with Lloyd, hasn't he? And Cam. So Liam or Lloyd or Cam. Whichever.

I'm sure he'll get a Q doubles spot. But he warrants a MD doubles wildcard.

By the way, who does Jonny Marray play with? Will his duo get in as of right?

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 23rd of June 2017 08:35:14 PM

Thanks, GA. Didn't realise that Jonny M was properly retired now.

There are still spaces for doubles WCs and singles WCs.

I'm sure Luke will get a doubles WC.

I think the reason why this so incenses me is something to do with the broader picture of the LTA's responsibility to the young players it selected (when it was doing so) as its 'chosen few'. Luke Bambridge was one of those - and I think the same might also apply to Evan Hoyt. These were young players who came through at a time when the LTA's emphasis was on going immediately onto the Tour, without going for an education. My recollection is that Evan Hoyt actually considered university, but hadn't had the proper advice and had rendered himself ineligible (though I may be wrong). They were encouraged to play. And they did play. And they played for Britain: Evan Hoyt, Kyle Edmund and Luke Bambridge were the first GB team to win the Junior Davis Cup. So it's not as if they were just young players doing things on their own for whom no one had any responsibility.

And then, by age 21, they're on the scrap heap - totally unprepared for any other career, and totally unfunded by the LTA.

Now if what had happened was that it had become clear that they weren't interested in tennis, or didn't have any hope of a career, I might understand it. And Evan Hoyt's situation is complicated by the injuries which mean he's played very little, though showing great promise at times when he has played.

But Luke Bambridge's response was to realise that maybe his singles career wouldn't take off, but he's a good doubles player. And, on his own, to travel without a coach and without a regular partner, and to get his ranking up to 169. You can be ranked top 300 in doubles 'relatively' easily (by which I do not mean it's easy - but that because not all Futures players take doubles seriously, you can, if you are a good player and do, build up a decent points bank). But crossing that 200 threshhold takes quite a lot, and is a significant accomplishment. So a player who's made it - without much support - to 169 is probably a player who with good coaching and a chance to work on his weaknesses could be top 100 and could earn a living for at least a few years.

It seems to me that if you've trained someone for something, encouraged them to go down a route which limits their other options, and allowed them to play for your glory, you may just have a certain obligation - when they demonstrate that despite a lack of support they have the kind of talent and work ethic that gives them a shot at having a decent career - to support them in that. And not to support them by giving them a WC when it has no actual cost to you is just wrong. And not to support them when they've met your criteria and you are supporting other people who haven't is even more wrong.

Rant over. But while I don't like entitlement, I don't like organisations that use people and that operate without a clear sense of justice either. So I hope that either there's something we don't know which explains it all ... or that the WC does come through!

Professional sport is a pyramid system. Across the board athletes are released from clubs, loose their funding etc..Many of us play at different levels because we love it, or aspire to be as good as we can be. Clubs, coaches etc.. will sell the dream at every turn to motivate individuals to commit, there is no such thing as a free lunch (although some benefactors offer more and expect less).

I do feel that the responsibility of the LTA for its athletes is often overstated, it is pretty clear than tennis like every sport is a rat race, tennis is a very technical game and requires enormous amounts of investment through childhood, adolescence and beyond. In the balance of probabilities you won't make it.

I feel there is a pastoral obligation to players under the age of 16 to any organisation that demands commitment that impinges on education. Beyond that upto 18 years ideally there should be a duty of care, but essential every player that has a link or support of the LTA in that age group isn't untrained, they are fantastically skilled and with only minor adjustment easily able to transition into a role in the leisure industry. Good football clubs facilitate vocational training for their youngsters and it is at that level. Responsibility beyond that does not lie with the LTA. As for everyone else it lies with the player and their families, but to be honest for the majority there are just many more opportunities on the table, there are many others who have had very little LTA facilitated opportunity but are still very strong players, tennis through its collegiate and professional structure offers them opportunity also.

On that background has Luke had opportunity in the past? Yes, does he qualify as a candidate for a MD doubles wildcard to facilitate his doubles development? No, qualifying wildcard possibly?

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 24th of June 2017 11:17:11 AM

Oakland2002 wrote:

---

Professional sport is a pyramid system. Across the board athletes are released from clubs, loose their funding etc..Many of us play at different levels because we love it, or aspire to be as good as we can be. Clubs, coaches etc.. will sell the dream at every turn to motivate individuals to commit, there is no such thing as a free lunch (although some benefactors offer more and expect less).

I do feel that the responsibility of the LTA for its athletes is often overstated, it is pretty clear than tennis like every sport is a rat race, tennis is a very technical game and requires enormous amounts of investment through childhood, adolescence and beyond. In the balance f probabilities you won't make it.

I feel there is a pastoral obligation to players under the age of 16 to any organisation that demands commitment that impinges on education. Beyond that upto 18 years ideally there should be a duty of care, but essential every player that has a link or support of the LTA in that age group isn't untrained, they are fantastically skilled and with only minor adjustment easily able to transition into a role in the leisure industry. Good football clubs facilitate vocational training for their youngsters and it is at that level. Responsibility beyond that does not lie with the LTA. As for everyone else it lies with the player and their families, but to be honest for the majority there are just many more on the table, there are many others who have had very little LTA facilitate opportunity but are still very strong players, tennis through its collegiate and professional structure offers them opportunity also.

On that background has Luke had opportunity in the past? Yes, does he qualify as a candidate for a MD doubles wildcard to facilitate his doubles development? No, qualifying wildcard possibly?

---

 

I would read Spectator's post again. In my own opinion it is excellent. 

You are not unaware of my views on Slam MD WCs in general, though I particularly think about singles. We are though where we are with these and it's not likely to change so as I said elsewhere with regard to Tara - at least be unfair fairly.

I concur with so much of what Spectator says and it is not for the LTA, having created so much of the situation, to then mimic society generally and other rather different sports and abandon Luke to some "rat race". 

Luke, having been ranked ahead of Joe until recently, rather lost out to Joe in the now, please find yourself a partner contest ( pity they didn't leave Joe with David and be prepared to WC that regular partnetship, and then say partner Luke with Brydan, who is a much more seasoned doubles competitor than Cam and was already top 200 himself ).

Luke remains still clearly relatively well ranked and I doubt his clear doubles competency has suddenly disappeared. I feel very sorry for him as things stand just now.