The Ren Sisters and Laura Robson Thread.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

The Ren Sisters and Laura Robson Thread.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

God its only chatting

tennisbrain · Club Coach

no she doesnt need own thread. should this be in junior bit anyway

Salmon · Tennis legend

No, it shouldn't. Jennifer plays 10Ks.

john · Top national player

Glare of publicity lol. It's a discussion thread on a forum for crying out loud, hardly heaping pressure on them.

Ratty · County player

ok ok ok!!!!

I was just concerned that when a kid has a bad run, it could be very disheartening to have the world and his uncle commenting and reading about it.
I also don't think that it's helpful for the player to have "so and so is bound to get into the top 50" type comments bandied about (which I admit they aren't often on this board).

Boluda, Tomic and Larcher de Brito are pretty likely to get into the top 100 ATP/WTA. IMO comments about juniors who aren't prodigies like them is pure speculation, and not at all helpful for the player concerned.

But, you know what, it's a free country last time I looked, so say what you like!!!

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

SO what The Rens and Robson read this board and are going to think they are pressured to do well?

Happycynic · Pro player

IMHO.....
A) I suspect we don't put NEARLY as much pressure on these guys as they put on themselves. That's the kind of competitive spirit they have. You don't get even as far as they have without that.

b) This is one of the most positive boards around, especially for juniors. I have simply never seen a junior slammed/maligned. There is very little criticism around, more positive encouragement and celebration of their success, and commiserations of their failures. Were it not this way, I wouldn't be around for one.... under 18s simply don't deserve that kind of crap, but this board doesn't produce it.

c) Anyone who has watched British tennis over any time knows of course that most juniors don't make it. We are in fact all aware it has been a long time since we produced a top 100 WTA player despite producing talented juniors.

Were b to change, of couse, I would leave myself and expect the mods to step in. But I see no signs of it, and hope not to

Salmon · Tennis legend

I agree with every word you say there, Greg.

Yeah, it's okay, Ratty, and I have given a lot of thought to stuff like this - especially when I started the manic Cox posting. I don't know for sure, but I think that it's okay as long as people don't bash the kids (which I doubt will ever happen out here) and the overhyping thing you say (I have never said that anybody is a guaranteed top 100 player, although I do think that some of our Juniors have that ability if they maintain the level, which I think is fair).

In all honesty, if they read a board and feel pressure they won't even crack the top 500 (which I am confident won't be the case).

But I appreciate the fact that you think so much for our players!

By the way, can I just delete this convo?

Or am I just being paranoid?

john · Top national player

You're just being paranoid

Salmon · Tennis legend

Fine, I'll leave it there.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Category 1 in Slovakia this week.

http://www.stz.sk/soubory/mm_2hg_piestany_u14_07.pdf

Salmon · Tennis legend

Laura's ITF debut may need to wait because of this tournament. Of course, it's possible that she'll withdraw from this one.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Robson is next playing in a G4 on clay from the 20th of this month.

http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/pdf/original/IO_27103_original.PDF

This event is played at a club called "Arka".

Salmon · Tennis legend

They'll play in the BNP Paribas Cup from 9th July - http://www.worldclasstennistour.com/edition_en_cours/status.php

This is stronger than most European tourneys because quite a few players from outside compete. I wonder why the Americans don't play this...