Stircrazy wrote:QR1: Sumner ( ) Chase USA UNR (bloody hell! He'll be 62 in December!) vs Thomas Knights UNR
I hope Chase's age doesn't put "young" (he's nearly 27) Thomas off!
I was intrigued by this match-up, and did some Google research. Sumner Chase is, I think, Derwood Sumner Chase, being the third of that name. I suspect, SC, that Sumner is something of a family tradition as a middle name. Google reveals, in addition to this gentleman, his father and grandfather, at least one other, whether they are directly related or not. Maybe it's a family surname that was co-opted?
Anyway, hurrah for him to be having a go at Futures qualifying in his 60s - even if he does lose 0 and 0. He's on the court and working at it ... good to see.
Stircrazy wrote:QR1: Sumner ( ) Chase USA UNR (bloody hell! He'll be 62 in December!) vs Thomas Knights UNR
I hope Chase's age doesn't put "young" (he's nearly 27) Thomas off!
I was intrigued by this match-up, and did some Google research. Sumner Chase is, I think, Derwood Sumner Chase, being the third of that name. I suspect, SC, that Sumner is something of a family tradition as a middle name. Google reveals, in addition to this gentleman, his father and grandfather, at least one other, whether they are directly related or not. Maybe it's a family surname that was co-opted?
Anyway, hurrah for him to be having a go at Futures qualifying in his 60s - even if he does lose 0 and 0. He's on the court and working at it ... good to see.
He ,has entered 54 ITFs as a qualifier since 2008 with only 6 wins (I am sure others would ban him as inappropriate).
He does however play seniors with more success (but by no means a superstar) and went for it in the first year of over 60s eligibility but missed last year presumably due to injury. He travels quite extensively around Europe and the states to pursue his hobby, in addition to playing plenty with in Florida, not a bad way to spend time.
There is a tennis book "late to the ball" written by a New York based magazine editor, which is an autobiographical account of his attempts to become a national level senior, which although a little self indulgent gives some insight in trying to develop a career competitive game later in life. My interpretation is that undoubtdly the way to be very good at 60 is still to start at 8!
Good luck to Sumner ! (My own 'add-on' to starting at 8 is that, if you want to become a top senior, it most definitely helps if you work in the French public sector and move to the south - it seems to be the route of plenty. With your working life of 25-30 hours weeks and (very) early retirement, you can thereby spend your whole life on the courts, on clay, in the sun, as well as having full health insurance cover for life).
More importantly, though, many congrats to Tom Knights - that's his first ever ATP ranking, in his first every doubles tournament since 2014 (where he lost in R1) and his first win in a doubles tournament since 2010 !!!!!!!!!
NB his last win, in 2010, was partnering GB Alex Golding (?), playing GB Ben Pritchard and Aussie Matt Barton. Shame (for the UK) that Matt Barton was the only one of those to 'make it' but well done to Tom for beating him then, best wishes to the other two, whatever they're doing now, and - again - congrats to Tom on his first doubles ranking
PS Congrats to Tom's partner, Joey, too. He's 31, only played two ITF doubles events before, only won one match - and now, also, has a World ranking. All good....
Add:
Tom and Joey are two of the coaches at the Kiwi club in Florida. Hope they're got a lot of local support ! I love 'feel good' stories .....
Thanks for that, CD. I remember Knights' name from when he was discussed on this board as a junior, but hadn't followed what he'd done since (this was before The Optimist kept us all up to date!) or realised that this was his first ranking. That was a particularly good first round win, too: Dominik Koepfer is no mug. Hope they have good support - and that this does a lot for their 'street cred' at the club!