Week 20 - Challenger ($150,000+H) - Busan, South Korea (hard)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

RE: Week 20 - Challenger ($150,000+H) - Busan, South Korea (hard)

Priesty · Challenger level

Jeff Stelling wrote:
Some deeply disturbing comments on Jay's loss. To say they've had me tossing and turning all night would be a supreme understatement. Horrid 1000 ranked players don't simply pitch up to Challengers and play at a significantly higher level, which appears to be the premise for scores of earlier posts on here. It is a misguided notion that many on here would do well do disabuse themselves of.

?

All that I think people were collectively saying was that they were surprised and disappointed that Jay lost given that he has put paid to much higher ranked opposition this year and that he started off well in this match. Nothing more than that. And in my case, and I'm sure in others' too, the disappointment is borne of a desire to see him push on and start achieving at a higher level.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Liam on fire at the moment, beats the 7th seed 3 & 1 to qualify for the main draw. Hope he can keep this going for the rest of the season.

indiana · Tennis legend

Ed joins Liam in the main draw, beating the second seed 6-4 4-6 6-4

Spectator · All-time great

Two wonderful wins. Well done!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

FQR: (q5) Ed Corrie WR 335 beat (q2) Takuto Niki (JPN) WR 304 (CH = 276 in March 2015) 6-4 4-6 6-4

FQR: Liam Broady WR 399 beat (q7) Lucas Miedler (AUT) WR 344 (CH = 329 last week) 6-3 6-1

---------------------------------

L32: (Q) Ed Corrie WR 333 v Hiroki Moriya WR 189 (CH 143 May 2015)
L32: Brydan Klein WR 213 vs Marko Tepavac (SRB) WR 369 (CH 174 Oct 2016)
L32: (PR) Alex Ward WR 518 v (Q) Liam Broady WR 412

Not sure I like that bottom draw, but at least it means 1 Brit in R2 and getting 10 points. They both could do with the points though.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 15th of May 2017 06:34:49 AM

Samson · Lower Club Player

Bryan won 6-3 6-0. Really pleased for him, Ed and Liam.

JonH · All-time great

Samson wrote:
Bryan won 6-3 6-0. Really pleased for him, Ed and Liam.

Good stuff - one more win and Brydan could break the top 200.

DF · Tennis legend

Ed lost 4-6 4-6

DF · Tennis legend

Liam came through against Alex 6-2 6-0

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Wow. I did think Liam might have an edge over Alex given that he has had three qualifying matches to acclimatize to the courts, but I thought it would be a lot closer than that. He seems to have really found some form on this trip. So far this week, Liam has dropped only 10 games in 4 entire matches. That's pretty impressive stuff. Let's hope he has more luck against Pospisil than other Brits have had so far this year.

Hard to celebrate a win though when you know both players personally and want them both to progress.

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

It is very pleasing to see Liam having some success. As Bob says, losing just 10 games in 4 matches on hard courts is extraordinary. The real test will be tomorrow against Vasek. Vasek has not been at the top of his ability in the last couple of months (apart from beating the world no.1!). Hopefully there will be a stream before work. Good luck!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Brydan and Matt Ebden lost their doubles, 3-6 4-6

Mark1968 · Intermediate Club Player

Priesty wrote:
Jeff Stelling wrote:
Some deeply disturbing comments on Jay's loss. To say they've had me tossing and turning all night would be a supreme understatement. Horrid 1000 ranked players don't simply pitch up to Challengers and play at a significantly higher level, which appears to be the premise for scores of earlier posts on here. It is a misguided notion that many on here would do well do disabuse themselves of.
?
All that I think people were collectively saying was that they were surprised and disappointed that Jay lost given that he has put paid to much higher ranked opposition this year and that he started off well in this match. Nothing more than that. And in my case, and I'm sure in others' too, the disappointment is borne of a desire to see him push on and start achieving at a higher level.

Have to agree with Jeff on this one. There is a reoccurring theme on this board of posters making ridiculous excuses for some of our players when they have lost to opponents who are ranked well below them / less experienced and who our guys should be beating blindfolded. Neal Pauffley is the perfect example of someone who loses to players he should be beating in his sleep.

If our players are surrounded by people (like on here) who tell them they are unlucky all the time it's no wonder BMT is in the dire state it is.

I'm not saying come on here and slag them off but the British PC 'excuse culture' is getting the players nowhere. Apart from Jay (who needs to improve his serve if he is to step up a level) nobody is making any progress whatsoever. It's clear some of these older guys need a bit of 'tough love'.

Is it any wonder that folks like Vandenberg say what they do when the current state of our tennis is going so far backwards it is alarming.

My comments are aimed at sub 100 ranked players aged 23+ to clear up any confusion, and with Wimby not far off I have never been less excited about any of our guys achieving anything (doubles excluded).

Sorry but this had to be said, I'm sick of reading all The PC BS!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Mark, you have a point. But, just to clarify, I assume you are talking about British male tennis at the moment?

(I'm not saying GB women's tennis is a bed of roses, but I don't think it falls into the same category).

And I completely agree, that the current outlook of male tennis is pretty dire. And I do not usually make excuses.

But I think Priesty was saying that Jeff's comments (and yours) are using a bad example, you could find far better ones.

i.e. people were not 'finding excuses' for Jay, it wasn't a disgraceful loss, against someone he should be 'beating in his sleep' etc. etc.

Jay is young, he has made huge, rapid steps up in the rankings, he got injured at the Davis Cup, in playing on the over side of the world, tennis is not a linear sport, there will always be blips in both wins and losses.

So people 'expected/hoped' he'd win that match (given previous form) but he didn't, end of. No one was finding excuses, just debating the slightly unpredictable nature of tennis.

In short, I agree with your point overall but I think the example it's based on is wrong.