Brandon Walkin

brittak · Pro player

Brandon Walkin

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

brittak wrote:
According to OER and ATP we seem to have acquired a new player from AUS?
Aged 29 with a current ranking of 806 (CH 702 in 2020).
Anyone got any info on him and what this is all about - seems an odd move at this stage of his career?

He got a suspension in 2017 for 6 months for being linked to the Nick Lyndahl match fixing scandal. But not sure exactly what he did.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

brittak wrote:
According to OER and ATP we seem to have acquired a new player from AUS?
Aged 29 with a current ranking of 806 (CH 702 in 2020).
Anyone got any info on him and what this is all about - seems an odd move at this stage of his career?

I don't understand the switch at all. He appears to have no links of any kind with the UK &, given his playing career, he's hardly a great "catch"/addition to the GB ranks!

LordBrownof · Futures level

Confirming that Brandon has switched - I spoke to him over Instagram and he said the change was because GB is nicer with wildcards than Aus. Purely career-driven.

I've asked what the UK connection is...

Nix · Futures qualifying

This makes me uncomfortable. I really hope other, younger Brits dont miss out because he gets WCs that they might otherwise receive.

Blue_Belle · Strong Club Player

Nix wrote:
This makes me uncomfortable. I really hope other, younger Brits dont miss out because he gets WCs that they might otherwise receive.

Doesn't mean he will get them.

Lambda · Futures level

Has he read the LTA WC policy? A 29 year old not returning from injury and with little to no prospect of being a top 100 player does not fit with who receives WCs for any level of tournament under the policy.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Absolutely - might also help to enter a British event - no evidence he has ever done that before from reading his ITF profile and tournie list!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

LordBrownof wrote:
Confirming that Brandon has switched - I spoke to him over Instagram and he said the change was because GB is nicer with wildcards than Aus. Purely career-driven.

So a definite "plastic Brit". furious

twentytoone · Lower Club Player

He does have a career high atp doubles ranking of 204

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Just to say, I have no problem him whatsoever in making a career-driven nationality move

It's really hard to make a living as a pro-tennis player

And given his age, and ranking, this is getting close to his last chance

And the rules obviously allow him to change.

So if the powers that be - in their wisdom - have decided that he is an eligible candidate to become British, then it's not for him to shoot himself in the foot and say they're wrong

All that said, I don't 'like' him - I'm not even neutral - he was suspended for 6 months for match fixing - so he starts from a distinct negative

And so I'd be perfectly happy if Lambda is correct, and he doesn't stand an earthly of getting a wildcard (although I assume if he got up to ATP 270, say, he'd be a very good shout for a Wimble qualis wildcard - I don't see that not happening)

But I don't hold it against switching tennis nationalities to try and keep his career going

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Just to say, I have no problem him whatsoever in making a career-driven nationality move

It's really hard to make a living as a pro-tennis player

And given his age, and ranking, this is getting close to his last chance

And the rules obviously allow him to change.

So if the powers that be - in their wisdom - have decided that he is an eligible candidate to become British, then it's not for him to shoot himself in the foot and say they're wrong

All that said, I don't 'like' him - I'm not even neutral - he was suspended for 6 months for match fixing - so he starts from a distinct negative

And so I'd be perfectly happy if Lambda is correct, and he doesn't stand an earthly of getting a wildcard (although I assume if he got up to ATP 270, say, he'd be a very good shout for a Wimble qualis wildcard - I don't see that not happening)

But I don't hold it against switching tennis nationalities to try and keep his career going

Good summary and basically how I feel!!

Lambda · Futures level

As everyone may not know the details of the match fixing incident, he received a 6 months suspension which was suspended for 6 months during which he was free to compete. The details of his involvement, according to him, are that at a futures event in 2013 he received a phone call asking to pass a message on to his friend that the friends opponent was willing to throw a match for a price. He passed the message on via text adding he wanted no part of it. His side of the story: https://archive.is/z2K9O (full article is below the subscription offer).

RainDelay · Pro player

He's 29, ranked in the 800s. He's gonna get less attention than Elbert Barr. Come back to me when he looks like he might achieve something and I'll decide whether I have any interest at that point lol.

twentytoone · Lower Club Player

You guys arent focusing on his doubles ranking which is what he focuses on