Grass-court wildcards

Andy for number 1 · Improver

RE: Grass-court wildcards

Bladetiger · Pro player

Akhenaten wrote:

I think as many of these as possible... Chris Eaton (18)Andrew Kennaugh (18)Alan Wright (18)Jamie Baker (19)Tom Rushby (19)Joshua Goodall (20)Jamie Murray (20)Alexander Slabinsky (20)Colin Fleming (21) ...and Alex Bogdanovic (21) of course

Only two of those that I would consider apart from Boggo, who I am sure will get them, are Jamie Baker and possibly Josh based on his 2006 form. None of the others have even had any serious success at Futures level yet, they need to prove they can occasionally take advantage of Wc's at Challenger or Futures level before it's worth chucking them in with the piranahs at ATP level.

Just because someone is young, doesnt mean they are automatically a prospect.

Having said that not many people really putting their hand up at the moment.

I'd give Boggo one for each event and probably share the rest of (surbiton, Queens, Nottm) MD ones out between:

Martin lee

Arv

Rich Bloomfield

Jamie Baker

James Aucks

Josh

Wimbledon - the ranking system will take care of them itself.

Sheddie · administrator

I agree with Bladetiger on all of that - just maybe replace Auckland/Parmar with Fleming

Apart from Baker, Bloomfield and Lee most of the Brits in the 200-600 range have stood still so far this year which is a shame - hopefully someone might surprise us all and make an Andy Murray style breakthrough this summer !

Stats show that since 2002, the Brit who has made the breakthrough in the summer ATP events has always been unexpected. In 2003, Boggo hardly won a match in the first 6 months before great runs at Surbiton, Queens and Nottingham. In 2004, Jonny Marray did little apart from 2 futures titles in Uzbekistan and then he became the last Brit standing at Queens and nearly beat Hewitt and won a round at Nottingham. Then last year, Andy Murray was being written off by some British tennis fans who should know better [

] after a poor 1st 6 months [excluding DC] and within a month he's one of the brightest young prospects in world tennis.

Who will it be in 2006...

Key: The player is always ranked between 300-500

indiana · Tennis legend

Bladetiger wrote:

Akhenaten wrote: I think as many of these as possible... Chris Eaton (18)Andrew Kennaugh (18)Alan Wright (18)Jamie Baker (19)Tom Rushby (19)Joshua Goodall (20)Jamie Murray (20)Alexander Slabinsky (20)Colin Fleming (21) ...and Alex Bogdanovic (21) of course Only two of those that I would consider apart from Boggo, who I am sure will get them, are Jamie Baker and possibly Josh based on his 2006 form. None of the others have even had any serious success at Futures level yet, they need to prove they can occasionally take advantage of Wc's at Challenger or Futures level before it's worth chucking them in with the piranahs at ATP level.

Much as I want to see some of these players succeed in the future, I have to agree with Bladetiger's sentiments. One step at a time !

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Bloomers big-serving game should translate well to grass, shouldn't it? I hope he gets one. I think Jamie Baker deserves one too, but I'm not too sure how he will do on grass.

And Boggo of course.

Sheddie · administrator

It should do, he's had two wildcards so far but both times he's been unlucky with his draw.

In 2003 he got Anthony Dupuis of France who'd just reached the quarters at Queens and is a grass-court specialist [he beat Murray at Newport in 2005]. In 2004 he got Feli Lopez who's another player who saves his best for the grass and especially Wimbledon where he's got a great record. His tricky leftie serve exposed a flaw Bloomers' returning technique

Sheddie · administrator

Just reboosting this thread:

The Surbiton and Queens wcs have been handed out, don't know who's got them yet.

All I know at the moment is that Mardy Fish has got one for Queens.

@ Queens for giving Fish a wc. Why on earth do they want to give him one, he's never done anything on grass. They seem to always operate a policy of giving at least one wc to a non-Brit whether the player deserves it or not. Hardly any other tournaments do that !, they all support their own players.

I'll find out the others tomorrow.

Drew · May 22, 2006

UltimateSlabbaFan wrote:

Just reboosting this thread: The Surbiton and Queens wcs have been handed out, don't know who's got them yet. All I know at the moment is that Mardy Fish has got one for Queens. @ Queens for giving Fish a wc. Why on earth do they want to give him one, he's never done anything on grass. They seem to always operate a policy of giving at least one wc to a non-Brit whether the player deserves it or not. Hardly any other tournaments do that !, they all support their own players. I'll find out the others tomorrow.

If Baker doesnt get one he would be sick to see Fish there !!!!!

Akhenaten · Pro player

Fish reached the final of Nottingham on grass in 2003 losing to Greg +
reached to the final of Halle on grass in 2004 losing to Federer +
was injured for a lot of 2005, as so has a ranking much lower than how good he is.

It actually seems fair to me giving wildcards to these sorts of players.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i can undertsand fish getting one, its better than fillipou anyhow. lets hope all the otehrs go to the brits :)

Sally · Grand Slam Champion

I can see the thinking behind giving Fish a wc but I`m quite seeing the logic in giving him a Queen`s wc when his track record is Halle and Nottingham.

Sheddie · administrator

Have spoken to the LTA today. They say that Surbiton wildcards won't be announced until sometime next week, to give players a final chance to push their credentials.

The Queens wcs have been chosen but the LTA don't know who they are because the wildcards are chosen by the Stella Artois media people who run the tournament, not the LTA or even Queens club itself.

I've got some new contacts so I should be able to find out the Queens wildcards tomorrow.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Thanks David/Peter. You must have contacts with pretty much everyone in the tennis world by now!

Sheddie · administrator

imoen wrote:

Thanks David/Peter. You must have contacts with pretty much everyone in the tennis world by now!

Have accumulated them mostly via chance ! If Slabba gets to the final this week, I'll write a match report and submit it to the LTA. I'd do one for Morgan Phillips' triumph but as I don't have any player quotes or info on the match, I don't think they'd accept it

Drew · May 25, 2006

UltimateSlabbaFan wrote:

imoen wrote: Thanks David/Peter. You must have contacts with pretty much everyone in the tennis world by now! Have accumulated them mostly via chance ! If Slabba gets to the final this week, I'll write a match report and submit it to the LTA. I'd do one for Morgan Phillips' triumph but as I don't have any player quotes or info on the match, I don't think they'd accept it

Cannot believe that there has been nothing on the LTA site re Morgans win !!!!