Week 40 - ATP Challenger 80 - Alicante, Spain (hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 40 - ATP Challenger 80 - Alicante, Spain (hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I should also add that one of Billy's former coaches, that was working with him a few years back, was here with someone else this week. I noticed that he took some time out to work with Billy and also have a long chat with him after the defeat.

I have been back through my previous posts re Billy, at the time when he had that coach, in order to try and come up with a name. But I don't seem to have mentioned it back then. But among the posts, I did find this comment ....

"I still say that when his game is "on" he has top 250 potential at least."

If you read back through that thread (link below), you will see my frustrations at his inconsistency at the time.

https://britishtennis.activeboard.com/t64806648/week-30-spain-f20-25000-dnia-clay/?page=4&sort=oldestFirst

So much of what I said in today's posts can be seen in my comments from 2018.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

On a completely separate note, Freddie Ferreira Silva looks to be playing very well this week. I'm sure you will all remember that Freddie won the US and French Open Junior doubles with Kyle.

Akira Santillan, who I spoke to a lot, has lost his doubles this morning. He is off to Singapore or Dubai next, or basically as far away from a tennis court that he can get. Very talented but had enough for this season.

Finally, chatted a bit with Robin Haase. Really nice guy. We discussed the success of Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof. I mentioned that we have a number of GB players doing well in doubles and he responded that GB take doubles a lot more seriously than many other countries. We were both singing the praises of Louis Cayer. Funnily enough, I first bumped into him in the car park when leaving on Monday. He was in deep conversation with his coach. I managed to get a photo with him and forwarded it to Ken Skupski - with whom he won ATP titles of course. Ken came back with the message "legend". Not sure if he was referring to me or Robin though. wink

When I arrived back on Tuesday morning, Robin was in the car park in deep discussion again with his coach. I did ask him if that has been there all night as they were in exactly the same spot as I had seen them the previous evening.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: Sanjar Fayziev & Sergey Fomin (UZB/UZB) CR 679 (160+519) defeated Billy Harris & Kelsey Stevenson (CAN) CR 645 (349+296) by 5-7 6-2 [10-4] cry

wales1994 · County player

Bob in Spain wrote:
On a completely separate note, Freddie Ferreira Silva looks to be playing very well this week. I'm sure you will all remember that Freddie won the US and French Open Junior doubles with Kyle.

Akira Santillan, who I spoke to a lot, has lost his doubles this morning. He is off to Singapore or Dubai next, or basically as far away from a tennis court that he can get. Very talented but had enough for this season.

Finally, chatted a bit with Robin Haase. Really nice guy. We discussed the success of Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof. I mentioned that we have a number of GB players doing well in doubles and he responded that GB take doubles a lot more seriously than many other countries. We were both singing the praises of Louis Cayer. Funnily enough, I first bumped into him in the car park when leaving on Monday. He was in deep conversation with his coach. I managed to get a photo with him and forwarded it to Ken Skupski - with whom he won ATP titles of course. Ken came back with the message "legend". Not sure if he was referring to me or Robin though.
When I arrived back on Tuesday morning, Robin was in the car park in deep discussion again with his coach. I did ask him if that has been there all night as they were in exactly the same spot as I had seen them the previous evening.

I really enjoy reading these insights from behind the scenes Bob! So interesting to hear all of these connections, background and perspectives.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

wales1994 wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
On a completely separate note, Freddie Ferreira Silva looks to be playing very well this week. I'm sure you will all remember that Freddie won the US and French Open Junior doubles with Kyle.

Akira Santillan, who I spoke to a lot, has lost his doubles this morning. He is off to Singapore or Dubai next, or basically as far away from a tennis court that he can get. Very talented but had enough for this season.

Finally, chatted a bit with Robin Haase. Really nice guy. We discussed the success of Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof. I mentioned that we have a number of GB players doing well in doubles and he responded that GB take doubles a lot more seriously than many other countries. We were both singing the praises of Louis Cayer. Funnily enough, I first bumped into him in the car park when leaving on Monday. He was in deep conversation with his coach. I managed to get a photo with him and forwarded it to Ken Skupski - with whom he won ATP titles of course. Ken came back with the message "legend". Not sure if he was referring to me or Robin though.
When I arrived back on Tuesday morning, Robin was in the car park in deep discussion again with his coach. I did ask him if that has been there all night as they were in exactly the same spot as I had seen them the previous evening.
I really enjoy reading these insights from behind the scenes Bob! So interesting to hear all of these connections, background and perspectives.

Not half as much as I enjoy 'doing the research'. But thank you anyway.