Week 45 – BJK Cup Playoffs – GB v Sweden – Copper Box, London – Indoor Hard

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

RE: Week 45 – BJK Cup Playoffs – GB v Sweden – Copper Box, London – Indoor Hard

indiana · Tennis legend

Although I have never been much impressed by what I have seen and heard from Anne K around the BJK Cup team, I think I did go to far when basically saying she was **** at the job. I take that back. Sorry. She does though have some concerning shortcomings IMO

I do continue to think like others that in match support in such a team environment is very important so disagree with foobarbaz re their thoughts on that. Yes, they are professional players but it is very clear that some players can and will benefit from the right support. Presumably that is why we have captains sitting there! - rather than such players just being left to sort it out for themselves ( and possibly then failing and being tossed aside as not having what it takes ) the captain's presence is meant to be a benefit, which it is likely to be for some more than others. Surely we want a captain able to give that support ( or at least try to and see what happens ) in order to maximise the team's overall chances of success. Po-face ( or worse, worried face ) is not what the player or the team needs.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?

Surprised no one mentioned Tim Henman who unofficially helped Emma to her US Open win and seemed to get the best out of Katie Swan at the United Cup last year.

Var · Pro player

dodrade wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?
Surprised no one mentioned Tim Henman who unofficially helped Emma to her US Open win and seemed to get the best out of Katie Swan at the United Cup last year.

You know, I think it will be more about who would take the job. Surely they wouldn't get rid of Anne when they won the tie?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Var wrote:
dodrade wrote:
Blue_Belle wrote:
So.....who would people want as the new captain of the team should we get one?
Surprised no one mentioned Tim Henman who unofficially helped Emma to her US Open win and seemed to get the best out of Katie Swan at the United Cup last year.
You know, I think it will be more about who would take the job. Surely they wouldn't get rid of Anne when they won the tie?

This is a relegation tie, against a Sweden who presented a very lowly-ranked team. Winning it is hardly cause for major career congratulations.

But I agree about the first point. I discounted people who I thought were unlikely to be offered or to accept the job (i.e. Naomi, Tim etc). But if he was up for it, yes, Tim would be a good candidate.

But what about our own Matt? He's been doing great work - why don't we all push for our very own forumite BJK Captain? biggrin

Deucebag · Intermediate Club Player

I really don't understand the criticism of Annie K, when it's obvious the senior players have respect for the job she is doing. Look at the way both Boulter and Dart went straight to her and celebrated their wins. The players are professionals, they are all winners, and they know when they aren't performing well. They don't need a cajoling arm around them. Annie K has a right to expect the players to fight and make every point a battle. There's only one chance to compete and you'd better do your stuff. You give everything you have for the national team. There's no room for meltdowns or crumbling. Burrage will know she has some serious work to do on the mental aspect of her game, if she's to be trusted in a difficult BJK tie. Telling a player to relax, it's just another game, play your normal game : No, it's not a normal game, it's a fist fight against someone who is fighting for their own national pride. Anne will have learnt about Burrage, first hand, how she reacts to adversity in the match, because sure as heck if there's one place where adversity is coming for you it's when you are competing for your nation.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You better do your stuff and theres no room for meltdowns or crumbling its a fist fight.
If this is the sort of captain we need then I think Robert Lansdorp is the man for the job!

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

Deucebag wrote:
I really don't understand the criticism of Annie K, when it's obvious the senior players have respect for the job she is doing. Look at the way both Boulter and Dart went straight to her and celebrated their wins. The players are professionals, they are all winners, and they know when they aren't performing well. They don't need a cajoling arm around them. Annie K has a right to expect the players to fight and make every point a battle. There's only one chance to compete and you'd better do your stuff. You give everything you have for the national team. There's no room for meltdowns or crumbling. Burrage will know she has some serious work to do on the mental aspect of her game, if she's to be trusted in a difficult BJK tie. Telling a player to relax, it's just another game, play your normal game : No, it's not a normal game, it's a fist fight against someone who is fighting for their own national pride. Anne will have learnt about Burrage, first hand, how she reacts to adversity in the match, because sure as heck if there's one place where adversity is coming for you it's when you are competing for your nation.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You better do your stuff and theres no room for meltdowns or crumbling its a fist fight.
If this is the sort of captain we need then I think Robert Lansdorp is the man for the job!

Big grin. I didn't know he was the coach behind some of the tennis greats. The interview on YouTube is entertaining.

I watched the match again on catch up, and it seemed to me that Annie K did encourage Burrage between games, and tried to alleviate the nervousness that the player was feeling. It's not surprising that the team captain would be apprehensive over how the match was slipping away, as her player's tennis game faltered. Also, I'm sure Annie K was thinking how a difficult situation might affect the players confidence, beyond the match, and whether Dart might have to be called upon to play singles. If nervousness takes over, then there's not a lot can be done to remedy the situation, in my experience. Having said that, the players should know what is expected of them, not necessarily that they are expected to win, but they are expected to make each point count.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

We'll just have to disagree, foobarbaz

and there's no problem with that
For me, whatever Anne did, whether she sat seriously, or encouraged gently, or whatever, it failed miserably. Jodie got worse and worse. Against a pretty average player. And that's both on Jodie and on Anne.
I think nervousness is exactly the sort of thing that a captain is really well situated to help with. As PaulM said, it's maybe more debatable about actual technique, i.e. how a captain can help you get your forehand back if it's playing up. But nerves, performance and tactics are key things a captain is there to manage.

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

Have there been other BJK matches under Annie K's captaincy where nerves have taken hold of a debutant player? I know that Jo Konta suffered with nerves before her tennis game grew, and there wasn't much that could be done to avoid losses then. The nerves aren't that the players are afraid to lose, they are because the players want to play at the top of their game and show folk just what they are capable of. Controlling nervous energy is what the players have to learn to do, and that's a gradual thing.

jb288 · Satellite level

Quite why people would expect Anne to be able to 'talk Jodie down' when her coaches of many years standing often can't do so in far less pressured situation is beyond me.

indiana · Tennis legend

jb288 wrote:
Quite why people would expect Anne to be able to 'talk Jodie down' when her coaches of many years standing often can't do so in far less pressured situation is beyond me.

It might help to be able to sit beside her and talk to her at change of ends during an actual match - well at least try to talk to her given such an opportunity.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

Annie looked pretty nervous herself at times with all the chewing gum she was using, little wonder she couldn't help Jodie much.

RainDelay · Pro player

She was also a mega choker when it came to her own career so not sure she would be the person to help someone with nerves

Shhh · Challenger level

RainDelay wrote:
She was also a mega choker when it came to her own career so not sure she would be the person to help someone with nerves

I don't think thats strictly true RainDelay?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

jb288 wrote:
Quite why people would expect Anne to be able to 'talk Jodie down' when her coaches of many years standing often can't do so in far less pressured situation is beyond me.

Easy. Because for the very most part, Jodue has never had a coach DURING the match. I agree that it's very difficult for coaches to help with nerves AFTER or BEFORE the event.

But during the match is completely different. That's where you can really hold someone's hand, so to speak, and help them with every changeover, really enforce what you've planned to do when things go a little wrong, basically carry them through. I've seen it on a lot of occasions in team tennis, at all levels, with players who are far worse than Jodie.