2017 British Tournaments

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

2017 British Tournaments

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Does this mean it's going to be one of the WTA $125,000 events as well?

the addict · Tennis legend

There was an announcement from the LTA back in April about the grass court season as a whole.

www.lta.org.uk/news/general-news/2016/april/bigger-and-better-british-grass-court-season-announced-for-2017/

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
There was an announcement from the LTA back in April about the grass court season as a whole.

www.lta.org.uk/news/general-news/2016/april/bigger-and-better-british-grass-court-season-announced-for-2017/

I understand that this is an announcement specifically about the Grass Court season and I am not complaining about the changes in place, but I would still love to hear them say that they are going to increase the number of tournaments, particularly at the lower level, during the rest of the year as well. Failing to do so in my opinion, reinforces the perception of most people that tennis is a 1-month of the year sport in the UK.

Even if all they did was reintroduce the ITF Grass court tournaments after Wimbledon, that would be an improvement, although still insufficient in my book.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I bumped into several members of Surbiton TC (including one guy who's on the Committee, or whatever) at a later event and said what a wonderful time I'd had at the Surbiton tournament, having gone about 4 or 5 days in the week (including the paying days), and how good it was etc. etc.

And they said proudly 'oh yes and have you heard that the prize money is going to be doubled next year?'

And I said, 'yes, which is a shame in my opinion and means I'll probably only come more at the start of the week (when it's free) and not during the paying days...'

Blank look

'Because they'll be far less GB players' I explained

And they were quite gob-smacked - apparently, it was something that had never occurred to them....

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 12th of August 2016 10:16:41 AM

Shhh · Challenger level

Thats a great point Coup. The problem with our great Grass season, and even more so as it gets enhanced, is it really serves to attract foreign players here. I am sure we all like to see a Brit do well against a world class opponent but, the odd upset win here and there does not really propell many up the rankings.

$50k at Surbiton attracted a high quality field. $125k will not attract that many more. It'll just pay those that play better.....and that will be largely foreign players.

Its all good news in its own right but, where are the opportunities for British players. Where are the pre Surbiton futures on grass, or the post Wimbledon events?

the addict · Tennis legend

It would be a good idea for the LTA to enhance the British Tour events. Better money there ought to attract more of our players, especially those ranked 500 or lower. They run enough events during the year (28 on the calendar this year, 6 on grass), but they aren't good enough to attract enough ranked players. Only two premier tier events, Felixstowe and Sutton.

paulisi · Tennis legend

For those not aware, Manchester is switching from a men's challenger to a 125k ITF.

RJA · Hall of fame

I doubt that Surbiton will attract a much better field even with the increased prize money. It will presumably retain the same place in the calendar so most top 100 players who want to play that week (and lots of guys have a week off after Roland Garros) will either be in Stuttgart or 's-Hertogenbosch for the ATP 250s which had final cuts of 112 and 104 this year.

I don't exactly object to the changes but this obsession with a month of grass court tennis while ignoring the rest of the year is one of the things that really holds back tennis in this country.

RJA · Hall of fame

Actually I see from the link that Surbiton will move to during the second week of Roland Garros (the slot currently occupied by Manchester) so it will get a better field than this year but probably not much better than Manchester got.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
I doubt that Surbiton will attract a much better field even with the increased prize money. It will presumably retain the same place in the calendar so most top 100 players who want to play that week (and lots of guys have a week off after Roland Garros) will either be in Stuttgart or 's-Hertogenbosch for the ATP 250s which had final cuts of 112 and 104 this year.

I don't exactly object to the changes but this obsession with a month of grass court tennis while ignoring the rest of the year is one of the things that really holds back tennis in this country.

Couldn't agree more.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

I've always thought a home nations challenger tour might generate interest. By that I mean a Challenger in Glasgow, Cardiff and London or Birmingham. Surely things like this should be looked at.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

When I asked Beechy a few years ago about the lack of Challengers in the UK, he told me that LTA policy was to not put on any Challengers as we didn't have any players who would benefit from playing that level. He also told me (his opinion rather than LTA policy, I think) that as soon as we had players playing at that level they would be re-introduced.

Well as of Monday we will have 10 players inside the Top 300. That doesn't include Ed Corrie who has made a Challenger final this year. It doesn't include Dan Cox who we all know is capable of playing Top 250 tennis now he is back on the circuit. It doesn't include Marcus who clearly has the ability to make an impact at Challenger level and there are one or two others on the cusp as well. Add to that, we have also had 3 all GB (overseas) Challenger finals within the last few months and Brits have been represented in 8 separate Challenger finals in 2016 (including Aptos this week) with 5 different players involved.

LTA - I think the time has come.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 13th of August 2016 10:52:27 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
When I asked Beechy a few years ago about the lack of Challengers in the UK, he told me that LTA policy was to not put on any Challengers as we didn't have any players who would benefit from playing that level. He also told me (his opinion rather than LTA policy, I think) that as soon as we had players playing at that level they would be re-introduced.

Well as of Monday we will have 10 players inside the Top 300. That doesn't include Ed Corrie who has made a Challenger final this year. It doesn't include Dan Cox who we all know is capable of playing Top 250 tennis now he is back on the circuit. It doesn't include Marcus who clearly has the ability to make an impact at Challenger level and there are one or two others on the cusp as well. Add to that, we have also had 3 all GB (overseas) Challenger finals within the last few months and Brits have been represented in 8 separate Challenger finals in 2016 (including Aptos this week) with 5 different players involved.

LTA - I think the time has come.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 13th of August 2016 10:52:27 PM

Just a bit !!

paulisi · Tennis legend

It looks like a change of plan for the women 15ks.Wirral has got a second tournament for the ladies. Also got told there was a chance that Barnstaple (men) was going to get upgraded to 25k with the help of a local sponsor. Seems to have fallen through.