Jaggy1876 wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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Stircrazy wrote:

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L16:  Mateo del Pino & Juan Manuel la Serna (ARG/ARG) CR 1391 (740+651) defeated Elbert Barr & Alex Barrena (ARG) CR 2284 (1126+1158) by 1 & 4

Why does he bother? 

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 Because he enjoys it? 
 

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 I would think probably that. Travelling the world, playing professional sport. If that ticks his sporting and general life interests more than other things and he is able to do it, frankly why on earth not?

While no doubt he would like to be more successful, it certainly doesn't just have to be about winning tennis matches.

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 I get a lot of abuse on occasion when Ive referred to players as backpacker players who in essence are not professional players and who are playing because they have the opportunity to be it through work, travel or parents who can financial back them, I suspect Elbert is the latter. I see there is a female GB player who lost 0 and 0 in Sharm El Sheikh this week who Im also assuming is on holiday and thought why not hit a few balls. I dont really see this as a dig more the reality and nuances of opportunities that arise. And whenever Ive commented its more in appreciation of why not for doing it than any perceived dig. I think sometimes posters on here think a lot of these players have serious aspirations to make it in the game But I doubt thats the case. Its merely an opportunity so travel, keep fit, maybe coach and see the world and there is nothing wrong with that if they get the chance to. I suppose it does look strange sometimes when they may come up against players making comebacks and its kind of like an adult playing against their 3 year old child. Tennis is probably unique in that regard.

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 Definitely, go for it, if I had the money to enjoy freedom in life like that, I would. There was chap in the news this week, won £2.5m on the lottery, aged late 50's. Retired from work and decided to buy a pool table and get as good at pool as he could. 

Qualified for the English over 50's team that played in the pool World Cup, and they got a bronze medal, behind Scotland and Wales. But he followed his passion, because he had the freedom to do so. Good luck to him and them in general.