Bambo has a lot of points to defend soon and has really struggled this year. Another whose ranking could nosedive

From everything one sees and hears, it's certainly not the last. These appear to be two very hardworking, focused - and clearly very gifted - people. But it is a tough world out there. And I do sometimes wonder for some of the young players (not just GB ones) who have been so focused on tennis all their lives whether they might, if things aren't going entirely brilliantly, benefit from a little time off to do something else ... a sabbatical as it were. I should imagine that going from one tournament to another all the time, if you're experiencing some early losses and then working out what to do before going on to the next one and thinking about funding and worrying about the future would all get quite wearing. So a three month break to do something completely different - keep training, maybe, but take on another role, amass a little money - could be the 'change that's as good as a rest'.

In fairness, I think the two LBs (and someone else? can't remember) did have a training break together this summer. And they have had time together with Mark Hilton on the road in that long trip last year.Equally, there was that long trip with Alex Ward, Dan Evans and others to Asia, alongside assorted coaches. So some is happening, which is good.

But looking more widely, there's just an entirely different feel to the programmes. I just - out of interest - compared the combination of BritishTennis tweets since the beginning of October to Martin Blackman's, the USTA and USTA-Player Development accounts. It's not a fair comparison, as it doesn't include any individual from the UK - but that's because Michael Downey and Peter Keen don't tweet, and to the best of my knowledge there's no visible person (on Twitter) with the player development role. Mark Hilton tweets - and well - but he's just focusing on his players. And yes, I know that Twitter isn't reality ... but it can give a sense of an institution's tone.

The LTA tennis tweets - barring a number of quite good ones around tennis and mental health on Mental Health Day - are all about either the established top-100 players (Murray, Konta, Edmund, Broady, Watson) or children. No juniors. No futures. No challengers. Nothing about Katy Dunne's good run in Australia, for example. Or Scott Clayton's doubles wins. Or the Hurst/Sainsbury doubles title at Roehampton. Or the G4 junior doubles win last week. Granted, these haven't been the best of weeks for our players (outside the top 100) but those could all have been mentioned.

The institutional USTA tweets aren't that far ahead - though they do note futures wins. By contrast, tweets and RTs from Martin Blackman alone have mentioned by name: Taylor Fritz (multiple times including for visiting a hospital in Shanghai), Jack Sock (1st round win Shanghai to congratulate), Shelby Rogers (RT of what she said about an opponent), Shelby Rogers and Alison Riske, commenting favourably on their resilience and toughness, Louisa Chirico (WTA award for newcomer), Madison Keys (several, including RT congratulations on CH), Frances Tiafoe (multiple times incl top 100 and Stockton win ATP RT), Steve Johnson (encouragement for match v AM), Venus Williams (RT re: tournament win), Francesca DiLorenzo and Ena Shibihara (congratulations for performance in collegiate championships), Noah Rubin (after Stockton finals, praising his 'fight'), Peter Kobelt (for reaching Israeli Futures final), Sachia Vickery (wishing her good luck in the 25K finals at Redding - no mention of any of our women there on the LTA feed), BMS (congratulations after win in China), Jarmere Jenkins ("Keep up the good work! Proud of you!" after title in Australian futures ... not to mention tweets after he won the SF), Michael Mmoh and Mackenzie McDonald (included in RT about the all-American Stockton SF), Nicole Coopersmith (RT of USTA congratulations on her 10K win), Maria Sanchez (RT of her tweet about winning ITF doubles titles), Sonya Kenin ("great tournament" for finalist at Red Rock ITF), junior Fed and Davis Cup semis teams (including congratulations to them, after loss to Canada, for their strong efforts), Raymond Sarmiento (twice - before French futures final to wish luck and then congratulations on French Futures Final - "Best of luck next week and keep the momentum going"), Danielle Collins and Courtney Dolehide (finalists in an ITF - "Always love a #TeamUSA final - get better soon, Caroline"), Rajeev Ram (congratulations on doubles title), and Nicole Gibbs.

Yes, part of it is that we haven't had as much success these opening weeks. And that they have a lot more players playing at a high level. But the feel is just completely different: everyone noticed, personal comments to people, encouragement. Rather like Steven here (though without his infinite command of statistics and history!). Hurrah for @gbtennis! But it might be nice if something similar occasionally came from people in the LTA ...

And it helps you to understand why they (the USTA) may be implementing things that spread their resources better and help more players. The remarkable thing amongst our players is that they themselves seem to be extraordinarily good at building a team mentality despite the 'favoured few' approach often taken by staff.

-- Edited by Spectator on Wednesday 12th of October 2016 02:24:30 PM

'Form is temporary whilst class is permanent' I'm sure Broady will come good and achieve a top 100 ranking.

Bambridge's movement suits the doubles game and not the singles, IMO, how far he will get on the doubles circuit is dependant on what funding he can gather.

L32:  Juan Manuel Benítez (COL) WR 801 defeated (WC) Tommy Bennett UNR 2-6 7-6(1) 6-2

Tommy seems to have put up a bit of a fight.