Remarkable non-GB performances

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

RE: Remarkable non-GB performances

JonH · All-time great

Watching the semis highlights from Queens and Halle I was v impressed by the overall standard of play. With those 8 guys, add in Andy, rafa, Novak, nick K and a bunch of other guys, it feels like Wimbledon could be a very open and high quality event this year. Currently I'd perm 2 of Andy, fed and zverev to be in the final but who knows!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
As "remarkable non GB performances", this one is a bit different. It may not start out as tennis, but read to the end.

All those football fans out there will no doubt have heard of Italian and AC Milan hero, Paulo Maldini. He spent 24 years as a professional at AC Milan and was capped 116 times by Italy. Having finished with football however, he has obviously decided to give tennis a real go.

Maldini and his coach have now qualified to play in the doubles at the Milan Challenger at the end of this month. Maldini will be 49 years old on day one of the tournament. Makes Daniel Nestor look like a spring chicken.

www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/40348565

Some people are just too talented for their own good.

OK. Just started watching the Maldini doubles match - and I have to use the word "match" in its very broadest sense.

Given the standard I have seen so far, there is hope for me yet. We were 2 or 3 points into the opening game and the opponents have already decided not to try too hard.

blob · All-time great

Having just completed her third Masters degree, former WR2, Vera Zvonareva- attempted another putative comeback - from (very) long term injury, and latterly new motherhood - last week.
She accepted a WC in a Sharm El Sheikh $15K, and duly took the title, defeating Seeds 1, 2, 4 & 6 along the way, and coming from a set down in the final to do so.
I can't see her ever returning to her absolute peak, but the quality is quite evidently still there.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

blob wrote:
Having just completed her third Masters degree, former WR2, Vera Zvonareva- attempted another putative comeback - from (very) long term injury, and latterly new motherhood - last week.
She accepted a WC in a Sharm El Sheikh $15K, and duly took the title, defeating Seeds 1, 2, 4 & 6 along the way, and coming from a set down in the final to do so.
I can't see her ever returning to her absolute peak, but the quality is quite evidently still there.

Vera was one of those players I had a huge amount of respect for - managing to complete top class studies at the same time as being an absolute top player.

But three Masters degrees? THREE??? How many does a body need???

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
blob wrote:
Having just completed her third Masters degree, former WR2, Vera Zvonareva- attempted another putative comeback - from (very) long term injury, and latterly new motherhood - last week.
She accepted a WC in a Sharm El Sheikh $15K, and duly took the title, defeating Seeds 1, 2, 4 & 6 along the way, and coming from a set down in the final to do so.
I can't see her ever returning to her absolute peak, but the quality is quite evidently still there.

Vera was one of those players I had a huge amount of respect for - managing to complete top class studies at the same time as being an absolute top player.
But three Masters degrees? THREE??? How many does a body need???

Not convinced that a former WR2 winning a futures qualifies as a "remarkable non GB performance" but as you say, getting 3 Masters Degrees certainly does wink

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

It confirms my theory that anyone at the the top of their field (whatever it may be) could have been remarkable in many fields of their choice. I guess there's alot of time sitting around doing nothing on tour.

Spectator · All-time great

This doesn't quite count ... but Mario Ancic and Jamie Delgado beat Enqvist and Johansson in the Wimbledon invitational doubles. Yes, it's an exhibition and not 'real' tennis. But for someone whose 'day job' involves not tennis but sitting at a desk at Credit Suisse to come in and play at a decent level ... well, I'm impressed. And it's lovely to see him playing at Wimbledon again.

Spectator · All-time great

I'd noticed that J C Aragone, who played for the University of Virginia, had qualified for the main draw, which seemed remarkable, as he was hardly a major player on their team (as I think Oakland pointed out in a futures tournament recently). But Ben Rothenberg tweeted a link to an article which makes it clear just how remarkable he is: he's diabetic, first of all, was in a coma for three weeks in intensive care six years ago and in and out of hospital for two more years, not picking up a racket for three. He'd decided to get a job after finishing at university... but his parents said they'd support him to take a year on tour, as he loves tennis so much. Makes one rather glad that he's done so well.

JonH · All-time great

So, Millman came into the US Open ranked 235. I wondered how this compared as the lowest ranked player to reach the last 32 in a slam or , even the last 16 perhaps? Anyone know any stats on that??

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
So, Millman came into the US Open ranked 235. I wondered how this compared as the lowest ranked player to reach the last 32 in a slam or , even the last 16 perhaps? Anyone know any stats on that??

The thing about Millman is his ranking is not a true reflection. He has a CH of 60 just last year.

As regard to your question about lowest ranked players, I don't know the answer, but I am sure that somebody in on a protected ranking would take that prize. Haven't checked, but as a possible example, did DelPo ever reach a last 32 when way down in the rankings.

the addict · Tennis legend

Your probably right about DelPo, Bob. He reached the third round at Wimbledon last year, and was ranked at 145 for the Olympics afterwards, so would have been a lot lower.

brendan · Strong Club Player

I just noticed Kaia Kanepi would have started the week down in the 400s and is starting her 3rd round match as I write

blob · All-time great

Azarenka was WR683 for Wimbledon this year, and made R16.

indiana · Tennis legend

brendan wrote:
I just noticed Kaia Kanepi would have started the week down in the 400s and is starting her 3rd round match as I write

Yes noticed that. She was out injured but even her SR is only 196 and she had to come through qualifying.

Through to a R4/L16 match vs Kasatkina.