The official Wimbledon Thread....
Discussion
V41LEY said:
I hear what you say but don't follow the logic. If kids are 'comfy' then I assume you mean monied. So it would follow that The Bank of Mum & Dad have the funds to pay for little Johhny to be coached, travelling expenses etc. If you come from Eastern Europe who is funding your coaches and travel ? If you have the talent but not the money then the LTA should step in with their vast resources and help. This, however, also fails because the raw talent coming through is so mediocre that it has to back plucky losers. It just only re-iterates my point that there is so little raw talent because tennis is a minor sport in this country, is played by people who aspire to belong to clubs (I not knocking that) and has always been thus back to the days of Fred Perry.
When I say comfy, I mean a player who if they lose it doesn't mean they won't be on tour the following week, that losing the match means they won't be eating properly. Comfy is a guy who hasn't lived through real conflict or hardship. You can see the difference in attitude with these players. Rafter was on the floor of a hotel eating burgers as he had no cash, he broke through because he is a beast and comes to the court hungry.There have always been plenty of players with silly talent and ability but LTA has the knack for overlooking many in favour of "ok" players that came from the right set. When you aren't backed by your own national federation, can't fund yourself, need to pay large fees to just get on a court for an hour (let alone 5-6 hours a day) and tennis equipment is insanely overpriced (check out Walmart's pricing for tennis balls in comparison, huge difference), these guys really have to think about reality and making a decision to eat first. It's not hard to get a job in the UK, most of the guys have a university to go to, can earn a fair living by being a coach. Ideally they get a golden job at over-funded tragedy that is LTA hoping to coach players that are developed overseas which then then try to take credit for (cough, Murray, cough). This isn't the case in Serbia, for example. This is why these guys are hungry, tennis is a way out. Much like basketball/NFL/Baseball is a way out for underprivileged kids in the US.
Every time I watch women's tennis outside the top 20 players I never cease to be amazed at the poor quality. Just watched Watson net a succession of serve returns. Now she's knocking her own serves into the net. That's either rubbish technique or lack of fitness. Seems odd to see that at Wimbledon.
Justices said:
This is why these guys are hungry, tennis is a way out. Much like basketball/NFL/Baseball is a way out for underprivileged kids in the US.
The only thing with the U.S way is that you also have to be educated to make it as a top sportsman. It's an amazing system which should be copied over here 
Justices said:
When I say comfy, I mean a player who if they lose it doesn't mean they won't be on tour the following week, that losing the match means they won't be eating properly. Comfy is a guy who hasn't lived through real conflict or hardship. You can see the difference in attitude with these players. Rafter was on the floor of a hotel eating burgers as he had no cash, he broke through because he is a beast and comes to the court hungry.
There have always been plenty of players with silly talent and ability but LTA has the knack for overlooking many in favour of "ok" players that came from the right set. When you aren't backed by your own national federation, can't fund yourself, need to pay large fees to just get on a court for an hour (let alone 5-6 hours a day) and tennis equipment is insanely overpriced (check out Walmart's pricing for tennis balls in comparison, huge difference), these guys really have to think about reality and making a decision to eat first. It's not hard to get a job in the UK, most of the guys have a university to go to, can earn a fair living by being a coach. Ideally they get a golden job at over-funded tragedy that is LTA hoping to coach players that are developed overseas which then then try to take credit for (cough, Murray, cough). This isn't the case in Serbia, for example. This is why these guys are hungry, tennis is a way out. Much like basketball/NFL/Baseball is a way out for underprivileged kids in the US.
I admire your approach but to think these players won't be eating if they don't win is a bit far fetched. They probably have better nutritionists than our meagre bunch who are probably sponsored by MacDonalds ! Additionally, most of Eastern Europe is in the EU so it is nothing like it used to be. These places might not be as developed as the major European countries but they are not exactly third world with people living in wooden shacks walking 20 miles a day for fresh water.There have always been plenty of players with silly talent and ability but LTA has the knack for overlooking many in favour of "ok" players that came from the right set. When you aren't backed by your own national federation, can't fund yourself, need to pay large fees to just get on a court for an hour (let alone 5-6 hours a day) and tennis equipment is insanely overpriced (check out Walmart's pricing for tennis balls in comparison, huge difference), these guys really have to think about reality and making a decision to eat first. It's not hard to get a job in the UK, most of the guys have a university to go to, can earn a fair living by being a coach. Ideally they get a golden job at over-funded tragedy that is LTA hoping to coach players that are developed overseas which then then try to take credit for (cough, Murray, cough). This isn't the case in Serbia, for example. This is why these guys are hungry, tennis is a way out. Much like basketball/NFL/Baseball is a way out for underprivileged kids in the US.
So why is it so expensive to play tennis ? Firstly, there is no political will to provide free public facilities (as in France) so private clubs proliferate to meet the demand and as they operate for profit, fees are payable - and set at a level to keep out the undesirables ! Add to that the poor quality of own coaches - as they have had no big match experience and/or success - and you see why with of population of over 60m we have one player at No.2 in the world followed by the next one at 219.
GTO-3R said:
Justices said:
This is why these guys are hungry, tennis is a way out. Much like basketball/NFL/Baseball is a way out for underprivileged kids in the US.
The only thing with the U.S way is that you also have to be educated to make it as a top sportsman. It's an amazing system which should be copied over here The above depends on the school and the sport but here's an article that includes a racial element as well.
http://www.gse.upenn.edu/pressroom/press-releases/...
Oh, and I graduated from a US university having been on a Soccer scholarship.
V41LEY said:
I admire your approach but to think these players won't be eating if they don't win is a bit far fetched. They probably have better nutritionists than our meagre bunch who are probably sponsored by MacDonalds ! Additionally, most of Eastern Europe is in the EU so it is nothing like it used to be. These places might not be as developed as the major European countries but they are not exactly third world with people living in wooden shacks walking 20 miles a day for fresh water.
I've seen it with my own eyes. I've seen players not even have funds to get to the following week's event, not have money for hotels and having to crash on floors, sleep in lobbies, sleep in club houses. Obviously not in ATP majors, these are the players trying to build their ranking up and get to this point.Earning enough to live in Serbia (for example) and earning enough to put someone on tour for even a year with no sponsors is a completely different world. This is why these players tend to be the toughest from what I've seen.
ETA: People like a friend of ours, Dustin Brown, who didn't get the funding from his association and did EVERYTHING he could to play pro, even having to take long periods of time off because he just didn't have the funds. You can see him telling his story on YouTube in a few interviews. Just this moment watched him beat Hewitt and earn himself a VERY well-deserved spot in R3.
Edited by Justices on Wednesday 26th June 14:16
Justices said:
V41LEY said:
I admire your approach but to think these players won't be eating if they don't win is a bit far fetched. They probably have better nutritionists than our meagre bunch who are probably sponsored by MacDonalds ! Additionally, most of Eastern Europe is in the EU so it is nothing like it used to be. These places might not be as developed as the major European countries but they are not exactly third world with people living in wooden shacks walking 20 miles a day for fresh water.
I've seen it with my own eyes. I've seen players not even have funds to get to the following week's event, not have money for hotels and having to crash on floors, sleep in lobbies, sleep in club houses. Obviously not in ATP majors, these are the players trying to build their ranking up and get to this point.Earning enough to live in Serbia (for example) and earning enough to put someone on tour for even a year with no sponsors is a completely different world. This is why these players tend to be the toughest from what I've seen.
ETA: People like a friend of ours, Dustin Brown, who didn't get the funding from his association and did EVERYTHING he could to play pro, even having to take long periods of time off because he just didn't have the funds. You can see him telling his story on YouTube in a few interviews. Just this moment watched him beat Hewitt and earn himself a VERY well-deserved spot in R3.
Edited by Justices on Wednesday 26th June 14:16
chippy17 said:
well he has just beaten Hewitt to get to the 3rd round, playing good tennis, I remember his name being mentioned a few years ago but nothing since, just shows you how deep the mens game is...
A lot of guys disappear simply because of money, Dustin was playing a mix of qualifying, playing clubs tennis to get some funds and main-draw doubles. He has a fairly unorthodox game, with a massive head of dreadlocks which I'm sure isn't doing him any favours out there 
. His game works quite well on grass however. Not everyone is marketable, and honestly after 2008 the sponsors stopped throwing the money around and focused funds on just a few. Travelling around the world week after week for the majority of the year in a traveling circus, breaking your body down and sacrificing so much for not a lot of money (after coach/travel/gf/wife expenses) gets a bit much for most. It's a tough sport physically and mentally and a massive risk in terms of ROI. But it's a great sport, few would regret giving it a shot I'd imagine.Edited by Justices on Wednesday 26th June 14:56
Edited by Justices on Wednesday 26th June 14:57
obob said:
johnfm said:
Minella and Kirilenko.
Add Eugenie Boucjard to that, even though her name makes it sound like she is a geriatric. - wood
knock yourselves out boys:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=87...
Justices said:
V41LEY said:
I admire your approach but to think these players won't be eating if they don't win is a bit far fetched. They probably have better nutritionists than our meagre bunch who are probably sponsored by MacDonalds ! Additionally, most of Eastern Europe is in the EU so it is nothing like it used to be. These places might not be as developed as the major European countries but they are not exactly third world with people living in wooden shacks walking 20 miles a day for fresh water.
I've seen it with my own eyes. I've seen players not even have funds to get to the following week's event, not have money for hotels and having to crash on floors, sleep in lobbies, sleep in club houses. Obviously not in ATP majors, these are the players trying to build their ranking up and get to this point.Earning enough to live in Serbia (for example) and earning enough to put someone on tour for even a year with no sponsors is a completely different world. This is why these players tend to be the toughest from what I've seen.
ETA: People like a friend of ours, Dustin Brown, who didn't get the funding from his association and did EVERYTHING he could to play pro, even having to take long periods of time off because he just didn't have the funds. You can see him telling his story on YouTube in a few interviews. Just this moment watched him beat Hewitt and earn himself a VERY well-deserved spot in R3.
Edited by Justices on Wednesday 26th June 14:16
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