2023 BJK Cup Qualifiers - GB v France, Coventry - 14-15 April

Jan · Hall of fame

2023 BJK Cup Qualifiers - GB v France, Coventry - 14-15 April

the addict · Tennis legend

I'm sure the second singles was never going to be played if it wasn't needed, but the doubles always looked likely, given the paying audience.

DF · Tennis legend

Emma needs points. If she does not gain points in the next fortnight then, on 619, she will be out of the top 100

PaulM · Tennis legend

Doubles is always played if the tie is won 3-0 to guarantee two matches on day 2. If a tie is won 3-1 then the doubles is usually cancelled.

The girls have missed 6 break points 3-4*

indiana · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
I 100% agree, Shhh

Yes, Emma's comment was a light, honest one, when put on the spot - 'sorry, I really don't know when it is, I haven't been looking at schedules etc, I'm just happy to be hitting a ball'

And, personally, I've no problem at all with any of them not playing if they're carrying slight niggles - Katie B half killed herself for a BJK match a couple of years ago - utter madness, IMO

Not going up to Glasgow to support, when you've got four days to choose from, and it's a home tie, and you've not got much else on, is another matter. But it's not a hanging offence.

After all, Emma's job is to play tennis. And she's the best Brit doing that at the moment.

Anne, as you say, should grow up a little. Taking everything very personally, and making snippy comments, is hardly what's called for. And, again, there's been various AELTC/LTA etc things where she's been involved in the politics and I haven't been impressed.

Yes, very poor by Anne. But she never has impressed me post her playing days.

Hopefully she will mature if, as looks likely, she's going to be in influential positions in the LTA for a long time to come.

markymc1983 · Club Coach

Whats peoples problem with Anne? Ive always really liked her and find her candidness refreshing and away from the stuffy image British tennis notoriously had

Steve J · Lower Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
Anne, as you say, should grow up a little. Taking everything very personally, and making snippy comments, is hardly what's called for.

The team captain's first priority should be to get the top players to turn out. If she can't do that on a regular basis, she should be replaced.

Kennykoalabear · Junior player

I think the main problem with all the British players compared to other nations is that they just dont play enough tennis week in week out to develop any sort of form or build their ranking. I think Emma, Jodie, Harriet, Katie S and Katie B could all be in the top 100 but just dont play enough.

the addict · Tennis legend

Some comeback from 2-8 to 11-9 !

HarryGem · Club Coach

Shhh wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
The Express (!) is digging up the dirt about Emma and the Billie Jean Cup

As said before, I think Emma was completely out of order not to go and support the team on any day in Glasgow and do a photo shoot at Harrods instead.

And now it's three on the trot she's not showed for. And she'd no idea when it was, or interest.

Porsche come first. Or so implies Anne K, rather bitterly:

www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/tennis/emma-raducanu-hung-out-to-dry-as-gb-captain-anne-keothavong-responds-to-brit-s-claim/ar-AA19Pv63

But (a) I don't really rate the BJC, (b) Emma - tbh - has done more than other GB player by far for the status of our nation's female tennis, in the past ten years say, and (c) I'm not a great fan of Anne K (in tennis politics) either

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 15th of April 2023 10:53:37 AM
As always, context is everything. When Emma gave the response she was talking about how excited she had been for the start of the year, her rolled ankle really knocked her, she disappeared under a rock cutting social media etc etc. He she said she had been so withdrawn that BJK hadn't really been in her thoughts I dont think it would have been such a big deal. The way she expressed it.....didn't even know when the events was, appears to have irked Anne.
I feel for Emma a bit here. Sure it could have been phrased better but she is being sniped at as a one hit wonder that is always injured and more interested in modelling but when she retreats and 100% focusses on her career....once again she messes up a bit. I would have thought Anne was old and wise enough to handle her comments better. She hasn't said much, but its all a bit clipped and veiled.
Much as I expect more from Emma when representing her country (not just when an olympic place is on the line).....I also expect more from Anne as a Captain and Leader. Her communication skills may be just fine, but her people skills???

The problem is though that to those who don't follow the game closely this is exactly how she appears right now. And the Express is appealing to its core readership, ie patriotic, right wing (probably) loyal royalists (quite likely) who don't like the country being bashed (not that Emma did that of course) and see highly paid sports people as legitimate targets.

Having said that Emma's comment, though out of context here of course, was itself pretty stupid. She's a pro tennis player, number 1 in her country and supposedly an intelligent young woman. However it is phrased, it comes across as at best disinterested and at worst ignorant. The better sort of response would have been along the lines of, I'm really hoping to play but I'm concerned about my overall fitness right now and time will see as to whether I can make it.

As to Anne's comments, she's the GB team captain and as such as every right to make these comments though again they might have been better phrased. I can't comment on any other aspects of her pro tennis life as it is now but it does seem the other women respond well to the team environment she has fostered.

I do think Emma and her team need to be a bit careful though as she is an easy target for as long as her tennis is inn the doldrums. There's nothing the UK press like more than to build someone up only to knock them down again.

As to whether Emma's presence would have made a difference to the result, I don't think it would have. She's ranked around 70 for a reason because at this time in her career that's the kind of level she's at.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Great job Lissey and Liv.

the addict · Tennis legend

For the record

Alicia Barnett / Olivia Nicholls CR136 (67+69) def Kristina Mladenovic / Clara Burel CR661 (14+647) 7-5 3-6 11-9
(Burel's singles ranking is 111)

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Anne even appeared to make dig at the end, in her speech, when congratulating France she said ' they fielded their best team".........

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Saturday 15th of April 2023 05:23:37 PM

Christine · Intermediate Club Player

Julia Carrot wrote:
Anne even appeared to make dig at the end, in her speech, when congratulating France she said ' they fielded their best team".........

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Saturday 15th of April 2023 05:23:37 PM

Yes, I noticed that!

indiana · Tennis legend

HarryGem wrote:

[...]

I do think Emma and her team need to be a bit careful though as she is an easy target for as long as her tennis is inn the doldrums.There's nothing the UK press like more than to build someone up only to knock them down again.

As to whether Emma's presence would have made a difference to the result, I don't think it would have. She's ranked around 70 for a reason because at this time in her career that's the kind of level she's at.

Ranked around 70 eh, and actually I would argue not where her tennis has generally been at when she has been able to put any sort of matches together. Indisputably she has had quite a bit of bad luck.

So "her tennis is in the doldrums" ??!! That's the kind of phraseology that might go down well with the sort of readership you talked anout earlier in your post and helps create an often misleading Emma narrative.