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

Jan · Hall of fame

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

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

First time I've watched Ryan. It was a quality match. Congrats to him.

Jaffa · Challenger level

That was another superb performance. Was a lot more comfortable than the score suggests.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

He really is stepping up to the plate, good lad. These first couple of grass events, Ryan has really stood out relative to my expectations, playing a really good game. It feels little like when Cam started to surge up, he developed a really solid, hard to beat game

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Good match this between Evo and Fabbiano. High standard of tennis and both players know their way around a grass court. Forgot Fabbiano has beaten Stan and Tsitsipas at Wimbledon in past few years

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Amazing, it had been tight all set, Fabbiano looking more likely to break, gets to 5-6 on Fabbiano's serve and Dan just stepped up whilst the Italian got tight. It happens so often and the best player so often ends up with the spoils...first set 7-5 for Evo

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well done, Evo. Looking good.....

Again, enjoy hearing Evo explaining to the commentator that, no, there's no feelgood factor that spurs you on when the other Brits do well, they barely see each other, month in, month out, most of them, and so it makes no difference, everyone's doing their own thing (although he hopes they win, of course).

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Well done, Evo. Looking good.....

Again, enjoy hearing Evo explaining to the commentator that, no, there's no feelgood factor that spurs you on when the other Brits do well, they barely see each other, month in, month out, most of them, and so it makes no difference, everyone's doing their own thing (although he hopes they win, of course).

He's said that before and at his level of the game, top 30-40, maybe the only player that would spur him on is seeing what Cam is doing; but the lower guys, I imagine he has a passing interest as mates and, as you say, no doubt wishes them well.

But I do wonder if the players ranked lower get a feelgood or at least a motivational factor - ie the guys around 500 or higher as they see Ryan, Paul, Ali, Billy, Dan Cox doing well - perhaps more of a "if he can do it, I can do it" element?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

But I think what Evo is saying (and others) is why would it make a difference that 'if Ryan can do it, so can I?' As opposed to 'if X from Germany can do it, why can't I?' or any other player who's suddenly had a good run? What he's saying, and it makes sense, is that nationality doesn't really come into it, of course they're pleased for the Brits in general, but there's no reason that Evo, say, is friends with Ali G, or Dan Cox is friends with any of them, to be honest. They're just as likely to be spurred on by their Spanish mate doing well.

indiana · Tennis legend

I like Dan says it as he sees it ( not that I always agree with him! ) Rather than pat answers or just going along with some theory.

I do think grass on front of a home crowd inspires each individual a whole lot more than what anyone else is doing which should be minimal effect at best ( though home wins may put the crowd in a good mood ).

It would actually be a bit of an issue if they need particular other players doing well as a motivation.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

no, no, I definitely agree but I do always think that you tend to look towards those around you (mates, work colleagues) and think that if they can do it, I can too. Dont have to be Brits, and unlikely to be Brits at Dans level of the game, but for the guys who are lower down and perhaps touring together, I am sure it must have some sort of motivational impact if your doubles partner does well or the guy youve trained with each day does well and you know you can match them...

Anyway, just my thoughts

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Either way, Dan was well in control and won at a canter again and he looks good. He looks fit and motivated and is playing better than I have seen for a while. Granted it is only Challenger but, that said, there are lots of good players at this level and in particular on grass, Fabbiano being one of them

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
no, no, I definitely agree but I do always think that you tend to look towards those around you (mates, work colleagues) and think that if they can do it, I can too. Dont have to be Brits, and unlikely to be Brits at Dans level of the game, but for the guys who are lower down and perhaps touring together, I am sure it must have some sort of motivational impact if your doubles partner does well or the guy youve trained with each day does well and you know you can match them...

Anyway, just my thoughts

So you 'agree' but don't really agree biggrin You wouldn't see that from Dan!

I wouldn't put general things for friends and work colleagues in the same category as pro tennis players

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
I like Dan says it as he sees it ( not that I always agree with him! ) Rather than pat answers or just going along with some theory.
I do think grass on front of a home crowd inspires each individual a whole lot more than what anyone else is doing which should be minimal effect at best ( though home wins may put the crowd in a good mood ).
It would actually be a bit of an issue if they need particular other players doing well as a motivation.

I agree the grass should do that, but in the past we have got all excited each season and , by and large, the players havent been good enough to step up - not many of them play grass anyway and so dont have that inbuilt familiarity of yesterday. But, this year, it feels different (to me at least) and we seem to have a lot more depth of player who can challenge and many of them are turning "plucky Brits" match ups into wins this season. So far we have 29 mens wins and 22 womens, and I have no idea where that stacks up compared to past seasons, but I reckon after 1 1/2 weeks on grass 51 wins in total in singles is a lot higher than most years!!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
no, no, I definitely agree but I do always think that you tend to look towards those around you (mates, work colleagues) and think that if they can do it, I can too. Dont have to be Brits, and unlikely to be Brits at Dans level of the game, but for the guys who are lower down and perhaps touring together, I am sure it must have some sort of motivational impact if your doubles partner does well or the guy youve trained with each day does well and you know you can match them...

Anyway, just my thoughts
So you 'agree' but don't really agree You wouldn't see that from Dan!
I wouldn't put general things for friends and work colleagues in the same category as pro tennis players

Im not being very clear, am I biggrin as always. I think what I am trying to say (think!) is that people get motivated by those around them, I am sure of that. I dont know if Dan believes that in general or whether he is just saying that the Brits specifically dont create a feel good factor/motivation for him, more than anyone else, but I am sure he is right. Why should Dan Cox doing well motivate Dan Evans other than being pleased for him.

But if Julian Cash and Henry Patten play together (and many of the lower Brits) I would have thought that Julian doing well in an event would have a knock on effect on Henry, if they are in each others pockets week in week out. So it is more likely at the lower levels. But I am not a pro so who knows.

SO, I agree with Dan about him and his level - but I am not sure I agree with him as you go down the ranks!

That is what I think I mean! But I may not mean it either!