Week 46 - Challenger ($50,000) - Champaign, IL, USA (indoor hard)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Week 46 - Challenger ($50,000) - Champaign, IL, USA (indoor hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

Thank you for your feedback as always, Oakland.

It's all relative. And in British ranking terms there has been a clear 6 in the top 100 who have separated themselves from the rest for some time. I am sure most* folk know who they I was referring to and I remain perfectly happy with still calling them the "big 6" in a fairly clear context.

"Jingoistic post-truth hyperbole" biggrin - good grief !

* Edit : well most folk with an interest in British men's doubles.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 19th of November 2016 10:01:05 AM

Spectator · All-time great

Well, my criterion would be whether, when the comment is made, I can instantly tell to whom it refers ... and in this case, I can. So it seems fairly apposite! I didn't feel that the claim was being made that this is a 'Big Six' in the same sense as the 'Big Four'.

Odd week this week, in that it felt as if many of the most interesting pairings (Krajicek+, the Belgians, Mmoh/van Rithoven and our own pairs) weren't seeded. Krajicek is excellent. Less certain on Sandgren - haven't seen him play doubles. All the best to the GB team!

Spectator · All-time great

On Livestream now - just watched the first 3 games. 2-1 with a break of serve for the British team. They're playing some good tennis. Did have to laugh ruefully though at poor Tennys Sandgren's stance when Mr Bambridge gave him an eminently hittable second serve at the close of the second game, and he netted it. It was a visual "Nooooo"

Hadn't seen Liam Broady playing doubles in a while. Quite a lot of good stuff there, no?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
As Spectator expected, but not without a struggle (they beat Hach & Krueger by 4-6 6-3 [10-5]):
Final: Austin Krajicek & Tennys Sandgren (USA/USA) CR 632 (119+513) vs Luke Bambridge & Liam Broady CR 617 (258+359)

Lead surrendered: 6-5* to the Yanks. cry

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

First set down the pan by 6-7(4). hmm

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Highly unfortunate netcord when Luke was serving at *4-5 in the breaker. The LBs were at the net and in control of the point until that moment.

Spectator · All-time great

Some very good play in the bits of the first set I saw - and one really not so great game which gave back the break. Luke Bambridge's serve very powerful, but seemed (haven't looked at stats) to be missing quite a few first serves. Some nice (and some very nice) returns, but some problems on low forehands. Liam Broady has some beautiful shots at the net and some good baseline rallies, too. Could very easily see him being a rather fine doubles player.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Final: Austin Krajicek & Tennys Sandgren (USA/USA) CR 632 (119+513) defeated Luke Bambridge & Liam Broady CR 617 (258+359) by 7-6(4) 7-6(2) cry

Spectator · All-time great

Disappointing for them, I'm sure, but a very decent match - and especially so given that it was so new for them to be in the final (and not new at all for their opponents). Lots of good things from them both. 2017 could be exciting.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

"Jingoistic post-truth hyperbole "I was quite proud of that, good to use the word of the year which sums up 2016 perfectly.

Sorry Jamie is head and shoulders above the rest of the boys, and he is the "big one"to which they should all aspire. realistically can you see any of the remaining 5 being a threat in a GS, I can't but completely understand the likes of Dom and Colin Flemming are good enough to makes living out of doubles which in itself is an achievement.

Interestingly both Luke and Liam have had great success at the highest level as juniors and should they both focus on doubles exclusively which I hope Liam doesn't for sometime I am optimistic that that we might aspire to a "Big 3" . I enjoy watching doubles live at the highest level it's fast and exciting but even as a mediocre play I play it reluctantly because you can play to your strengths and hide your weaknesses. Obviously at the elite level these are subtle but in context the concept of a "Big Six" all of whom would struggle to take a set off Liam at singles makes me wince a little. But it is what it is.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Oakland2002 wrote:
post-truth

I have absolutely no idea what that's supposed to mean! confuse Saw it for the first time only a couple of days when it was named the so-called "word of the year" by the Oxford dictionary people! disbelief

indiana · Tennis legend

Point still missed, Oakland, you're making much more of "big 6" than I was ever intending, merely meaning the clear 6 that separate themselves and have for some time in British men's doubles, top 100 for a long time, noone else near. That was my context, and it served as a convenient shorthand re Luke's ranking position at GB #8 behind these 6 and Brydan. Nothing remote to do with "legendary", "GS Slam threat" or whatever, however you wish to strangely nail down "big".

At least Spectator seems on my wavelength here. Anyway, myself, I will move on re this matter, before it really bores others and before I possibly hurt my head banging it against a wall re a perfectly innocuous phrase that I remain perfectly happy with

You can lead a horse to water, you can't make it drink and all that stuff ... and we've tennis to discuss.

-- Edited by indiana on Saturday 19th of November 2016 09:52:45 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Pity re the final for the LBs, but a very good week and they do seem to make a good pair with both clear doubles talents ever since juniors

I certainly agree with Oakland that for some time to come I hope Liam concentrates on singles. He does at times in singles look a bit stale, I wonder if he just plays too many tournaments and less might mean more in a chance to work on his game and retain more appetite for competition. Though it's difficult to be prescriptive re individual schedules.

Luke is maybe less clearcut, but it would still be very young to commit to doubles. I do hope he still works at singles for now, but it just isn't really happening to any consistent level. I hope though that he himself still has belief.

Spectator · All-time great

Oakland2002 wrote:
"Jingoistic post-truth hyperbole "I was quite proud of that, good to use the word of the year which sums up 2016 perfectly.

Sorry Jamie is head and shoulders above the rest of the boys, and he is the "big one"to which they should all aspire. realistically can you see any of the remaining 5 being a threat in a GS, I can't but completely understand the likes of Dom and Colin Flemming are good enough to makes living out of doubles which in itself is an achievement.

Interestingly both Luke and Liam have had great success at the highest level as juniors and should they both focus on doubles exclusively which I hope Liam doesn't for sometime I am optimistic that that we might aspire to a "Big 3" . I enjoy watching doubles live at the highest level it's fast and exciting but even as a mediocre play I play it reluctantly because you can play to your strengths and hide your weaknesses. Obviously at the elite level these are subtle but in context the concept of a "Big Six" all of whom would struggle to take a set off Liam at singles makes me wince a little. But it is what it is.

I too quite liked 'jingoistic post-truth hyperbole' as a descriptor for much of the rhetoric of 2016 ... just not in this context. I think it's pretty clear that all Indiana meant was that we have six players who have been in or around the top 100 for a while, and the rest are not quite at that level yet. And as for any of the other GB doubles players being a threat in a GS, please don't deny me the memory of that wonderful championship in 2012 ... I can remember exactly where I was while listening to it on the radio .... back before GB players winning Grand Slams was something that happened every time you turned on the television. (All right - that probably is 'jingoistic post-truth hyperbole' ... but it has been a good few years)

I'd love to see these two (and a few others) play more doubles and get some really good doubles coaching - like you, I think we have a few players who could be quite strong in doubles. Really glad for them that they got their first final. Upwards and onwards.