Tim Urban, eh, sometimes that predictive override is quite inspired :)

Anyway congrats to Kyle - that's the way to do it !

'Obligation', 'owing', being 'forced to spend the rest of his life'? Who conjured up all that, other than you? I described Henman as lazy. You disagree with that view, fair enough.

'Putting something back' is a well-recognised, much-cherished value. It applies to sport particularly where standards of practice and excellence need careful nurture and passage from one generation to the next. Something is wrong, it seems to me, when a line of ex-players prefer to park their bums in TV studios and criticise British tennis (and Henman has made his point many times over, not just once to a single journalist). Henman is representative of that issue. Rather than get out to confront the problem they talk about it. All I see is what you see; organisational failure from the 80s on to produce the player streams so that at any point we have a decent number of top-100 WTA/ATP players. As an ex high level ATP player, there is an awful lot Henman could 'put back' if so inclined.

Interesting though, that 'foreigner' Greg is at least doing something with his talent and know-how. As regards his abilities as coach, the passage of time will tell one way or another. He seems to be doing all the right things albeit at a cost the LTA could not affordably extend to others.

Were I Downey, I'd be talking to Tim as often as I could.

Amazing Kyle has just whooped someone in the first round of a challenger and no one has really batted an eyelid that's progress. It would be good to see him go really deep this week. Validating his progress for those hard to please, but at 19 if he doesn't it is all experience in the locker for next time. Really enjoying following british tennis and would not have dreamt of doing so or engaging of encouraging my kids to play what I had previously consider an elitist sport, not that they are likely to solve any of britains tennis problems, but much of this down to them watching an outstanding junior playing in an ITF in the flesh and as a consequence wanting to get involved. So even as a 17 yr old novice professional kyle has got three kids playing who wouldn't.

I don't think it is a question of anyone owing anybody anything and more than happy for henman to play golf, Greg had a tremendous enthusiasm for tennis and is continuing to draw people into the British game not only through his commitments with sky but also through coaching our promising juniors. Again I don't expect him to, but as a sports fan get a great thrill when players who excelled in their job as a professional player love it so much they play until they drop or commit themselves to improving others. It is with that passion I follow sport. But again I don't have any expectation that others should be made the same.

Despite a general ambivalence towards man utd you can't help but admire the spirit drive and commitment of their 1992 youth team who still radiate a love of the game that inspires others. Giggs alledgedly still sleeps with his boots on!

How is someone ranked 709 getting into challengers? Far-flung location?

Looks like rather a few withdrawals :

"LAST DIRECT ACCEPTANCE - C Congar 2076"

Probably one of the reasons is that most Challenger players were at the US qualifying or even main draw.