Week 25 - Wimbledon Men's qualifying

scottie1 · Futures level

Week 25 - Wimbledon Men's qualifying

christ · Futures level

Second set not going all Mr. Corrie's way. 0-5 so far.

scottie1 · Futures level

Ed a break down third set 1-2

scottie1 · Futures level

Ed wine 6-3 1-6 7-5 great day for the men

Shhh · Challenger level

I think thats a very good win for Ed. Good by Joe and Marcus as well of course Its £7,500 to make the 2nd round, even if they go no further this will really help the rest of their years.

indiana · Tennis legend

scottie1 wrote:
verveandsolley wrote:
Had a bit of a fan base here as well! Dan Smethurst warming up, and Salisbury about to come on as well. I have a nifty seat between the two courts...
Marcus is so under rated
Roehampton great tournament I went there three years ago you get close up to the players and not so stuffy as Wimbledon

Great to see this for Marcus

I don't really think Marcus is underrated. Lots of folk, certainly on here, have often talked about his abilties and potential, if maybe not quite to the extent of Gary from A1 who sponsored him. When very occasionally moving onto challengers one got a sense of what might be.

The important person who seems to have had doubts and / or at least not appeared to really go all out to see what he could be is Marcus himself. His choices.

Very good junior, a few seemingly rather wasted years before Gary to his fortune got hold of him and he soared up the singles and doubles rankings to a level much more commensurate with his talents and then for whatever reasons ( and surely very much more than the odd injury - though if more serious than I am at all aware, I apologise ) then didn't push on.

Where to now .... again do much up to him. Though I did read a little while ago of an apparent intention to get back on the circuit from mid year on.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 03:13:12 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Great QR1 efforts ( and results ! ) from these who were deigned worthy of Q WCs.

Well done, guys !

freerider · Futures level

indiana wrote:
scottie1 wrote:
verveandsolley wrote:
Had a bit of a fan base here as well! Dan Smethurst warming up, and Salisbury about to come on as well. I have a nifty seat between the two courts...
Marcus is so under rated
Roehampton great tournament I went there three years ago you get close up to the players and not so stuffy as Wimbledon
Great to see this for Marcus
I don't really think Marcus is underrated. Lots of folk, certainly on here, have often talked about his abilties and potential, if maybe not quite to the extent of Gary from A1 who sponsored him. When very occasionally moving onto challengers one got a sense of what might be.
The important person who seems to have had doubts and / or at least not appeared to really go all out to see what he could be is Marcus himself. His choices.
Very good junior, a few seemingly rather wasted years before Gary to his fortune got hold of him and he soared up the singles and doubles rankings to a level much more commensurate with his talents and then for whatever reasons ( and surely very much more than the odd injury - though if more serious than I am at all aware, I apologise ) then didn't push on.
Where to now .... again do much up to him. Though I did read a little while ago of an apparent intention to get back on the circuit from mid year on.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 03:13:12 PM

A few quotes from marcus here should answer some of your questions

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2016-06-21/willis_back_on_track.html

paulisi · Tennis legend

Nice article - it sort of backs up a couple of rumours and hopefully we will see a new invigorated Marcus later this year and next year on the tour.

indiana · Tennis legend

Thanks for that article, freerider.

Good to see that confirmation of Marcus getting back on the circuit and after injuries etc he is feeling very good, buoyed by European league results.

Of course the headlines 609 place difference in ranking is due to Marcus's very majorly underranking against what he is known to be capable of. But still a really good encouraging result. Good to be reading again of his "rythym busting variety". He not only retains sone real still untapped potential, he is different and enjoyable to watch and at times listen to during matches.

Great that he got that 10th and final ranking place in the Q WC play-offs and then has used it so week to no doubt give himself such a boost before that intended return to the circuit. And his week may have more good things yet.

Be all you can be, mate

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 03:49:35 PM

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Didn't we have someone ranked in the 700's in last years qualifying? I wonder where he is now!?!

indiana · Tennis legend

Madadman wrote:
Didn't we have someone ranked in the 700's in last years qualifying? I wonder where he is now!?!

Nottingham, I believe.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

freerider wrote:
Where to now .... again do much up to him. Though I did read a little while ago of an apparent intention to get back on the circuit from mid year on.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 03:13:12 PM
A few quotes from marcus here should answer some of your questions
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2016-06-21/willis_back_on_track.html

How dare they steal Bob's scoop of the day. furious I was dashing home to reveal the news myself. Aagh, but what the heck. It is good news and that is all that matters.

Whilst I am at it, Dan C also confirmed that he was going to give the tour another full time go. More good news.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bob '20 in the top 500' turns up and we have Marcus and Dan C committing back to the circuit.

Clearly a very persuasive character

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

What a terrific day of tennis, blighted only by the fact that I missed meeting up with Steven by a matter of minutes. Maybe next time.

Marcus was very nervous in the 1st set by his own admission. The forehand wasn't working and simple backhand slices kept finding their way into the net. Sugita has solid groundstrokes, but not much else and even in that 1st set, I was thinking that if only the real Marcus could turn up, he would have a chance. Well, he did turn up. His serve kept it him in the match early in the second set, and as the confidence returned, his mixed bag of tricks started to work and Sugita had no answers. I was so happy for Marcus, and the news that he is going to give the tour another go, rounded off a good day.

Dan S also played pretty well and was evenly matched against Hemery. Dan had a little more control and grass court nouse, whilst Hemery had a bit more flair and athleticism. The first set had just the one break. On BP, Dan hit a great first serve and followed it with a good volley. The backhand pass from Hemery clipped the net as Dan stretched for the volley, although I am not sure he would have quite got there anyway. Dan went ahead early in the 2nd with a break. However, mid set and facing BP, he missed a straightforward forehand put away to give back the advantage. Into the TB and a tough call early at 2-2 didn't help him. Hemery had a lucky net cord, Dan raced in and got to it replying with a dropshot, but Hemery managed to bunt the ball passed him. Did it catch the edge of the baseline ? Dan didn't think so, but the line judge did. Suddenly Dan was 6-2 down, but he then played a terrific series of points to save those 4 MPs. At *6-6, he hit a great serve out wide. I thought it caught the line but again the call went against Dan. He wasn't happy and said so. The 2nd serve went into the net for a DF and Hemery then sealed the match with a flambouyant forehand passing shot. This match could really have gone either way.

Didn't see too much of Joe as I was watching Dan's match. But when I did get over there, what was apparent was Joe's class in and around the net. He has tremendous volleying skills, and picked up a number of very tricky half volleys with such soft hands. I was glad to see a fair amount of support for him and was even more delighted that he was able to turn around a tough situation from a set and 4-5* down. He will be a handful for an player not acquainted with playing on the grass.

The 1st set of Ed's match was a ball striking fest. Both players were timing the ball superbly and this was proobably the best quality match, in that regard, of the day. In the 2nd set, Ed lost his timing somewhat whilst Paul continued to hit winners from everywhere. Sadly, at this point, my back began to fail me and so I left, just as Steven was arriving. So I will have to leave the 3rd set report to him. I was just delighted to see Ed came through in the 3rd to round off what has been a pretty good showing from our Brits in QR1.

Back tomorrow for some QR2 action.