I cannot remember such a bad string of performances or group of players. Very dark days may be ahead for British tennis. Let us break this down, and at the same time remember, Argentina with no money, are able to get 30-40 players inside the top 250.
1) Cam Norrie- no problem
2) Dan Evans- really starting to lose form, will likely drop out of top 100 next year
3)Andy Murray, winning challengers, likely retire next year
4) Jack Draper- unsure if he will be able to have a professional career due to injuries
5)Liam Broady, unable to break top 100
6)Kyle Edmund, may never return
7) Ryan Peniston- random player who peaked on grass last year, actually a steady futures level player
8) Jan Choinksi, import from Germany, never going to be top 100
9) Jay Clarke- never going to cut mustard or be top 100
10) Paul Jubb- never going to cut mustard or be top 100
11) The nobodies, Broom, Harris, Gray, Cox, Samuel. No of them are pulling up roots at any level of tennis.
I dont think the men's game is too bad, especially with Cam still around. What about young Oliver (16)? Jack - too early to say he is still maturing. Now the women's game...ouch!
I dont think the men's game is too bad, especially with Cam still around. What about young Oliver (16)? Jack - too early to say he is still maturing. Now the women's game...ouch!
Generally, other than our number of top 100 players ( which is quite important! ) I'd say no more ouch than our men. About as much depth as the men as you go down the rankings and currently better looking juniors.
And as for this summer, which was the subject, our women have been the more impressive and had a pretty good grass court season.
I dont think the men's game is too bad, especially with Cam still around. What about young Oliver (16)? Jack - too early to say he is still maturing. Now the women's game...ouch!
Generally, other than our number of top 100 players ( which is quite important! ) I'd say no more ouch than our men. About as much depth as the men as you go down the rankings and currently better looking juniors.
And as for this summer, which was the subject, our women have been the more impressive and had a pretty good grass court season.
We haven't had Wimbledon yet. Despite generous wildcards ( maybe too ate), the women couldn't qualify in their own right, and none qualified for Roland Garros for the first time in years( a few swallows don't make a summer) - shall we wait and see what happens in SW19? I still think the men will do far better
Sadly your comments are not without proof to back them. The question is why? The LTA clearly think they are heading in the right direction
An LTA spokesperson said there is more work to do but we do believe we are heading in the right direction despite disappointing French Open qualifying results. Add to that disappointing Wimbledon qualies (was so disappointed for Billy today).
Paul Jubb, is ranked 357 in the world, low when compared to other grand slam nations: Australia have 20 ranked better than him, the USA have 29 and France have 36. There are 44 former/current college players ranked higher than Paul. Nuno Borges, the player Paul beat to win the NCAA mens tennis championship is ranked #68 - maybe hes been lucky and fairly injury free?
Without the weather, culture or facilities (including loss access to La Manga) how are Brits going to train for the clay court season? Murray is Britains greatest ever clay-courter and spent part of his childhood at the Sánchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona. British No 10 Fran Jones moved there at the age of just nine, and then at 16 switched to a different academy in Barcelona.
Significantly more access to grass courts and the weather has picked up, so maybe the main draw of Wimbledon will have some positives, after all things can only get better
I normally ignore Vandy but can't help myself from responding today. I can't bear this sort of comment as it offers no value to anyone. All the players mentioned above are out there day after day, working as hard as they can to be the best they possibly can. Many will not make it to the top but that doesn't mean they haven't achieved many personal targets and given pleasure to themselves and others. Some of them are injured (Paul, Kyle...) and they are working desperately hard on their rehab in the hope of returning to the tour and pushing on again. I feel we should supporting and encouraging every one of them. That doesn't mean we don't sometimes criticise them for specific issues, but just to virtually write off every single British player is appalling. IMHO.
Vandy has his own style lets all take him with a pinch of salt. Hes like the court jester the Kyrgios of the forum. No harm meant really, he does make valid points behind the besmirching put downs. A lot of truth in that analysis especially when you look at the stats of the UK compared to other similar sized countries.
I normally ignore Vandy but can't help myself from responding today. I can't bear this sort of comment as it offers no value to anyone. All the players mentioned above are out there day after day, working as hard as they can to be the best they possibly can. Many will not make it to the top but that doesn't mean they haven't achieved many personal targets and given pleasure to themselves and others. Some of them are injured (Paul, Kyle...) and they are working desperately hard on their rehab in the hope of returning to the tour and pushing on again. I feel we should supporting and encouraging every one of them. That doesn't mean we don't sometimes criticise them for specific issues, but just to virtually write off every single British player is appalling. IMHO.
You do not understand at all the point. Nothing wrong with these guys trying, and nothing wrong with not being good enough. That is life. Not all of use can be the best, for example in our career fields.
The point I am making is that we do not have the numbers, AND Evo makes the same point. How can Argentina get 30 players in the top 200, while it is poverty stricken with hyperinflation. I am critical of the system, not the players mentioned.
But we do not help the situation, by rooting for underdogs like Willis and Harris. We should be ashmed that we are cheering on someone that is 29 and never made it into top 400.
Of course there's a big problem with the system. And, yes, compared to other countries with far fewer resources, we look mega tennis-lite
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't cheer on those who are out of the top-400 and lower ranked. Indeed, the fact that we don't have enough players is exactly the reason we would cheer those on, surely? If we had a dozen top-100 maybe we'd focus on them and we wouldn't need to cheer on the others?
Although, alternatively, having lived in France for 20 years, I know that the French will cheer very loudly for their 400-ranked players, as well as their top-10 players.
I don't see the connection - cheer for the home player who's playing even if he's not top drawer, or maybe especially if he's not top drawer, he needs it more.
