Jono
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USA 50$K ChallengerAlex is down to play as 5th seed,hopefully better from injury. Due to play qualifier in 1r, Wolmarans from SA ranked 352. Boggo is currently at 155. Boggo loses 65 points over the next month,so somehow needs to gain some to keep his standing. On offer this week:- 0,6,14,27,42,60.
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Jac
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Alex just needs to find consistentcy in these last 4 challengers, if his shoulder is better and he can stay fit for the remainder of the year he has a chance to defend them.
His point come down to 14 points this week (so he would need to reach the qf's here to stay level) then 50 points for the win last year in shewsbury and 1 point from a 1st rd loss.
He will probably have a good chance to win the shewsbury challenger again, he played really well last year (when he was under pressure defending a title from the previous year) so should have good memories and can hopefulyl good deep/win again pick up some good points.
The event next week in Nashville should be a similar field to this one, so will have to see how he does here before getting a better idea.
Despiste this being indoor hard courts its not quite the same as in europe, as they use deco turf in the states and arcylic in europe, i think these will play slower (not 100% on that though) which isnt so good for him.
He is also down to play the big challenger in ukraine, last year he lost in the 1st round, and to be honest this event is always tough as there are decent points on offer so it sometime attracts some real big names hoping to get a boost rigth at the end of the year. (last eyar tursnuov turned up!!)
so a lot will depend on the draw there, Alex lost last year in a 3rd set TB to Suliter in the opening round, but he had the option of staying on in america this week rather than playing here, so perhaps he liked the surface. obviously there are big points to be made here with some luck.
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Jono
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Lost I'm afraid. So did Baker and Bloomfield.
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Jac
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yeah pretty dissapointing, i dont have any info on what went wrong, but it doesnt bode well for next week.
an artcile in the times suggests alex is now without coach, i had thouhg peter lundgern was stil lwith him, but maybe that has ended.
on a more postive noet adny murray has come out in strong support for alex to be the other british singles DC player.
i think this is good thing he ahs finaly got some support, out of the few contenders, he is clearly head & shoulders above the others and whilst eh may have styrugled with the pressure if he can learn to cope with it (maybe with the teams help) then, espcialy on fast surfaces, we would be better off.
he has after all only ever played 3 live macthes & 2 opponents in live dc matches 1 is hewitt and the other is noam okun (twice). i think he ahs also played 1 dead rubberas well (which he won v wayne arthurs).
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Jono
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I do think the LTA will rethink on Boggo and others for the New Year. Don't know what that is yet!
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