Week 39 - ATP 250 - Chengdu Open - China (hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

Week 39 - ATP 250 - Chengdu Open - China (hard)

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Indy Id be more inclined to reflect on her another poor result and a player who seems to have hit their peak and will now drop down the rankings and who will soon be back 'fearhandin' and moonballing on clay court challengers. But each to their own

indiana · Tennis legend

Well, I tend to disagree and I have hardly been uncritical over the years regarding Kyle as I am sure Oakland would confirm.

He has pretty much plateaued this year for now as can certainly happen at times with players, having previously shown very steady consistent rises. I see little to suggest at this stage and at his age that he is going to go backwards and is to me more likely to move forward again.

He does for me need to show more confidence and authority and see out big matches much better and that will certainly help his progression.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I guess we can debate until the cows come home as to where Kyle will end up and in the end, only time will tell. We all know that there are weaknesses to Kyle's game and players at the top level will exploit those more than lower ranked players. For this reason, as I stated earlier in the year, we need to be patient with Kyle and hope that he is able to plug those gaps and add more to his game. I think he will, in time, but I am renowned for having rose tinted spectacles when it comes to most British players.

However, as I have posted before, it is not unheard of for players to pause in the 40-60 range while finding their feet at this level before pushing on again and I will repost the example of Sñr Carreño Busta, who for reference is 3 1/2 years older than Kyle.

Joined the rankings in 2009.

End of 2009 : WR 553
End of 2010 : WR 344
End of 2011 : WR 136
End of 2012 : WR 654 (Injury lay off)
End of 2013 : WR 64
End of 2014 : WR 51
End of 2015 : WR 67
End of 2016 : WR 30
Current : WR 10

I would not be surprised if Kyle's path was similar, particularly with regard to the 2013-2015 period. He may well plateau again next year, but as long as he keeps learning, there is still every chance that further down the line, he can improve his ranking towards the upper echelons of the game.

What I do know of Kyle, and why I still have the confidence that he can still achieve this, is that he will leave no stone unturned in his efforts to make the best of his abilities. It is his attitude as much as his "fearhand" that give me this confidence.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Sñr Carreño Busta

Sorry to be so pedantic, Bob, but that "ñ" isn't necessary when you abbreviate Señor ("Sr" will suffice).

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
Sñr Carreño Busta
Sorry to be so pedantic, Bob, but that "ñ" isn't necessary when you abbreviate Señor ("Sr" will suffice).

Actually in this part of Spain, putting Sñr is quite colloquial and used regularly. When I talk about "this part of Spain", I basically mean "in my house" wink

I stand corrected of course.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: Lu Yen-Hsun & Divij Sharan (TPE/IND) CR 398 (328+70) defeated vs (4) Dom Inglot & Daniel Nestor (CAN) CR 93 (50+43) by 3 & 3 bleh

JonH · All-time great

Oh dear, disappointing for Dom. It hasnt been a good season really and I dont think Nestor is working out too well as a partner. Yes, very experienced but surely over the hill and not someone Dom is going to be able to move forwards with. Presumably they will play for the rest of the year and then Dom will look for someone else for next year?

JonH · All-time great

Thiem lost in the first round; opens up draw - in addition Mischa Zverev lost in Shenzen first round and Sasha Zverev is 4-1 down to Darcis and about to lose.

Less predicatable than the WTA

-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 28th of September 2017 12:38:29 PM

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

In the Chengdu Challenger Sugita is the only seed left at Quarter Final stage....

There are a lot of tired top players out there just now on the tour. The upcoming Masters may have some interesting results.

Spectator · All-time great

Jared Donaldson strikes me, from the little I've read, as in some ways quite similar to Kyle Edmund. Quiet, not flashy, but very hard working and determined to maximise his talent. I've seen very little of his play, but seem to remember that he's very consistent. Seem to recall he also likes clay and constructs points well. So it would be an interesting match-up, and I certainly think there's no cause for great angst in a loss to him.

No Shenzen thread, but just out of interest, anyone know anything about Zhizhen Zhang? Can't recall him at all, but some interesting wins.

-- Edited by Spectator on Thursday 28th of September 2017 04:56:28 PM

TMH · Futures qualifying

Jaggy1876 wrote:
indiana wrote:
Bit disappointing of course, well more especially that first set, but young Donaldson is having a very good year, breaking into the top 100 and close to the top 50, indeed #50 ( higher than Kyle ) in the race. So on a court by the sounds of it quicker than Kyle would prefer the result itself is not a big shock.

Good to hear that he had fully recovered from his neck issue ( and hopefully that is all still fine ) and move on to hopefully better weeks to come in the closing months of the season.
A bit disappointing Indy??? Yes a seeded player in an ATP gets bagelled in the 1st set against a challenger player. I'd hate to see what more than a bit would be. Think Kyle will be playing more tournaments beginning with the 1st 2 letters of this tourny pretty soon.

Challenger player, hahaha.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

indiana wrote:
Well, I tend to disagree and I have hardly been uncritical over the years regarding Kyle as I am sure Oakland would confirm.

He has pretty much plateaued this year for now as can certainly happen at times with players, having previously shown very steady consistent rises. I see little to suggest at this stage and at his age that he is going to go backwards and is to me more likely to move forward again.

He does for me need to show more confidence and authority and see out big matches much better and that will certainly help his progression.

Indy a fair post. I just echo Bobs sentiments in that Kyle stands out from a character perspective as someone who is destined to push on further, a young man who in terms of his transition has consistently walked the walk while his contemporaries faded.

He is the 4 th best ranked player in the world not yet 23, I only see Denis and Zeverev in that list who are substantially better prospects and the world top 40 contains a lot of old bones. I don't doubt we may see a bit of a plateau for the next 6-12 months but that really is a product of his progression, as you say he is now consistently playing better players more often who increasingly will know tactically what works against him. There are lots of areas he now needs to improve on, he too will gain tactical experience at this level, learn how to beat lesser players with absolute economy of effort so he has the energy to go deep later etc.. A real target for me for Kyle would to see him make the top 32 as a 24 year old, he will then be seeded at slams for the peak years of his career and who knows what will happen.

For a 22 year old these are just bumps in the developmental road, it is a product of 5 years of successful transition into senior tennis, he still has all 4 wheels on the tarmac.

I feel that is the consensus view but it is very interesting how constant and relentless posting of a negative view point turns it into virtual reality. I would like to suggest a "Dads army thread" with absolutely no doubles in it, where every one is a challenger player with the potential for a bit of er......... perhaps a bit risky for such a "traditionally" British site..... virtual role play. I nominate Jaggy as Private James Fraser.... so he can unburden himself without contaminating the rest of the site with negativity. Indi as the Verger and Bob as Private Walker. CD has to be Captain Mannering or is that SC? lots of candidates out there for Pike and Godfrey!

To be fair to Vandy who (when focused on tennis) often provokes what one would describe as a bit of lateral thought which is not disinteresting, I can't see where he would fit in but open to suggestions, probably a better fit for Steptoe and son.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 30th of September 2017 06:23:42 AM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 30th of September 2017 02:57:54 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Oakie, that made me giggle right into my cup of tea and snort tea bubbles !

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Of course, what we want to know is .......... Who is Lance Corporal Jones.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Saturday 30th of September 2017 07:47:49 AM