Week 42 - ATP 250 - European Open, Antwerp, Belgium (indoor hard)

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Week 42 - ATP 250 - European Open, Antwerp, Belgium (indoor hard)

indiana · Tennis legend

To be fair Oakland, you certainly appear to have never doubted Kyle - which did rather perplex me in past times

I have, for various reasons that I have at times elaborated upon, but most of the things I have thrown up over time have been addressed, particularly this year which has been very progressive on the whole.

Onwards ...

brittak · Satellite level

Many congratulations - super win!

JonH · All-time great

Being honest I have doubted him and have been worried (and am worried) that when the Aussie Open points drop his ranking will fall and see him around 25-30; I always felt he would be a yo-yo-er between sort of teens and 50 in the ranks and nothing wrong with that.I hope he gets some points over next few weeks to replace Aus Open and keep a top rank and I am genuinely happy for him and hope to see him prove me wrong. this could be the breakthrough, good luck to him.

indiana · Tennis legend

Of course Kyle is allowed to replace many of these Aus Open 2018 points at Aus Open 2019

And even if he doesn't, these points have steadily become a lower % of his total ranking points and WR 25-30 is a fair bit higher than was previously being talked about if all these points were not replaced.

Presence and match play ability, 2 biggies for me this year, and I think linked to an extent. Walk the walk and you might more confidently play the match at important stages or at least put more doubt in your opponent.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Congratulations Kyle, ATP singles title holder :D

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

For anyone who missed the match, there is a really good 15 minute highlight package here courtesy of Ace Tennis Studios

www.youtube.com/watch

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

It's probably already been mentioned, but the young man is back up to a career-high 14th in today's rankings. smile There's an interesting fact mentioned in Stu Fraser's report on the match in today's Times:

Not since 2005, when Greg Rusedski won in Newport, Rhode Island, has a Briton other than Andy Murray won an ATP singles title. Edmund is the 12th British male to triumph on the tour and this will surely not be the only time that he tastes success at this level.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Thx for the highlights link Bob. Kyle really has improved his movement, hasn't he. He is working very well with his team. How lucky are we to have another top player to follow, especially whilst Andy is still rehabbing and Dan and Wardy are working their way back.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

What is more exciting is that Kyle developed on the futures and Challenger tour in isolation, admittedly Cam was flying below the radar in college but now has broken out of challengers, Jay is competitive at Challenger level and Jack at 16 already transitioning. George is also an excellent prospect and Anton a dark horse having won the US Open doubles. Hey it even looks like Dan is taking tennis seriously despite Andy's injury it looks like we will have plenty to follow in 2019.

flamingowings · All-time great

Oakland2002 wrote:
What is more exciting is that Kyle developed on the futures and Challenger tour in isolation, admittedly Cam was flying below the radar in college but now has broken out of challengers, Jay is competitive at Challenger level and Jack at 16 already transitioning. George is also an excellent prospect and Anton a dark horse having won the US Open doubles. Hey it even looks like Dan is taking tennis seriously despite Andy's injury it looks like we will have plenty to follow in 2019.

And that's just the men! Quite a few women to watch out for as well biggrin

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Agreed but not so optimistic re the top end. Jo and Hev have drifted making the second week of slams on the ladies side an irrelevance but yes hopefully we will begin to develop more of a presence in the first week in slams other than Wimbledon with Katie B already stepping up.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Oakland2002 wrote:
Agreed but not so optimistic re the top end. Jo and Hev have drifted making the second week of slams on the ladies side an irrelevance but yes hopefully we will begin to develop more of a presence in the first week in slams other than Wimbledon with Katie B already stepping up.

I know it may be a while yet, but Emma is the most exiting prospect for me.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Emma is a really exciting prospect. Though in the shorter term I can see a couple more of our GB top 8 girls joining Katie B in making the top 100 in the next year or so. OK, Harriet and Katie S to put my head further above the parapet.

There's been a great deal of progress and again hitting with numbers gives you more chance. Even with the quite a bit tougher second half of the year some have had, I have been a bit surprised about seemingly quite a bit of negativity about the ultimate prospects for a group that have pushed forward a lot in the last year and are at least where some previous GB top 50 players were at similar ages.

And certainly yes agree potentially very interesting times with the guys and some stories to unfold hopefully in good ways.

indiana · Tennis legend

goldfish wrote:
Thx for the highlights link Bob. Kyle really has improved his movement, hasn't he. He is working very well with his team. How lucky are we to have another top player to follow, especially whilst Andy is still rehabbing and Dan and Wardy are working their way back.

Certainly agree re Kyle's movement. He seemed to be getting in position very well on what looked a fairly fast court. Indeed the commentator particularly commented on his movement after a point in the final set TB. And a) it was indeed simply very good movement, not just relative to the past and b) moving so well at that stage of the match was very encouraging after his issues in the last couple of months.

His backhand too has really come on. Though still a great fearhand to finish it off, again embracing big points and taking them on so much better nowadays.