Boys: J200 Istres, France, clay (Week 15)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Boys: J200 Istres, France, clay (Week 15)

Oscariyan · Strong Club Player

Thanks David, good start as Mark goes 3-0 up.

Oscariyan · Strong Club Player

mark takes the first set 6-3. He must keep this intensity up though for the next set.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

There' a lady in the stands, who I can't see but can hear - and she's encouraging Mark, with an 'allez, Mark, allez'

And she sounds very French - but possibly with a very slight accent, that certainly isn't English

I wonder if its Mark's mother? I believe both parents are Moldovan, and French (and Russian) are the two common extra languages spoken there, French particulalry in the older generation (not saying his mum is 'old'

)

Oscariyan · Strong Club Player

Woohoo! Congrats Mark on a brilliant title and all the more sweeter as its a on the red dirt :)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Mark always seemed in control, with early breaks in both sets, and responded well to the indignity of being broken to love midway through the second, reeling off the next 3 games. Needs one more good tournament (Aldershot next week or Italy the week after) to gain a place in the Roland Garros main draw.

F

Mark Ceban d. (7) Damir Zhalgasbay (KAZ) 6-3 6-3 smile

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Do we have any idea why and how Mark is allowed not to take part in the Nationals? Or if he's actively chosen not to, despite the rules (which seems unlikely)?

Oscariyan · Strong Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
Do we have any idea why and how Mark is allowed not to take part in the Nationals? Or if he's actively chosen not to, despite the rules (which seems unlikely)?

Oh, I thought he was playing? Aldershot is the week after next?

DavidC · Tennis legend

Oscariyan wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Do we have any idea why and how Mark is allowed not to take part in the Nationals? Or if he's actively chosen not to, despite the rules (which seems unlikely)?
Oh, I thought he was playing? Aldershot is the week after next?

Yes, Mark is seeded 3 in the Nationals. I usually see a week as starting on Sunday, and hence Aldershot as next week, but main draws usually start on Monday - so sorry about the confusion

Oscariyan · Strong Club Player

DavidC wrote:
Oscariyan wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Do we have any idea why and how Mark is allowed not to take part in the Nationals? Or if he's actively chosen not to, despite the rules (which seems unlikely)?
Oh, I thought he was playing? Aldershot is the week after next?
Yes, Mark is seeded 3 in the Nationals. I usually see a week as starting on Sunday, and hence Aldershot as next week, but main draws usually start on Monday - so sorry about the confusion

No worries, I misinterpreted. :)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

DavidC wrote:
Oscariyan wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Do we have any idea why and how Mark is allowed not to take part in the Nationals? Or if he's actively chosen not to, despite the rules (which seems unlikely)?
Oh, I thought he was playing? Aldershot is the week after next?
Yes, Mark is seeded 3 in the Nationals. I usually see a week as starting on Sunday, and hence Aldershot as next week, but main draws usually start on Monday - so sorry about the confusion

Ignore me ! (Again, Indy biggrin )

SO SO sorry - I didn't see him - #gotospecsavers

Oscariyan · Strong Club Player

Via Intstagram, Mark has announced he has very recently be working with Fabio Lavazza. Does anyone know anything about him? Does that mean he is not working with the LTA?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Oscariyan wrote:
Via Intstagram, Mark has announced he has very recently be working with Fabio Lavazza. Does anyone know anything about him? Does that mean he is not working with the LTA?

I guess it might be like Hannah recently working with Viala

As a clay court training block

(or that he's decided he's had enough of the LTA, of course. And him and Mimi and whoever else are all jumping ship biggrin )