I've really loved this event too. I was rooting for the Bulldogs all week and delighted they won. Brilliant performance from Jo and Harriet to clinch the victory. It's been the perfect vehicle for the top players to get match fitness in preparation for the Tour's restart, and great experience for the youngsters playing with the top pros. I would love to see it repeated in future but I can't imagine how they would fit it into the normal congested tennis calendar. How could you ever find a slot when such a wide range of players are available.
"With the upcoming schedule and the amount of potential matches, my team and I wanted to manage my time on the match court."
I share your confusion, Bob. Meaningless explanation, if you ask me - not that anybody would!
Does make me wonder if Jo was one of those that thought the "banter" went a bit too far and she didn't want to be there for that reason. That is only speculation on my part but there were a few comments to suggest that not everyone appreciated the atmosphere. If that is the case, it is a little sad.
I guess if you put 25-30 highly competitive people in one place, there are always going to be personality clashes somewhere along the line. Let's not allow this to take the gloss off what has been an awesome week though.
"With the upcoming schedule and the amount of potential matches, my team and I wanted to manage my time on the match court."
I share your confusion, Bob. Meaningless explanation, if you ask me - not that anybody would!
Loved her cardboard cut out at the presentation-says it all! Apparently she was not a good team member all week-insisted on playing only those she chose to play against!
Didn't see any of the presentation. Maybe basically she didn't want to play in the event and was obliged to. Not sure in retrospect she would have picked Jodie.Also we don't know the state of her knee. People are having a go at her but has anybody on this forum ever met her?
The teams were picked blind the night before weren't they? So you allocated your players to a match slot and the other team did the same. But even if Jo requested to be moved around, so what? She's ranked 14 in the world and actually a contender. Her saying she will participate in the event as long as she can make it work to give her the best preparations (and so perhaps wanting to play a particular 'sort' of player, as Jodie and Katie are) is no different to me to Andy saying he'll take part but only play doubles, because that's how he want to prepare for singles in the States.
So even if that was the case to be it's no biggie. I'm just sad she didn't feel for whatever reason that she didn't want to be there today to cheer her team on. Just seems a shame.
"With the upcoming schedule and the amount of potential matches, my team and I wanted to manage my time on the match court."
This is a cynical view but the potential matches could be nil if coronavirus makes an unscheduled appearance at the tennis in America. Or the potential matches could be just three 1st round singles defeats. Maybe trialing a new coach she wanted to spend more time on the practice courts before going to America.
The teams were picked blind the night before weren't they? So you allocated your players to a match slot and the other team did the same. But even if Jo requested to be moved around, so what? She's ranked 14 in the world and actually a contender. Her saying she will participate in the event as long as she can make it work to give her the best preparations (and so perhaps wanting to play a particular 'sort' of player, as Jodie and Katie are) is no different to me to Andy saying he'll take part but only play doubles, because that's how he want to prepare for singles in the States.
So even if that was the case to be it's no biggie. I'm just sad she didn't feel for whatever reason that she didn't want to be there today to cheer her team on. Just seems a shame.
It is indeed arguably no biggie. But personally I'd say that if you choose to be involved and it is meant to be a blind draw then everyone should just go with the blind draw in the spirit of the event. That is different from Andy being here just for doubles and not being nominated by his team to play singles. Though is anyone sure that that it was meant to be a blind draw and Jo was indeed only open to particular matches?
Re Jo not being around at the weekend, again I'd say that as we don't know why ( she could have previous commitments ), it seems unfair to criticise that.
Just to let you know, the polls are up for GB Player of the Month over in the general discussion section, if any followers of mens or womens tennis would like to vote!
-- Edited by JonH comes home on Sunday 2nd of August 2020 10:07:10 PM