Week 39 - ATP Challenger 125 - CO'Met Open - Orléans, France (indoor hard)

seagull · Hall of fame

Week 39 - ATP Challenger 125 - CO'Met Open - Orléans, France (indoor hard)

Var · Pro player

Well done Jacob!

bookerman · Social player

Woah when I said Jake would be top 100 before the end of the year, did not expect it to be by the end of September. what a tear he had since Finnish college.

Can't remember the last player who did it this fast, maybe Shelton, but think he left after a year or 2

korriban · Challenger level

So since leaving college hes entered 5 Challenger events since mid June (3 and a half months), winning 4 of them (including the first via qualifying) and only losing a single match in the semi final of the fifth tournament! Its quite exceptional really, given that most players have at least one off-day during a tournament, so hes getting through those grinding matches too. In addition hes given full ATP tour level tournaments and 2 grand slams a go - winning a round at Wimbledon and taking a set off Djokovic in round 2. And now into the top 100. I wouldnt be surprised if his team gave him next week off for another training block, but then again hes entered in another 100 point Challenger, just down the road, so he might decide to stick it out. Nonetheless, I suspect Orleans (and possibly the next French tournament) will probably be his last Challenger event for a very long time. What a fantastic prospect he is. 2025 could be very exciting - top 50 seems a logical and genuinely achievable objective for him.

-- Edited by korriban on Sunday 29th of September 2024 04:45:49 PM

Doonan · Intermediate Club Player

seagull wrote:
Quite an astonishing rise. Was outside the top 500 before grass court season.

He was ranked 1782 in October last year, less than a year ago. Unbelievable.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Jake only has 75 points to defend til June. Hes got 555 points in the race this season. If he keeps the same trajectory as currently, and gets another say 400 points my middle of next year, hed be getting near the top 50 by Wimbledon. Maybe too much to aim higher but boy.

scottie1 · Futures level

Wow just wow when I saw Jake about 6 years ago I never thought he would make top 100
Last year in October saw him in Glasgow he had matured in his body from boy to.man He is on an upward projectory now this is sensational.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

September PoM vote posted

https://britishtennis.activeboard.com/t71169520/september-2024-player-of-the-month-vote/?page=last#lastPostAnchor

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Sunday 29th of September 2024 05:36:41 PM

Tanaqui · Club Coach

I also want to note that Jake did something right before the match began today that really endeared him to me as a person and not just a player.

I don't know if anyone remembers that, before one of his matches at Nottingham, he had to comfort a tearful little girl mascot who had been frightened by the adult-in-a-costume LTA mascot. Well, at the start of the match today, he noticed that the little girl mascot with him for the pictures at the net wasn't facing quite the right way and gently nudged her around so she'd get the best picture possible.

How many players (playing in a "big" match that could take them into the top 100!) would notice and be kind enough to do that?

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

Madadman wrote:
Interesting use of a challenge by Jake. His 1st serve is called in but the return catches the net drops in. So he challenges the call of his own serve being in!Challenge was not successful however.

I also noticed this! It is the first time I've seen a player challenge a shot challenge his own shot that has has been called in. I'd never considered such a circumstance.

I watched JF's second round match against Robin Bertrand. I was going to pen a post asking if the courts were fast, the hitting was huge and I thought that perhaps the speed of the court was influencing my perception re the fierceness of the ball striking. More huge hitting today...

There are not many players who have won back to back challengers. I know that Richard Gasquet, Taylor Fritz and I think also Nadal have won 3 consecutive challengers, but I think these tournaments were $50k / 50 point challengers. A question for ther nerdiest of the tennis nerds on this board: Has any player ever won consecutive challengers at the 100 point or more level?

Priesty · Challenger level

bookerman wrote:
Woah when I said Jake would be top 100 before the end of the year, did not expect it to be by the end of September. what a tear he had since Finnish college.
Can't remember the last player who did it this fast, maybe Shelton, but think he left after a year or 2

I thought he went to college in Texas not Finland? wink

Jan · Hall of fame

Fabulous Jake!!!!!

Mervatron2 · Futures level

Bloody brilliant.

Tennpar · Strong Club Player

Well done to Jake, what exciting times for him - no time to stop and think, just getting on with it