British Tennis Forum

GAMEOVER wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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9vicman wrote:

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Back to the list, and noticeable that there were only three (!) British women in the Top 300, which must be an all time low. I know there have been periods without a Top 100 player, but to me this is particularly bad. Or conversely, a sign of how far we've come.

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 Jeepers !!   -  how easily one can forget such comparatively recent past.

I could have told you that we briefly had 4 women in the top 100 in 2012 ( as Heather and Laura crossed over with Bally and Anne K ) after a long period in the relative doldrums.

But if you had asked me to guess how many top 300 players we had at the start of 2016, no way would I have been going so low. Yet I don't recall huge despair?  Was it more just a glum acceptance?

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 The latter - we just accepted tennis wasnt a sport we excelled at. thankfully its different now, although it could still be better! 

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 Things were not that bad because  by a month later Jo had reached the Australian Open semi finals.

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 I think if there's success at the highest level, people don't look elsewhere. I remember many French fans and media saying that they would rather have one Andy Murray than four Top 10 players in Tsonga, Gasquet, Monfils and Simon. But the latter is far more indicative of a good tennis system/culture.

I think all a federation can do is try to produce players. Who comes through to the very top is down to additional factors.

Coup Droit wrote:

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Strongbow wrote:

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As said, it's not an excuse - things change and people have to change in line

What's the difference between that and fascism

Will be leaving soon for somewhere less woke.

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But look at the numbers  

Only one person really commented negatively and one person made a gentle reminder comment

And there were 'the other side' comments 

So you can't really label the whole forum based on that 

As KC and the Sunshine band would say: 'Please Don't Go'  

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Indeed CD. But very very sadly Strongbow has deleted his membership

As Jon indicates he has been a stalwart of the board with his different regularly updated lists, including to my mind most notably the Stongest Nation one but many others too which have sparked interest with what is often revealed. Ongoing lists can be so good to look back to at times.

The original gentle comment was to my mind entirely reasonable. There are very legitimate reasons why that term, once widely accepted, is not considered at all appropriate now, and I do not consider it part of the wider woke or PC argument re things that arguably go too far. We do live in often worrying times but here we have had an unfortunate take on what I took to be reasonable comment / advice to someone writing in the forum, and no doubt writing elsewhere, momentarily using an inappropriate word, so meant to be helpful as best avoided here and elsewhere. To link what we have had here to fascism is just so wrong.

All very unfortunate, and it would be great if there is any way to get Strongbow back. But we have the ( I assume still ongoing ) new member registration issue.

Coup Droit wrote:

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It is unfortunate

However, people shouldn't be 'scared off' from making 'gentle reminders' just because someone might take it badly

If he dips into the forum, as an observer, I'll put it out there that, Strongbow, we DO hope that you reconsider

In the bigger picture, however, the mods MUST resolve the new member registration issue - I assumed it was resolved

Steven, everyone - the forum gets stale if there are no new voices - the numbers diminish (they can only go one way) and it will die

It should be TOP priority

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 Very sad to see it end this way and will miss Strongbow. I think it was a misplaced slip that was right to call out but really sad it ended this way. 

will miss Strongest Nation in particular, and do hope there is a way back. 

re the new members not joining - I see it most in voting numbers in my polls where it definitely, IMO, has had an impact. I mentioned it to Sheddie I think in a PM, not sure if he has had a chance to look at it, but agree totally it is top priority. 

I was already meaning to check out the latest new member position. I will do so pronto, CD, and if it is still apparently an issue ( and yes a big issue ), I will get on to Sheddie and Steven.

Edit: was that a recent mention to Sheddie, Jon?

indiana wrote:

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Cheers, Jon, then yes I'll get on to it again.

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 Good stuff