Obviously, this board is focused on GB players but out of curiosity, do you follow other players outside of GB and if so, who are they?
I think there are a few other fans of Garbiñe Muguruza on here, I also like Kerber, Naomi Osaka, Kvitova, Ostapenko and Sloane Stephens. I'm keeping an eye on players like Potapova, Yastremska, Kostyuk etc as well.
Men's tennis, I follow a lot more, Del Potro is a big fave, Nadal as well, Zverev, Wawrinka, Tsonga, Monfils. I'm liking Khachanov and Tsitsipas. I have a soft spot for Feliciano Lopez and John "The Mailman" Millman.
I tend to be largely ambivalent to the WTA other than being interested in the tennis being played. But for the men, I support s few - by continent, I like Shapovalov and sock from North America, delpo of course from south America, no one I follow from Africa really, Oceania I like kyrgios, kokkinakis, Millman, even, from Asia I don't really have anyone I follow, from Europe I like the French Tsonga, Monfils, Tsitsipas, Thiem, I'd love to see Nielsen one day do something in singles, and then the Russians khachanov, Medvedev, rublev
Wouldn't say I follow them closely, but I do keep an eye out for some of those that I have seen around the futures circuit. People can guess who my first one is going to be but that would be our old friend Carreño Busta. As well as that, I would put De Minaur, who I saw in Murcia futures and then from further down the rankings, Pete Bothwell from Ireland.
Like Bob, I follow quite a lot who I've happened to see and enjoyed watching live, nearly always in smaller events (like Jaimee Fourliss, for instance).
As well as all the French players (some more than others, but all in general).
And foreign players based in the UK (like Eva Siska)
And some of the youngsters who caught my eye on the way up, often at Wimbly qualis.
Barty - no clue why, but I think she has guts, and it's a nice story and Witthöft a bit as I saw her in a tournament Hev was in years ago, and chatted quite a bit to her mum.
Current WTA I like and might watch if they are on tv or a stream, typically during slams:
Sevastova - she quit for a bit, got fed up, think she her body was breaking down too often, then came back after a couple of years. Her tennis is imaginative.
Muguruza - my fav of the regular slam contenders, then probably Kvitova.
Julia Goerges
Madison Keys - amazing game when she's on fire
Ostapenko - like her aggressive style of play
Monica Puig - mostly from the Olympics
Alison Riske and Madison Brengle - because they seem more like ordinary people than top sportswomen. The lack of ego is very appealing.
No one at the moment there is just not enough time in the day. I lie Gibbsie
I will follow Michaela Gordon, Axel Geller when they turn pro full time similarly I also have a soft spot for Brandon Holte (who hopefully will get close to playing at the same level as his mum)
Ps I call Millman the milkman as opposed to mailman!
Obviously this is a very contentious issue and worthy of scholarly pursuit. I believe PhDs have been written on the subject at major academic institutions such as the University of Central Lancashire and the Wagga Wagga Institute of Sport. The consensus is:
Mailman has a slightly aggressive I am going to deliver conitation, Milkman in contrast is a nurturing and community focused moniker. Given Johns reputation as one of the most self effacing, insightful players on tour, he will always be the milkman to those of a scholarly bent.
It has nothing to do with a fat fingered typo posting on the iPhone 3 way back when and k being next to l on ones virtual keyboard.
I absolutely adore Demi Schuurs, rarely plays a groundstroke other than return, just a fantastic watch if no one has seen her
Dustin Brown, I mean there will never be a player as entertaining as him, does about 10 hot shots a set
Stephane Robert the people's champion, the grinder, the veteran, just gets on with everything with no drama
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, custodians of the doubles game combined with singles top 20 regulars
Leander Paes 45 and still grinding the circuit including challengers, his reactions second to none and terrific with fans
Past players
Lleyton Hewitt the fighter, rocked the backwards cap
Aga Radwanska, hot shot expert, competed skillfully without the power
Michael Russell, see Robert
Cara Black and Lisa Raymond, volley masters
I was just a "grass court" follower of tennis for most of my life, but Sabine Lisicki was the one who encouraged me to follow results throughout the year which in turn led to me following the Brits which ultimately led me here.
I started by following the Blacks, Byron and Cara especially, since they come from where I was born, and Amanda Coetzer, 5ft 2 and a tiny ball of dynamite. Mandy Carreras reminds me a little these days of Coetzer (and not just because they share the same first name and initials!), which is probably why I like our Mandy too. I have a lot of time for the smaller, gutsy players in the game, and hence also for players like Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Michael Chang. Also why I like Dan Evans these days (and hope he can get his act fully together again too).
Andre Agassi too and Steffi Graf I have also always had a lot of time and respect for, and followed both their careers. Today would love to see Petra Kvitova do more, and yes, Garbine too, if she can achieve more consistency, and Naomi O, I really do hope she can go onto achieve big things, she has huge credit following her on court and even more off court performance during and after the US Open...
but just put the one in. have no idea which one is most used.
