The Random Tennis News Thread

[The Special Juan]

First topic message reminder :

There's not really a thread up for random tennis news that perhaps doesn't require it's own topic.

First of all, it's sad to hear of the death of Brad Drewett, Chief Executive of the ATP. I don't know if anyone's mentioned that and I've missed it.

Secondly, here's an interesting bit of tennis gossip about Evert and Connors: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/04/tennis-connors-evert-idUKL3N0DL05G20130504

[Henman Bill]

I've decided to Open up a Davis Cup specific thread, surely this match is worthy of one.

So, and this little teaser is going to appear very random at first, even for this thread:

2002.
Lleyton Hewitt was ranked 1, with Agassi at 2, followed by Safin, Ferrero and Moya.
Federer at 6 was followed by such ancients as Tim Henman at 8 and Pete Sampras at 13.

Question is why I am posting this now? What is the angle here?

1 Lleyton Hewitt AUS 4,485
2 Andre Agassi USA 3,395
3 Marat Safin RUS 2,845
4 Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP 2,740
5 Carlos Moyà ESP 2,630
6 Roger Federer SUI 2,590
7 Jiří Novák CZE 2,335
8 Tim Henman GBR 2,215
9 Albert Costa ESP 2,070
10 Andy Roddick USA 2,045
11 Tommy Haas GER 2,020
12 David Nalbandian ARG 1,775
13 Pete Sampras USA 1,735
14 Thomas Johansson SWE 1,725
15 Guillermo Cañas ARG 1,725
16 Paradorn Srichaphan THA 1,646
17 Sébastien Grosjean FRA 1,640
18 Fernando González CHI 1,636
19 Àlex Corretja ESP 1,555
20 Sjeng Schalken 1,525

[Guest]

Is it that all of them played DC that year?

[Born Slippy]

"Ancient" Tim Henman was younger at the end of 2002 than Novak is now!

No idea what the link to the DC is though.

[Henman Bill]

It's nothing to do with the Davis cup...something more to do with ranking positions and end of year rankings...

[Henman Bill]

I actually mean ancient as in their age now, that when we look at players of 2002, some of them are long since retired now.

[lags72]

Struggling to crack the DC teaser, but seeing Hewitt listed at Number One really is a blast from the past !

It was in June 2003 that he last held the top spot ; since which he has gone on to play for another twelve and a half years (with rather mixed success it must be said) - by the time of his scheduled retirement/farewell at the upcoming AO, that is.

It occurred to me that if Federer were to decide to play on for a similar period after his own last stint at the very top (October 2012), he would be competing on the Tour for another TEN years ! Methinks he is less likely to choose to do that than I am likely to qualify for Wimbledon ......

[Henman Bill]

Just to reiterate it's nothing to do with DC.

I posted two things

1 - that I am setting up a DC thread
2 - an entirely unrelated teaser

that I happened to post together.

The timing is that the end of year rankings are out now, whether this Monday/Tuesday or next Monday/Tuesday for the absolute final one I suppose. So the timing of me posting the 2002 end of year rankings when this year's end of year rankings for 2015 are coming out.

So where is the connection between the 2002 end of year rankings and the 2015 end of year rankings, to give another slight clue.

[YvonneT]

HB, is it that Federer is not only the only player from 2002 top 20 to remain in the 2015 top 300 but has actually improved his ranking?

Or another connection, the ranking points of the no.10 player and no.20 player are pretty close then and now, even though they are on different basis, while the no.1 has nearly 4 times as many.

[YvonneT]

Feels like most of that list playing the Albert Hall masters event btw, while Fed played the O2.

[Guest]

Or is it that the year ending ranking for 2002 was the same at the start of the said year??

I dunno. Tell us dagnamnit!

[Henman Bill]

Look at only the top 2 ranking positions. Look at 2002 and 2015.

2002
1 Hewitt
2 Agassi

2015
1 Djokovic
2 Murray

What do you see?

[YvonneT]

Oh right - first time since 2002 that the top 2 doesn't include either Federer or Nadal. That what you were getting at?

[Guest]

Andy Murray reveals what we already knew.  Roger Draper set back English / UK tennis by fifty years.  The National Tennis Centre built where it was not needed is a white elephant:

Murray said one of his main frustrations was a lack of players to practise with whenever he is in the UK.

After returning from the Shanghai Masters in October, Murray said he arrived at the National Training Centre in London to find no other players present.

"I was there on a Monday at about 3pm and then on Tuesday, at the same time," he said.

"There was not one person using any of the indoor courts and not one person in the gym. I took photos of it because the place cost like £40m and there are no people."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/34970935

[Henman Bill]

Oh right - first time since 2002 that the top 2 doesn't include either Federer or Nadal. That what you were getting at?

Correct. That is what I was getting at. The last time neither Federer nor Nadal was in the top 2 year end rankings Sampras and Agassi had just played a slam final and half the players in the rankings list were long since retired. That has to be some kind of (obscure) record.

[HM Murdock]

A remarkable stat I just saw:

Career earnings of Andy Roddick: $20,640,030
2015 earnings of Novak Djokovic: $21,592,125

Novak earned more in a year than Roddick did in his whole career!

If we adjusted for inflation, Roddick would probably be back in front but it still surprised me.

A lot more money around the game these days.

[lags72]

Changing times indeed.

Novak now has ten Slams, as we know.

Bjorn Borg won a total of eleven during his (rather short) career.

He won his first Wimbledon in 1976 - and without losing a set along the way. His reward ? £12,500

Borg's total career earnings : US$3.7m

[Guest82]

A remarkable stat I just saw:

Career earnings of Andy Roddick: $20,640,030
2015 earnings of Novak Djokovic: $21,592,125

Novak earned more in a year than Roddick did in his whole career!

If we adjusted for inflation, Roddick would probably be back in front but it still surprised me.

A lot more money around the game these days.

When you look at it this way....Roddick won 5 masters titles & 1 slam in his career.

Djokovic won 6 masters titles & 3 slams in 2015.

[HM Murdock]

A remarkable stat I just saw:

Career earnings of Andy Roddick: $20,640,030
2015 earnings of Novak Djokovic: $21,592,125

Novak earned more in a year than Roddick did in his whole career!

If we adjusted for inflation, Roddick would probably be back in front but it still surprised me.

A lot more money around the game these days.

When you look at it this way....Roddick won 5 masters titles & 1 slam in his career.

Djokovic won 6 masters titles & 3 slams in 2015.

True, but we could also look at it this way:

Novak competed in 4 slams in 2015. Roddick competed in 46 slams in his career.

[HM Murdock]

Bjorn Borg won a total of eleven during his (rather short) career.

He won his first Wimbledon in 1976 - and without losing a set along the way. His reward ? £12,500

Even adjusted for inflation, that's only £93,767.

Novak won £1,890,000!

[Henman Bill]

A remarkable stat I just saw:

Career earnings of Andy Roddick: $20,640,030
2015 earnings of Novak Djokovic: $21,592,125

Novak earned more in a year than Roddick did in his whole career!

If we adjusted for inflation, Roddick would probably be back in front but it still surprised me.

A lot more money around the game these days.

Poor Roddick. We should start a collection for him.

But seriously that's an interesting stat, assuming it's correct, and I assume that's prize money only, no endorsements.

[Born Slippy]

Kyle Edmund wins the Tiebreak 10s beating Murray in the final. Nice way to win 250,000 Euros.

[YvonneT]

Quite liked the tiebreak formula for the exhibition thing, with mix of current pros and seniors. Better than seeing 2 players half-heartedly trying, to me anyway.

I'm always intrigued by the commercials behind these things though - how can one evening pay so much more than a week long ATP250, especially when I presume there are appearances fees for all? I guess it must attract as much sponsor money as a tourney and only 6 players to pay instead of a whole draw of players.

[temporary21]

Just popping in to congratulate Andy for winning spoty a second time in 3 years. As well as gb for team of the year

[jbeadlesbigrighthand]

Just popping in to congratulate Andy for winning spoty a second time in 3 years. As well as gb for team of the year

I can kind of understand Murray winning the overall contest, but the Davis Cup Team winning Team of the Year? One other guy won one match through the whole tournament. What team? The best any the others did was not getting in Murray's way in the doubles. No way they should have won.

[CaledonianCraig]

Just popping in to congratulate Andy for winning spoty a second time in 3 years. As well as gb for team of the year

I can kind of understand Murray winning the overall contest, but the Davis Cup Team winning Team of the Year? One other guy won one match through the whole tournament. What team? The best any the others did was not getting in Murray's way in the doubles. No way they should have won.

The Davis Cup winning effort was a once in a lifetime achievement though. The last time it was achieved was over 70 years ago. And I take your point about Andy Murray's influence but the doubles players weighed in with crucial points as did James Ward V USA (that match and ultimately the Davis Cup would have quite likely have been lost but for his win). Also there is the great influence of skipper Leon Smith who has made astute selections and formed a solid cup winning team with meagre resources. What other team in the running for the award can boast that?

[temporary21]

The women's football team was the other strong candidate. You can make a good case for both I guess

[Guest]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35192436

Good news for Edmund. Now make it count!

[Guest]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35375113

[lags72]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35375113

Was sorry to read this.

Williams was a fine commentator and all-round tennis reporter. You could take everything he said at face value - there was never an 'agenda', just an air of calm, professional authority built on a deep knowledge of the game.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Yes, I agree with Lags 72. In addition to his knowledge of tennis, Gerald Williams always came over as a sincere, decent, bloke with very little ego.

[YvonneT]

I watched Dan Evans in the Dallas challenger on Monday night, and hope to watch his second round match this evening. It's rather one extreme to the other after the Aus Open finals weekend. Anyway Kyle Edmund is there too - must be a battle between those 2 for the Davis Cup second singles slot and I know that Evans is really motivated to play in Birmingham. I don't think James Ward has any current form and Bedene is still ineligible. Will be interesting to see how they get on, but I hope Evans does well enough to get picked (he also already has a win over Nishikori which may be a factor).

[Guest82]

I watched Dan Evans in the Dallas challenger on Monday night, and hope to watch his second round match this evening. It's rather one extreme to the other after the Aus Open finals weekend. Anyway Kyle Edmund is there too - must be a battle between those 2 for the Davis Cup second singles slot and I know that Evans is really motivated to play in Birmingham. I don't think James Ward has any current form and Bedene is still ineligible. Will be interesting to see how they get on, but I hope Evans does well enough to get picked (he also already has a win over Nishikori which may be a factor).

I watched Evans yesterday, very impressive victory against Benjamin Becker. Could well be him v Kyle Edmund in the final as both are in opposite semi-finals.

[Mad for Chelsea]

so Evans does make the final, beating Tatsuma Ito in three sets. Didn't see him today, but yesterday against Becker he was very impressive I thought. The sort of win that makes you really frustrated he hasn't done much more in his career: Beckeris a very solid player, and Evans made him look rather ordinary for most of the match. Evans is honestly good enough to have been a fixture in the top 100, with the odd foray into the top 50. The lack of consistency, and at times application, is extremely frustrating.

Edmund plays Smyzcek later on to set up an all-British final. Watched a bit of Edmund yesterday against a rather dreadful opponent, and although he rather muddled through the first set, squandering too many BP chances, he then upped his level and cruised through the second set. He has a very strong FH, solid BH which can create opportunities, and decent tactical awareness. Not good at the net, and I have a sneaky suspicion he doesn't get as much out of his serve as he should...

[Guest82]

Edmund also makes it through, nice final for British tennis.

I really rate Evans too, suspect he could easily break the top 100 on ability, maybe even a bit higher. He has a decent forehand and very effective slice backhand. Also good touch around the net. Hopefully this is the start of him fulfilling his potential.

Think Edmund will win the final though.

[lydian]

Should be an interesting match...you can bet both guys will be up for it! If only Evans could apply himself 365 days/yr...he has oodles of talent but I fear there's not much going on between the ears...

[Guest82]

Sadly I think it is on in the early hours of the morning so I won't be able to watch.

Rumour is that Evans likes a night out a bit too much...maybe he has matured and realised what he was missing when out injured.

[lydian]

Edmund beats Evans 6-3 6-2, serving 10 aces in that short period!

Well done both getting to the final, and Kyle in clearly raising his level when it mattered...augurs well for the future and does no harm to his DC singles slot chances. I reckon the win moves Kyle 18 places up to 84th ranking (#84 at just turning 21 is not bad going...only 3-4 younger players ahead of him period...in this current era of older players at all...) and Evans to 158. Keep it up guys!

[Guest]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4ClSCzwVZZZz6QGxSRdfFtJ/from-wimbledon-to-wall-street

Interesting insight.

[lydian]

Thanks LK, such a shame for Ancic but a good read, you wonder what he could have achieved with a free career run.

[Guest]

Oh indeed. He was a monster. In a way similar to Soderling that a real purple patch in form saw him as unplayable on court.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Judy Murray quits as Fed Cup captain

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35809477

well that's a shame I think. Seems she's often at loggerheads with the LTA. Really hope she stays involved in British tennis in some capacity though, they need her experience and expertise!

[Guest]

Wonder if Kim will take over?

In all seriousness it's sad she is stepping down. She and Andy seem to have utter disdain for the LTA. Wonder if Jamie shares similar views? I hope that when he finishes he can contribute to the LTA.

[lydian]

Everyone has utter disdain for the LTA.
An organisation ran by the elite, for the elite, building £40m white elephants in London rather than 40 x £1million indoor tennis centres around the UK.
I hope when Murray finishes he/Petchey/Henman/others get together to create a new British tennis organisation that rivals, trumps and eventually obliterates the LTA by doing what makes sense...taking tennis to the people by creating a better local infrastructure, and then supporting a bigger base of talent through Wimbledon profits rather than lining the pockets of London-centric LTA execs.

[Guest]

As much as I would love to see that, I don't think Henman/Murray and co have the energy really to fundementally shape tennis in this country.

I hate everything that is the LTA, but how the whole system is overhauled is anyone's guess.

[Guest82]

Another all British Challenger final. Dan Evans v (lucky loser) Ed Corrie.

Evans beat a sixteen year old Canadian in the semi. He looked a talent. Corrie beat a Dutch teenager who is also a prospect.

[Born Slippy]

Evans beat Corrie quite easily in the final. Back up to #125 in the rankings.

[Guest]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35859791

Couldn't find the equal prize money thread, but this is interesting.

[YvonneT]

I was looking for this thread to mention Dan Evans reaching another challenger final, to discover that was practically the last discussion on here. Maybe he needs his own thread He's now at 110 in the live rankings - which might be enough for direct entry at Wimbledon. The title gets him in the top 100.

The match today against Berankis was really good - Dan's forehand is amazing!!

[Guest]

Dan Evans is a strange one. He has in the past admitted to a can't be bothered attitude to training.

I know why. It's because I don't train hard enough and don't work hard enough day in and day out. I'm obviously pretty bad at my job. It's up to me, it's not up to anyone else. I want to push on. It's not that I don't want to do it, I obviously want to do it. It's just for whatever reasons, distractions – I need to stay there and just play tennis and that's it. It's easier said than done. Thousands of people have told me to do it but I'm yet to do it for a sustained period of time. When I do do it, I obviously play pretty well. I definitely think I will be top 100, and I still think that.

[lydian]

His ranking like his training effort has been like a yo-yo.
I wonder if he's finally realised its now or never and has really knuckled down. There's nothing like internal competition either to get the motivation going either! (Edmunds).

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