Week 30 - Portugal F10 ($10,000) - Castelo Branco (hard)

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Week 30 - Portugal F10 ($10,000) - Castelo Branco (hard)

Nix · Futures level

Fab news. Well done!

domara · Junior player

I'm with Scottie !

indiana · Tennis legend

domara wrote:
I'm with Scottie !

You're biased biggrin Wouldn't it be great though.

domara · Junior player

Just a bit Indiana! But if this gives him the belief in himself that I think he lacks, then I would say its a very acheivable target. Anyway let's see eh?

RJA · Hall of fame

200-250 is probably the point were a player has some prospect of being able to scrape out a living from playing tennis. Any player who doesn't at least aspire to reaching that level isn't a professional tennis player in any real sense, they are just someone playing tennis as a hobby.

As to whether Jonny can get to that level, I think he has a chance. There are plenty of dull grinders in the top 200 who I don't have Jonny's talent, and they certainly aren't as interesting to watch. They are however mostly hard working, disciplined players who know how to win matches. Whether Jonny can build his game into something that can get to that level, whether he can deal with the hard work of week after week of grind on the tour, whether he can transition from a fairly excitable young lad into a hardened professional are things that we will only find out in time.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

When I said I thought Scottie was jumping the gun, it was only because of his 'inside the top 250 by this time next year'.

I didn't mean 'never'.

In fact, Jonny has a perfect profile for making it into the top 250/200.

Mathematically, I believe that practically any young player who is about 500 at age 21 will/can make it to 200 by the time they peak i.e. in about 5 years time.

The key thing is not even injury (in my view, although that is vital) but sustainability i.e. can someone who is 300 at age 24-25, say, still keep going? Do they have the money ? The patience? The strength?

And it's here that the British system is fragile and doesn't help - not enough players, so not enough coaching jobs, nor sponsors, nor team tennis, nor money tournaments, not council grants etc. etc. etc.

And eager young things drop out.....(although, as RJA says, one of the key things is being hard-working and disciplined, which is a skill in itself, and - for many - has to be learnt).

But, on paper, Jonny has every chance.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Brilliant Jonny - so pleased to see this progression from the little lad that started a blog all those years ago. Plenty of support around wishing you all the best for your future in this sport we all love.