As I have mentioned elsewhere, Billy is very conscious of the fact that under the new structure next year, he has ZERO ATP ranking points, ie those that will be allocated for wins at Main ATP tour, Challenger tour or reaching the final at a 25k. I really believed that Billy had a chance to put that right this week by making the final.

He came so close today. Not sure if he had an MP when Barranco was serving at *5-6 but he was certainly within 2 points of victory at Deuce in that game. A victory today would have put him in a SF and playing for those new ATP points. The SF would have been against the top seed, Sr Toledo Bague. Certainly a tough ask but Billy beat him in a French league match just last month so that may have given him the belief he needed.

But the battle goes on. Billy's plans now are to play the Segovia Challenger next week followed by two challengers in Germany. I am not sure if his Segovia plans have been scuppered as sign in is this evening and he faces a 5 hour drive (not in the Billy mobile I hasten to add). Perhaps they allow players to sign in over the phone. I've heard that some allow that.

Drive safely Billy and keep believing. I still say that when his game is "on" he has top 250 potential at least.

Stircrazy wrote:

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Bob in Spain wrote:

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As I have mentioned elsewhere, Billy is very conscious of the fact that under the new structure next year, he has ZERO ATP ranking points, ie those that will be allocated for wins at Main ATP tour, Challenger tour or reaching the final at a 25k. I really believed that Billy had a chance to put that right this week by making the final.

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I must have missed that post, Bob (I don't read every post in every forum religiously - I haven't the time - so it's easily done  ), so I was blissfully ignorant of that change.  Sounds a bit rough on the likes of Billy.    It goes without saying that I'll be cheering him on in Segovia (lovely little place with a delicious local delicacy, i.e. cochinillo asado - yum, yum!), if he makes sign-in. 

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I think my previous post was in one of the USA threads where we were discussing Luke Johnson's motive for trying out at Challenger level and I was hypothesizing about his motives being similar to those of Billy.

As for cochinillo asado, I will second your "yum yum", but it might be a bit hot for that at this time of the year.

Coup Droit wrote:

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I'm sure I saw a match point on the other guy's serve, at 30-40.

I really thought he had all the momentum then.

As has been pointed out though - even with zero atp points, he (And others) may qualify for the chally main draws by the reserved itf places

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I wasn't sure about the MP.  I peaked out from behind the sofa at 30-30 and then again at 40-40 so wasn't sure.  The Statistical Entity that is Steven also tweeted that he had an MP in the 3rd set.

So close.  Still gutted.

Stircrazy wrote:

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Bob in Spain wrote:

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But the battle goes on. Billy's plans now are to play the Segovia Challenger next week followed by two challengers in Germany. I am not sure if his Segovia plans have been scuppered as sign in is this evening and he faces a 5 hour drive (not in the Billy mobile I hasten to add). Perhaps they allow players to sign in over the phone. I've heard that some allow that.

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Looks as though he didn't make it, Bob:  the qualies draw is out & there's no sign of him.  

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Shame.  Not sure the switch to hard court for a week before 2 challengers on clay again in Germany was such a great move anyway.  After his efforts in the last few days, a mad dash to Segovia would have been a tough ask.

Bob in Spain wrote:

 and he faces a 5 hour drive (not in the Billy mobile I hasten to add).

Is he he no longer living out the back of a van?