Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Link Back -> Andrew Murray message board -> British women discussion section -> Week 28 - Progress Tour Women's Championship - NTC, Roehampton, UK (Outdoor Hard)
Post Info TOPIC: Week 28 - Progress Tour Women's Championship - NTC, Roehampton, UK (Outdoor Hard)
JonH comes home


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 42027
Date:
RE: Week 28 - Progress Tour Women's Championship - NTC, Roehampton, UK (Outdoor Hard)
Permalink  

Ace Ventura wrote:
emmsie69 wrote:

I don't think you can blame the LTA for the injuries given none of them are from overplaying, it looks more like over training, it's disturbing that after no play for 3 months our injury list is bigger that it was before lockdown.

Yeah. When you consider Emma Rad had to play W,T,F,S,S en route to the Sunderland final just prior to lockdown, if these players are wanting to be successful and signifiantly climb the rankings then you're going to have to get used to that kind of schedule at some point going forward. Murray injured after playing one singles match, and a few Fast 4 doubles last week, Eden injured after 3 completed matches, and even one of those was a 0 and 1 beatdown in under an hour. Emma had 4 matches in 4 days at the BT which is less than the aforementioned Sunderland schedule, and even more so with the MTB format eliminating the prospect of that long 3 set battle with Tomova in the S'land final, and while currently unranked, Marni is certainly one of our better 32 players, and would have been an asset this week, but she was injured (albeit an ongoing one) after 3 matches last week and 2 this week, so just 5 in 2 weeks.

You could kind of understand it if they were after 9 matches in 10 days or something, but all the one I've mentioned have barely played 5 MTB matches in 2 weeks, so just not great signs generally. I guess Emma might not even be injured and just being cautious with her schedule, and she's probably in more position than others to do so.

 which makes you wonder about the professionalism that is present, or not, here - as professional athletes, who earn when they play and win, they should have all been conditioning, training, keeping fit, even without playing on a court. We could all keep fit , everyone could run or exercise properly, only laziness or lack of professionalism or injury would stop that. 

And even if the players didnt have a plan, the LTA and their coaches should have had one. So there is no justification for anyone coming back and getting injured through any over play or lack of conditioning. Those injured beforehand or long term, understand that, no issue, but it does feel that there is a lack of a professional structure in place somewhere around this that is coming home to roost a little. 

 

And I agree I am probably being harsh and I am probably uninformed, and each individual has a genuine reason why they are injured or unable to play. But as a cohort, it is too much coincidence to say that this is actually quite close to unacceptable...the word scandalous almost came to mind but that would be harsh!

 

I am sure someone will "call me out" on this in the current trendy style but the more I think about this, the madder I get.         



__________________
JonH comes home


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 42027
Date:
Permalink  

I should also add, until maybe 5 years ago, tennis was probably the top womens professional sport. Quite rightly other sports like football, cricket, rugby union, gymnastics and certainly athletics are probably now, in my mind, beyond tennis in terms of their professionalism on the womens side of things and, as such, will attract many more of the younger athletes looking to choose a sport to play. Tennis had a shop window to try and bounce back or even get ahead this week, and it has missed that opportunity. I was watching some of the action here at lunch and it was painfully poor in athletic and world terms.

__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55410
Date:
Permalink  

I agree with you, Jon (yes, there will be special circumstances, for certain players, obviously, but overall it doesn't look impressive and there are certainly some players on the courts who don't look as fit as they should do)

__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55410
Date:
Permalink  

indiana wrote:

I had got the impression before lockdown that Millie Bissett was maybe pushing on again.

I previously was rather underwhemed by her last year or two and the majority of her junior ranking points were from doubles ( even after the doubles divider ).

I will try to get a look at her.

 Yes, I agree, Indy. 

I caught various bits of a couple of her games and, although not off the scale, she certainly seems to be on form, enjoying playing, and hitting the ball nice and cleanly. 

As has been said before, these livestreamed matches has been a wonderful chance to drop in on players like Millie and see where she's at. 

Max Basing has been the revelation for me. 

But I'm sure Marni has done the same for various people. 

Tanysha and Eliz will have got a few fans too. 

And nice to see the college girls - Sasha, Emily Arb, Nell....



__________________
JonH comes home


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 42027
Date:
Permalink  

Coup Droit wrote:

I agree with you, Jon (yes, there will be special circumstances, for certain players, obviously, but overall it doesn't look impressive and there are certainly some players on the courts who don't look as fit as they should do)

 Maybe I'm biased as I prefer mens tennis, but the men look better prepared and into it. Some like Fery, and others seem genuinely to be making strides and it feels exciting. The odd player, like Marcus, looks out of shape, but that's Marcus...and some like Dan really looked like they had come running out of the blocks. 

 

 



__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55410
Date:
Permalink  

So pleased that Freya go the win here

__________________
the addict


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 23351
Date:
Permalink  

Thought Maia was going to take that, but the next time I looked Freya was in control. A match too many for Maia ?

__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55410
Date:
Permalink  

I don't think Maia looked tired - in fact, she looked the fresher and fitter of the two (although that's her style, Freya is never going to be as 'bouncy' as Maia, and rightly so).

But Maia was pretty lucky to win some of her matches last week - in fact, I thought she was playing better her than she did last week.

__________________
Ace Ventura


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 10074
Date:
Permalink  

Wow. Didn't expect that, I headed out at 3-0 in the final set, assuming it was all over, didn't expect to see Freya take the last 6 games, but well done her.

__________________
sliced backhand


Lower Club Player

Status: Offline
Posts: 136
Date:
Permalink  

emmsie69 wrote:

I don't think you can blame the LTA for the injuries given none of them are from overplaying, it looks more like over training, it's disturbing that after no play for 3 months our injury list is bigger that it was before lockdown.

 Sorry but I do blame the LTA 100%. They were offered the Progress Tour 'on a plate' that they could pretend  was them supporting British Tennis. They then agreed to 7 matches a week events happening both the week before and the week of the Progress Tour. Frankly it is scandalous that they sanctioned all these money events to clash with one another. If you think that the situation is bad at the moment then wait until it's August and Mpukusa is playing Stuart (both in wheelchairs) for £20,000 in the final of the St George's Hill Masters. Well done LTA-shoe-ins for British sporting organisation of the year!



__________________
Ace Ventura


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 10074
Date:
Permalink  

sliced backhand wrote:
emmsie69 wrote:

I don't think you can blame the LTA for the injuries given none of them are from overplaying, it looks more like over training, it's disturbing that after no play for 3 months our injury list is bigger that it was before lockdown.

 Sorry but I do blame the LTA 100%. They were offered the Progress Tour 'on a plate' that they could pretend  was them supporting British Tennis. They then agreed to 7 matches a week events happening both the week before and the week of the Progress Tour. Frankly it is scandalous that they sanctioned all these money events to clash with one another. If you think that the situation is bad at the moment then wait until it's August and Mpukusa is playing Stuart (both in wheelchairs) for £20,000 in the final of the St George's Hill Masters. Well done LTA-shoe-ins for British sporting organisation of the year!

I know this passage was meant as a serious post and message, but I did have a bit of a chuckle with that bit in bold.

 

Swan and Barnett can hardly buy a hold here.



__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55410
Date:
Permalink  

sliced backhand wrote:
emmsie69 wrote:

I don't think you can blame the LTA for the injuries given none of them are from overplaying, it looks more like over training, it's disturbing that after no play for 3 months our injury list is bigger that it was before lockdown.

 Sorry but I do blame the LTA 100%. They were offered the Progress Tour 'on a plate' that they could pretend  was them supporting British Tennis. They then agreed to 7 matches a week events happening both the week before and the week of the Progress Tour. Frankly it is scandalous that they sanctioned all these money events to clash with one another. If you think that the situation is bad at the moment then wait until it's August and Mpukusa is playing Stuart (both in wheelchairs) for £20,000 in the final of the St George's Hill Masters. Well done LTA-shoe-ins for British sporting organisation of the year!

 biggrinbiggrinbiggrin

However, I still think the players have to take responsibility for their own fitness and their own decisions. Play week one, skip week two, play week three - whatever....

And to actually have some serious money being thrown at some (frankly) quite middling players is a huge step in the right direction (as I believe in the mushroom spore approach theory - benefits are not linear). And I love the fact that much of it is being done at the NTC, under the eyes of the bods. And it creates a British group feel. 

Normally our WTA 500+ players have nothing to do this time of year except get drawn against a WTA 260 ranked woman, in the qualis of some 100k, and lose quickly so as not to hog the court for too long.  



-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 14th of July 2020 03:26:10 PM

__________________
ROSAMUND


Futures level

Status: Offline
Posts: 1858
Date:
Permalink  

JonH comes home wrote:

A big issue given the initial marketing though is at the top end with the big names. All due respect to Harriet, she isnt a name outside tennis circles. There are 4 big mens names in reality, in terms of the casual observer.

In this order: Andy, Jamie, Dan and possibly Kyle. 2 very big names, 2 not as big but known.

In womens we probably have Jo, heather (that way round?), Laura and maybe katie b but I am pushing it to say katie b is that well known outside of tennis.

All 3 or let's say 4 of the mens played. And played well.

None of the top 3 womens names are here, all for valid reasons, ( and laura is still one of the known current tennis names) and the 4th, KB, is here.

But that stark reality shows the difference in the events as they have turned out.

Firstly Kyle did reach a Grand Slam singles semi final you know.

Secondly (that way round?) regarding Jo and Heather. Friends who don't know much about tennis at least know Jo through Wimbledon 2017 and mention her name in connection with the Grand Slams.  They never mention Heather. Simply not fair to Jo that comment.She is our top player you know. It's not another favourites issue you know.    

 



-- Edited by JonH comes home on Tuesday 14th of July 2020 01:43:07 PM

 



__________________
indiana


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 40883
Date:
Permalink  

To be honest, I wouldn't be sure which way round Jo and Heather would be in the general public consciousness. Clearly Jo is our top player but I don't think Jon was being unfair, and I am certain that he didn't mean to be.



__________________
Ace Ventura


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 10074
Date:
Permalink  

Add Katie Swan to the list.

__________________
«First  <  1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 19  >  Last»  | Page of 19  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Link Back -> Andrew Murray message board -> British women discussion section -> Week 28 - Progress Tour Women's Championship - NTC, Roehampton, UK (Outdoor Hard)
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard