Interesting that Joffre (born 2000) who, as said, was beaten by our 2001-born Anton Matusevich only a week or so ago, has qualified here for the MD of a 25k (albeit a pretty weak 25k).
I know there are many different ways to skin a cat but our youngsters seem very reluctant to try their hand at adult tournaments.
I've never seen Anton or Jack Draper (although both very young so more understandable).
Aidan McHugh and Jake Hersey (top 2000-ers) hardly play either.
More seriously, Max Stewart and Finn Bass (both of them 1999, and about to go into their last year as juniors) barely ever play adult pro tennis. And both supported by the LTA. I don't know what gives, it's presumably something to do with how the LTA is structured and assess. But I don't think it makes sense, certainly not for this age....
(NB The same goes for many of the 1998s too, of course, but they're pretty much off the list now).
Dinara Safina, at the US Open, made an interesting point that 'in her day' people played qualies and then stayed on and played juniors - and that she felt the quality of the juniors had gone down, given that people tended only to play juniors. For the boys, it does seem as if it's more of an either/or, and the UK and other countries (as you've often said) seem to differ markedly on which side they choose. In fairness, I don't think many have done a lot on the tour before 17, but it is surprising not to see the 1999s out much.
Interesting that Joffre (born 2000) who, as said, was beaten by our 2001-born Anton Matusevich only a week or so ago, has qualified here for the MD of a 25k (albeit a pretty weak 25k).
I know there are many different ways to skin a cat but our youngsters seem very reluctant to try their hand at adult tournaments.
I've never seen Anton or Jack Draper (although both very young so more understandable).
Aidan McHugh and Jake Hersey (top 2000-ers) hardly play either.
More seriously, Max Stewart and Finn Bass (both of them 1999, and about to go into their last year as juniors) barely ever play adult pro tennis. And both supported by the LTA. I don't know what gives, it's presumably something to do with how the LTA is structured and assess. But I don't think it makes sense, certainly not for this age....
(NB The same goes for many of the 1998s too, of course, but they're pretty much off the list now).
No, it doesn't seem to make much sense at all.* Seems too much time, with some in particular, going here there and everywhere playing juniors rather than taking time to develop their game and adding useful variety
( * ie not playing seniors rather than CD's post )
-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 6th of September 2016 02:08:51 PM
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