Week 35 - ITF W40 Oldenzaal, Netherlands - Clay

Peter too · Tennis legend

Week 35 - ITF W40 Oldenzaal, Netherlands - Clay

SuperT · Futures level

Nix wrote:
Just to say in case it doesn't come across, I appreciate, along with the rest of the board, anyone who puts up results, draws etc. I hesitate to name names because I risk leaving someone out by mistake but I appreciate all of you.

Totally agree with Nix. Sometimes if I'm watching a match and it's quiet on the board I might post the result, but I can never be bothered to check all the correct rankings etc. That's why I am eternally grateful to everyone on here who does. It means this is always the easiest place to come if I want to check out details of fixtures, players etc. I hope no-one feels driven away because of the odd criticism as I'm sure the vast majority feel the same as me. Thanks to all who bring such richness to this forum.

Blue_Belle · Club Coach

I'm sorry for your loss Peter. Getting outside sounds wonderful, what sort of photography do you do? I hope you lurk or sometimes post.

I seldom do the draws now but it is a process at any level, esp when it is t as easy as you might think to track down a ranking

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Peter, that's an interesting look back at the evolution of British tennis, and women's in particular. This board is now slightly more slanted towards women's tennis and that's partly thanks to people like you who've made the women's side so much more dynamic, by having very current results and draws (of course, we have it too in the men's, and that's great too, but I can well imagine that the women's side was an afterthought at the beginning)

As Blue Belle says, I'm very sorry for your loss. That's a wonderfully long time to be together. I really hope you enjoy the photography, and find some like-minded people. And it would be lovely if you popped back from time to time....

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Peter too wrote:
I started commenting on women's tennis on the Greg Rusedski site towards the end of 2006 when we hadn't had a woman in the top 100 for nearly a decade and no-one covered the women's game. I then started copying draws and results across consistently through 2007. It was ridiculed by several people on the site who seemed to think women's tennis wasn't proper tennis. However it looked to me at the time as if the women held at least as much promise as the men. Greg and Tim were coming to the end of their careers and Andy was still only ranked 60, though when I suggested he would soon take over from Tim and Greg that also got dismissed. On the women's side we had Anne Keothavong, Katie O'Brien and Mel South not far out with Elena Baltacha, Naomi Cavaday and Georgie Stoop moving up fast. I also heard about a couple of very promising juniors from Australia who wanted to play for GBR.
When Greg and Tim retired I switched to the Andy Murray site. Like Steven I had a background in statistics so liked compiling lists and keeping records of the matches, I was retired and it gave me another interest. My companion for 60 years and wife for 57 of them passed away in May 2021. It has taken my a while to move on and Covid didn't help but I had decided to try and get out more this year and follow my other interest in photography and start meeting people. I thought I might even get to take my camera to a tennis match again. Originally I planned to stop after Wimbledon but the weather has not been all that conducive to my sort of photography, although I have been out a few times. So I carried on, partly in the hope of seeing if Emma would return in the sort of form she showed for those magical few months in 2021.

I have to say, what you and people like StirCrazy on the mens threads do is fabulous and makes this board have a heartbeat. I dont follow womens tennis but do check your results and draws; Im sorry for your loss also, but glad youve got another passion and that sounds a super plan. my mum and dad are 82 and 83 respectively and been together 60 years so I can understand what it must be like to lose someone you love so much.

thanks for all you do

Peter too · Tennis legend

Blue_Belle wrote:
I'm sorry for your loss Peter. Getting outside sounds wonderful, what sort of photography do you do? I hope you lurk or sometimes post.

I seldom do the draws now but it is a process at any level, esp when it is t as easy as you might think to track down a ranking

My main interest is now wildlife photography, particularly macro photography. There is a huge variety of strange insects and spiders that can be found in gardens and local wildflower meadows, all without having to travel too far. I also photograph local community events. I used to photograph tennis matches at the Bournemouth and Bath events but haven't been for about ten years and Bournemouth has now packed up. Other events would require travelling further, though I did consider trying Aldershot this year.

the addict · Tennis legend

I'm sorry to hear of your loss Peter. Like others I very much appreciate what you have been doing here and I know how much work goes into posting the draws and results - it is bad enough doing the doubles ! We have had over 100 women competing in singles at one level or another this year, and new names keep appearing so a lot to keep track of.

I also enjoy photography and hope to have more time now I am retiring from work (well trying to if my clients will let me !) and have been practising my tennis action photos. So I hope you manage to get out and enjoy your time.

Blue_Belle · Club Coach

Peter too wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
I'm sorry for your loss Peter. Getting outside sounds wonderful, what sort of photography do you do? I hope you lurk or sometimes post.

I seldom do the draws now but it is a process at any level, esp when it is t as easy as you might think to track down a ranking
My main interest is now wildlife photography, particularly macro photography. There is a huge variety of strange insects and spiders that can be found in gardens and local wildflower meadows, all without having to travel too far. I also photograph local community events. I used to photograph tennis matches at the Bournemouth and Bath events but haven't been for about ten years and Bournemouth has now packed up. Other events would require travelling further, though I did consider trying Aldershot this year.

Very cool - I've seen some beautiful macro wildlife photos. New Zealand is very good for those sorts of opportunities (so is the UK...the wildlife meadow sounds peaceful).

DF · Tennis legend

So sorry to hear of your loss Peter but glad to hear that you are starting to look to diversify your interests. I hope that you continue to enjoy this forum as well

as your other interests.

I also look forward to a future with more women in the top 100 with Katie B and Jodie already there and trying to stay there and Emma returning to

tennis before the end of the year. Aldershot awaits next year smile

Shhh · Challenger level

That was a lovely read Peter despite hearing of your loss, I am so sorry for you. I have been on this site for many years and I always appreciated your posts in the ladies section....and David C's in the juniors. All the results laid out, perfect, just what I was looking for. Thank you for sharing your story, it will make me appreciate your posts even further from now on. It would be wrong of me to ask to to keep posting if you wish to stop but you would be very much missed indeed. smile

-- Edited by Shhh on Tuesday 29th of August 2023 11:06:37 AM

Peter too · Tennis legend

I will probably carry on posting for while as the weather is still not great for insect photography, as they like it warm and sunny to come out of hiding. I did manage to photograph a local country show yesterday and a music event the day before.

indiana · Tennis legend

Thank you so much for sharing with our little community, Peter, Very sorry for your loss after so many years you shared together.

Will be veey good to have you still around here for a little while but it will also be good to think if and when you're not it will be more that you are just moving on to other things.

Take care.

DF · Tennis legend

Peter too wrote:
Q1: MUTAVDZIC, Matilda (GBR) 872 def VISSCHER, Stephanie Judith (NED) (4) 540 6-3 4-6 6-1

Q2: MUTAVDZIC, Matilda (GBR) 872 (CH=372 2022) v STEUR, Joelle Lilly Sophie (GER) (13) 656 (CH=500 2023)

Q2: Matilda took the first set 7-5 then dropped the second 4-6 and is about to start on the third set.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Q2: MUTAVDZIC, Matilda (GBR) 872 lost to STEUR, Joelle Lilly Sophie (GER) (13) 656 7-5 4-6 2-6

Nix · Futures level

Very interesting to hear about your life Peter and so sorry for the loss of your wife after so many years together.

It's great that you have found a new hobby and find it so absorbing and a way to meet new people.

I look forward to your posts while you still have the time and I hope you will still be commentating occasionally even once you give up the time-consuming task of documenting matches and results.