Week 23 - ATP Challenger 125 - Rothesay Open - Nottingham, Great Britain (grass)

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

RE: Week 23 - ATP Challenger 125 - Rothesay Open - Nottingham, Great Britain (grass)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I'm glad Sue is quitting. I find her coy, fluttery approach with Andrew Castle, John Lloyd etc utterly infuriating.

Obviously, John Lloyd should have gone ages ago, before he even came, in fact. Lazy player who became a lazy commentator. Tim adds very little but occasionally has some interesting points. McEnroe should be banned.

The only slight consolation this year is that Becker won't be there..... but, agree, best to be completely avoided if possible.....

Shhh · Challenger level

I understand why you say that about McEnroe but, as he's so outspoken, I can enjoy him being there sometimes. He makes big points I agree with and others that make me shout at the telly but.....well at least he's not bland

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

FWIW it is worth, I agree re all the players above, McEnroe is marmite (my favourite player but a bit of a caricature of himself in his pundit role), I actually do quite like both Pat Cash and on the womens side Lindsay Davenport and Pam Schriver.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Although he's certainly better than Lloyd, say, a little bit of Jonny Mac goes a very long way and, yes, I think your description of him now being a 'caricature of himself' is very apt

I quite like Sam Smith as a commentator but don't think she's the right person to take Sue's job

christ · Futures level

It'll probably be one of the female ex-footballers: they seem to be the flavour of the month at the moment.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Ryan's glorious run in Nottingham finally comes to an end ( cry ):

QF: (5) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) WR 100 defeated Ryan Peniston WR 197 by 3 & 4

Shhh · Challenger level

Stircrazy wrote:
Ryan's glorious run in Nottingham finally comes to an end ( ):
QF: (5) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) WR 100 defeated Ryan Peniston WR 197 by 3 & 4

Shame. Ryan didn't look the player of the 1st couple of rounds, still go to see him making progress. Can he crack top 150 in the next 12 months I wonder?

seagull · Hall of fame

Was looking good at 3-2 with a break. Then lost 6 games in a row and match was gone. I think he could have won that.

indiana · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
Ryan's glorious run in Nottingham finally comes to an end ( ):
QF: (5) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) WR 100 defeated Ryan Peniston WR 197 by 3 & 4
Shame. Ryan didn't look the player of the 1st couple of rounds, still go to see him making progress. Can he crack top 150 in the next 12 months I wonder?

Certainly if he can keep up the comparative points gathering he has managed so far this year. He is up to live race #140.

We have 7 players in the ATP race top 150

wales1994 · County player

christ wrote:
It'll probably be one of the female ex-footballers: they seem to be the flavour of the month at the moment.

I think Laura Robson would be a great fit, love her commentary and she has a charisma about her. But I rate the commentary of lots of the more recent players, they all come across highly involved and still interested in the game. Players like Broady, Keothavong, South. Be nice to actually have some presenters who know what they are talking about.

I don't mind Henman tbh. McEnroe needs to go. Lloyd / Castle are just there because they fit the right white public school boy demographic - baffles me as to how they are given work year after year.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Jack Sock seems to be in a slightly strange mood...... half the time looks as though he has no interest.....

He won the first set, 7-6, but then seemed indifferent to the second, which he lost 1-6

Liam's doing well but I half think Sock gave up on the second and just cruised it out, to get to the third...

Nix · Futures level

wales1994 wrote:
christ wrote:
It'll probably be one of the female ex-footballers: they seem to be the flavour of the month at the moment.
I think Laura Robson would be a great fit, love her commentary and she has a charisma about her. But I rate the commentary of lots of the more recent players, they all come across highly involved and still interested in the game. Players like Broady, Keothavong, South. Be nice to actually have some presenters who know what they are talking about.

I don't mind Henman tbh. McEnroe needs to go. Lloyd / Castle are just there because they fit the right white public school boy demographic - baffles me as to how they are given work year after year.

That's the thing, though, I find Tim really bland, and prefer Greg. I also find Keothavong really dull although I like South, Broady, Robson and Annabelle Croft, who lots of others can't stand but I find her interesting and insightful . I also don't mind Mac, although really didn't like Becker. i agree though that Lloyd/Castle need to be put out to pasture. They always seem to state the obvious or saying something mildly inappropriate, especially when commenting on women's matches. Point being, it's so difficult to please everyone.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Jack Sock seems to be in a slightly strange mood...... half the time looks as though he has no interest.....

He won the first set, 7-6, but then seemed indifferent to the second, which he lost 1-6

Liam's doing well but I half think Sock gave up on the second and just cruised it out, to get to the third...

Seems you were right, CD:

QF: (7) Jack Sock (USA) WR 110 defeated Liam Broady WR 144 by 7-6(3) 1-6 6-4 hmm

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

I watched the last half of the final set. The standard was good, very good even. I didn't see Liam lose his serve, but at 4-2 down and serving, he was at 0-30. I feared the worst. But Liam hit the ball past JS several times to hold, he played ballsy tennis. Liam couldn't get the break back though. We should remember that Jack sock was once no.7 and is a very decent grass court player.

The disparaging remarks I made re. the Beeb's commentary applied principally to their coverage of Surbiton and Nottingham. People who watch Challenger level tennis have a good understanding of the game. Commentary aimed at Wimbledon fans, most of whom have little idea about tennis, is not appropriate. And coverage of the centre court at Surbiton (haven't watched much this week) was spoilt by poor choice of camera shots - extensive use of a camera in line with the net whilst the ball is in play is crass.

Coverage of Liam's match on the ATP site was ideal! No commentary and a fixed camera sufficiently far back from the base line for things to work optically.