Jan Choinski

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

RE: Jan Choinski

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

Good luck to the lad.

Vandenburg · Futures level

I think this is fantastic news, and is totally different situation to Aliaz Traitedene.

This for me is the same as Greg R, this guy is entitled to change to GBR as he as a British mother. Or like KP in cricket. I am against players changing nationality through naturalization. Or the worst is all the Kenyan/Jamaican runners representing Qatar, Turkey etc. This is a disgrace.

I wonder what Evo will say? Or do we have to wait for Russel Fuller to stir it up first?

Oakland2002 · All-time great

He has obviously moved for the fiscal advantages Brexit will offer.

Economic migration; I have absolutely no problem with it; without it the U.K. would be absolutely stuffed. No cleaners, no builders, no plumbers, no carpenters, no fruit pickers, no nurses, no doctors. Its not like he does anything really important and its a great shame that British young people are about to loose the opportunities they have to work across Europe. Lots of things to learn and bring back. Are we awash with players on the cusp of Wimbledon Qualifying, no. Do we have about 100 players of either sex advancing their game in the US College system, because it suits the Colleges and the players, yes.

Does he have the unquestionable right to come to Britain, absolutely. Welcome. Will I follow him as closely as Andy, Kyle, Evo, Cam, Wardy, Jay, Jack, Aidan, Anton and George, probably not. But great, it is another player in the mix. Do we really miss Aljaz who has reverted to Slovenia to play for his brother not really, but he was a fantastic role model and one has to respect his decision which I am sure was a complex process.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Surprised there's been no official press release or anything. If you weren't on this forum or missed Fraser's tweet, you'd be none the wiser. Nothing from Jan on his social media either, apart from the country flag change.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

He will have to do something to get noticed probably winning through qualifying, general futures, even challenger wins dont get reported. He may get a line in the run up to Wimbledon. Eyes peeled for the first mention of his love of Southampton and playing on the M27 in his youth.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Monday 7th of January 2019 07:54:46 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Gabi's from Southampton - they need the Southampton Echo to do a 'him and hers' feature

Jajon · Club Coach

Im just happy I didnt scream insults :) :) :).

christ · Futures level

Oakland2002 wrote:
... playing on the M27 in his youth.

As we all do/did in this area!

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

Mark1968 wrote:
Never in favour of anyone changing their allegiance regardless of their parentage. Like Brendan Klein and Aljaz Bedene it's a back door attempt to get a Wimby WC and the huge cash payment that goes with it and maybe a DC place at some point. He'll no doubt change back when he's taken what he wants a bit like Ajax. None of this should be allowed to happen, I know most within the game do not like it either.

You'll no doubt be screaming insults now, but I don't care, anyone who things he's done this for any other reasons than those above is just fooling themselves.

Totally agree with you Mark and I wonder if he still would have switched if this country didn't host a grand slam or if the LTA or the powers that be turned round to him and made it a condition that he is not offered a Wimbledon MDWC for at least a year or two even if he reaches the top 250/200. Unfortunately, I don't think he will be the last to switch their allegiance to GB.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

A131 wrote:
Mark1968 wrote:
Never in favour of anyone changing their allegiance regardless of their parentage. Like Brendan Klein and Aljaz Bedene it's a back door attempt to get a Wimby WC and the huge cash payment that goes with it and maybe a DC place at some point. He'll no doubt change back when he's taken what he wants a bit like Ajax. None of this should be allowed to happen, I know most within the game do not like it either.

You'll no doubt be screaming insults now, but I don't care, anyone who things he's done this for any other reasons than those above is just fooling themselves.

Totally agree with you Mark and I wonder if he still would have switched if this country didn't host a grand slam or if the LTA or the powers that be turned round to him and made it a condition that he is not offered a Wimbledon MDWC for at least a year or two even if he reaches the top 250/200. Unfortunately, I don't think he will be the last to switch their allegiance to GB.

And thank goodness for that !

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
A131 wrote:
Mark1968 wrote:
Never in favour of anyone changing their allegiance regardless of their parentage. Like Brendan Klein and Aljaz Bedene it's a back door attempt to get a Wimby WC and the huge cash payment that goes with it and maybe a DC place at some point. He'll no doubt change back when he's taken what he wants a bit like Ajax. None of this should be allowed to happen, I know most within the game do not like it either.

You'll no doubt be screaming insults now, but I don't care, anyone who things he's done this for any other reasons than those above is just fooling themselves.

Totally agree with you Mark and I wonder if he still would have switched if this country didn't host a grand slam or if the LTA or the powers that be turned round to him and made it a condition that he is not offered a Wimbledon MDWC for at least a year or two even if he reaches the top 250/200. Unfortunately, I don't think he will be the last to switch their allegiance to GB.
And thank goodness for that !

Hear, hear.

Over to you Joanna Garland, Georgia Brescia and co...

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Yes Mark speaks like a Brexiteer UKIP voter. My Grandparents fought for this country etc etc....

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I cant see the problem, he should appeal to everyone both Brexiteer and Remainer.

We sort of have a quota system which is what a Brexiter would advocate to address a skill shortage, ie you only get support if you are an outstanding younger player and its driven by either junior or ATP/WTA rank as is access to wildcards. He is entitled to a British passport because his mums British and he wants to flee the EU for the land of opportunity!

Mr Garland we are open for Bussiness!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

The first time I can recall seeing a newspaper article devoted to the lad:

I haven't earned anything this year, says British No 9, Jan Choinski

Stuart Fraser, The Times, 5th May 2020

Jan Choinski is barely known in sporting circles in this country, but his recent exploits will be the envy of many professional athletes. The 23-year-old British No 9 is one of the very few people able to compete and earn prize money at a time when large parts of the world are on coronavirus lockdown. The sum of £435 for finishing third in the Tennis Point Exhibition Series in Germany last weekend will not go too far when it comes to covering Choinski's bills, but it is not to be sniffed at in the present climate. Most tennis players are at home twiddling their thumbs, unable to even practise on court because of social distancing measures.

German-born Choinski, whose mother is from Southampton, is very fortunate in that he lives near to the Base Tennis Academy in Höhr-Grenzhausen. This was the indoor venue for the closed-doors eight-player tournament that was only able to go ahead after a visit from the police to check that all involved were abiding by local regulations. "The event was pretty well organised," Choinski said. "The rules from the government are still strict. Every player had their own box and had to keep face masks on between matches. There was some other restricted stuff that we had to cope with. But on court, the benches across the court from each other and no handshakes were the only big differences. Everything about the tennis was pretty much the same as it always is. Tennis is not a contact sport like soccer. We keep a long distance between two people all the time. The rules were respected."

Choinski - who represented Germany until the end of 2018 - was a talented junior, reaching the semi-finals of the 2014 US Open boys' singles, but he has struggled to break through in the professional ranks, presently at No 332 in the world. The suspension of the tour has further exacerbated financial woes initially caused by injury. "My financial situation at the moment is pretty bad," Choinski said. "I had no income for the first three months of this year because of hip surgery. After that, no tournaments have been possible. I haven't earned anything this year."

Under a proposal from Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Choinski would be eligible for a grant of about £8,000 from a relief fund for lower-ranked players. This, however, has hit the buffers in recent weeks because of a dispute over the amount that those ranked in the top 100 should each contribute. "To be honest, they are talking about that but that is always the case," Choinski said. "There is a lot of talking about things and then they are undone. The will to help players is there, but they don't come to a conclusion with the financial situation and you don't receive anything." "I think it is a great example," Choinski said. "It gives us an opportunity to earn a little bit of money and compete. It is something different from just practising. It's a good system. The matches were pretty intense. Nobody wants to lose in professional sport, so we took it quite seriously. In terms of bringing something like that to the ATP tour though, I can imagine its going to be tough. I don't think the tour will return anytime soon."