Week 37 - Vietnam F4 ($10,000) - Thu Dau Mot City (Hard)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Week 37 - Vietnam F4 ($10,000) - Thu Dau Mot City (Hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Well I learn something every day. Didn't know that. I first saw him about 18 months ago where he was playing qualies in Portugal and working with Beechy. I saw him again in Portugal this year and it is clear he is a clean striker of the ball. Next year will (hopefully - injury permitting) be his first full year on the circuit so we will begin to see exactly ho good he can be. He certainly has ambition and drive. I bumped into him at Wimbledon just after Willbomb's victory over Berankis. Told him that he could be doing that in a couple of years time. There was a sparkle in his eye when I said it and he responded - I really hope so.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob, I'm not swearing it's gospel ! It's not firsthand and website info is not always to be relied on ...

As I say, my guess (and only a guess) would be that he spent some time there, age 16 or so: some academies still post about previous players, not just current ones (and quite right - it gives a sort of alumni feeling, I like it). And even ones who just do a 3-month stint or whatever. But ask him next time you bump into him

Anyway, glad to hear that he sounds motivated and up for it.

I only saw him at the Nike junior event at the Bank of England club a while back now. But really nice technique (seemed slightly clay-based to me but I might be remembering wrong) and athletic too.

And we have a dearth of 1997s and 1996s - would be good for Joel to step up to the plate

AND he's not named Josh ! (Close but not.....)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Interesting that you should describe his style as "clay based" as one of the first things Beechy said to me is that he reminds him a bit of a young Kyle.

indiana · Tennis legend

Great stuff.

Some old moaner was just a few days ago going on again about our young guys and pointing out that we had no teenagers in the top 1200 in the world. And undeniably that's not clever.

Well that was then. Now with 6 points so far Joel will certainly be well inside the top 1200 on Monday week, indeed fairly close to the WR 1000 mark. One more win this week and he'll be well inside and onto the British top 25 table.

Wonder what I can have a moan about next. Gee that Davis Cup, absolutely doomed I tell you ...

steven · Tennis legend

Joel edged the 1st set tiebreak 8-6

Edit: He's just gone a break up in the 2nd too 7-6(6) *4-3 (though looking back, he got pegged back from 5-2 up in the 1st to 5-5, so it's certainly not over yet!)

Edit: Joel had a match point against the serve. That was saved but he is now serving for the match at *5-4 in the 2nd ...

steven · Tennis legend

Joel serving for the match ...

30-0, 30-15, double fault 30-30, 40-30 match point, 2nd serve ... deuce
Now it's break point, 2nd serve again, bp saved

3rd match point (2nd in this game) ... double fault

4th match point ... also saved

Ace! 5th match point ... noooo, Ito saves that too!

6th match point ... oh you have to be joking

Ace! 7th match point ... aaaargh

8th match point ... I dooooon't believe it!

9th match point ... I still don't believe it

10th match point - come on Joel, finish him off!

Yes!!

So, having never been past R2 before, Joel has only gone and beaten a former top 350 player (even now ranked over 500 places above him) in straight sets to make the Final!

SF: Joel Cannell WR 1276 beat Yuichi Ito (JPN) WR 754 (CH 325 in 2010) by 7-6(6) 6-4

That means he'll knock Dave Rice out of the GB top 25 table on Monday week and he should be ranked in the top 950, well over 300 places higher than he is now, and that's even if he loses the Final.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I didn't see this coming - fantastic news.

steven · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
He was definitely (I thought !!! Am I going mad???) at the Henin academy in Belgium a while back. Or at least, his name was on their list of players, there were pictures and I found a couple of their tweets about him, eg.

JustineHeninAcademy
@JustineHeninAc

Joel Cannell reached the main draw in the Future of Westend, Belgium. Congratulations @joelcannell !

Mind you, he might have only been there a short period, as a 'temporary student', so to speak.

Yes, I've only seen him play once, and he was slightly injured, but he was straight on my list as a really interesting one to follow.

Confirmation that he was at the Henin Academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEDFV09dl84

steven · Tennis legend

FINAL: Joel Cannell WR 1276 v (1) Dayne Kelly (AUS) WR 355 (CH 311 in 2010)

DF · Tennis legend

Brilliant from the young man. biggrin
GL in the final!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Great stuff.

Some old moaner was just a few days ago going on again about our young guys and pointing out that we had no teenagers in the top 1200 in the world. And undeniably that's not clever.

Well that was then. Now with 6 points so far Joel will certainly be well inside the top 1200 on Monday week, indeed fairly close to the WR 1000 mark. One more win this week and he'll be well inside and onto the British top 25 table.

Wonder what I can have a moan about next. Gee that Davis Cup, absolutely doomed I tell you ...

biggrin

Keep up the good work, Indy. Britain needs you !

Oh, yes, and congrats to Joel too

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Wow. And the hits just keep on coming - well from Vietnam anyway. So pleased for Joel. After yesterday's disappointment in Glasgow, this has really cheered me up.

Go Joel.

Spectator · All-time great

Excellent results.

steven · Tennis legend

A great week but the top seed proved to be a step too far:

FINAL: Joel Cannell WR 1276 lost to (1) Dayne Kelly (AUS) WR 355 (CH 311 in 2010) by 4 & 2

Worth mentioning though that 6 games was more than anyone else took off Kelly all week (the others won 5, 4, 5 & 5 games), so Joel proved to be a very worthy of 2nd place here!