alexbogdanovic.myfreeforum.org

Jono · Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 130 Location: Surbiton

I am so pleased for u. I suppose being my grumpy self, I get very negative, although I do comunicate positives to Roger Draper (LTA Head). We used to have a problem with ladies in the ranks, but now Anne is in top 100; it appeared a close run thing whether Anne or Boggo will make top 100; Anne won, Mel has dipped in which is great but dipped out currently, and Elena and Katie are just outside; so women's tennis is on a plus. The men was always Tim and Greg plus Boggo just outside 100. Andy had a quick jump with positive critics in McEnroe and Becker.To get to 4 and beat the top 3 is handy. Not many can beat the Fed Express and Rafa!! But without Andy it appears difficult. Some media say Andy has an attitude but sometimes u need it. I'm pleased u saw the team and thoroughly enjoyed it. September is Poland at home and it will be interesting to see if John Lloyd (and I think the LTA will keep him despite media negative pressure) does the play off again and Boggo reinstated.Josh may be 192 but my money is on Boggo beating Josh. You can check out atptour.com for ranks and events,challengers,etc and the lta website for British tennis week map to find out who plays what.

Catriona · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Mixed feelings in papers this morning. Lovely big pic of Chris, & headline says DC MUST return to Braehead, John Lloyd called our crowd "phenomenal" & he'd love to come back. BUT the journalist said a return visit would only be "an enticing prospect" if Andy's presence was guaranteed. Cobblers!!!! This weekend was amazing even without Andy - in fact, I almost preferred it. By that I mean no offence to Andy, & we'd probably have won more with him, but I was so glad to have an opportunity to see the other guys play, we only have a chance to do so at DC, & even that depends on whether or not they're selected for the team. I remember choosing to watch Alex's Wimbledon match last year on TV rather than some of my big-name favourites, cos I knew they'd be there a fair bit later on in the tournament (hope Alex doesn't take that the wrong way!) & I wanted to see HIM play.

Presumably Andy will be back in September, perhaps Jamie too, but I'll really miss whoever leaves the team that was here this weekend. My friend got quite emotional at the end of the last match when all the players left the court & said, "We might not see some of them ever again!" which is certainly a possibility. We should have plucked up the courage to ask them all to come out for a drink after the match - unlikely that they'd accept (even though we are two VERY lovely young ladies), but could have given it a go. Would John Lloyd really be so quick to relegate Chris seeing as he was the only one to win a match?
_________________
Catriona x

Jac · Site Admin Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 114

Hi Cat, glad you had a great time, even if the result didn't work out (and you didn't get quite as close to the players as maybe you would have liked to Smile

).

if you are ever down London way i would strongly suggest going to watch the Queens Qualies, can see lots of Brits and get real close to the action (plus is free and you will get to see some of the big stars practising)

Will wait to see where the respective players move on from here. Once again Chris Eaton has proved he can play on the big stage, but why why why cant he seem to translate that to the smaller venues. if he can then he should get himself top 200 easily.

Will have to see where Josh ends up though, losing 5 straights sets to opponents he should be able to beat let alone match. Combine that with the fact that he has never won a match at ATP level (i'm not sure if he has ever beaten a top 100 player) and i'm not sure he should be picked again until he has. Him and Alex have similar rankings, but if you look a bit closer you will see that the majority of Alex points will have come against tougher opposition.

Will be interesting to see how things shape up for the next tie. choice of venue in September. i think indoor again would be a good bet, maybe at Birmingham. i also wonder if Alex will be back in contention??

Catriona · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Thanks for the tip, Jac, I might very well try that. My friend & I are hoping to get tickets for Queens, but even if we don't, we'll at least visit the grounds. We managed to get (very) lucky in the Wimbledon ballot (men's semi-finals, here we come!) & while I'm not totally pessimistic, I doubt that lightning will strike twice. However, qualifiers sound good, I'd like that.

I'll say one thing, I never paid attention to our lower-ranked British players before & now I Everyone in the country rallies behind Andy Murray because he's a household name, but they don't seem to give a toss about any of the others simply because they're not on the tour & therefore they've never heard of them. I didn't pay that much attention till this weekend, but now I've become rather attached to & almost protective of them. Our team are "not worth seeing without Andy Murray"? The heck they're not! Why don't they get more publicity? It just seems so unfair. Sad

_________________
Catriona x

LadyTigress · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 5 Location: London

Sorry... did everyone want me to post my blog?

I'm the aforementioned "friend" Smile

. It really was a great time. I did think about Alex and Jamie's absence, even talked about it with some of the team members when we ran into them, but I can't deny I was thrilled to get behind the boys that were there, and they are all so lovely I adore every one of them!!! Wink

Plus a couple of the Ukrainians too. Oh and yes, I agree we should have asked them out for a drink... even though I would expect them to say no because you know, they barely met us and we might be psycho-nutter fans or something. I'm just sad I have no idea when I'll be able to see them play again! Josh told me he was off to Thailand this week (fat chance of my getting out there!) and Chris said he was headed to Bath so that might be possible but it'd be very short notice to organise.

Do these guys have their own websites with their own schedules on? Because I looked and couldn't find any, and it'd just be so much easier if they posted their schedules somewhere, then people could easily see when and where with the tournaments.

Jac · Site Admin Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 114

Cat - Queens qualies isn't quite as good as it used to be, since they cut the draw, but its definitely worth popping too if you are around. As i said normally there is a good presence of Brits there, and you will get to see them wandering around, hitting on the practice courts etc, if they are not playing a match.

Unfortunately the lower levels of tennis don't really get much support, the players not given enough credit imo for the level they are at. People are happy to idolise a 3rd rate footballer, but a challenger lvl tennis player, who is probably much better at the sport than the footballer gets nothing but derision from the majority.

LT - as for going out, i don't know, some of the stories i have heard about the players and all.... Wink

I dont think many of the players have enough time to do website, so i dont think there is much of a way to find out tournaments too far in advance. sometimes i find out from Alex (his next events should be Jersey, Baton Rouge & Tallahassee, but I'm not sure after that) and i try and update the site accordingly, of course he only knows so far in advance himself, as it will depend on how he does between now and then and where his ranking will be etc.
The BT.net forums also put up entry lists when they become available, which for challenger lvl is normally about 1 month in advance, so thats a good place to check.

Catriona · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Stories, Jac? This sounds incredibly intriguing! I take it you're not going to elaborate on that, so I will use my imagination. No, I won't, actually, I'd get it out of me Wink

Totally agree with you about the footballers thing - our lower-ranked tennis players deserve our country's attention & support too. God, I never really thought about before, but this weekend has REALLY got me worked up about it! Well, those people out there don't know what they're missing by not paying attention to these guys, cos they ROCK. I speak for both LT & I when I say we are definitely going to be following them all from now on - well, as best we can when it's so hard to find any info. Rolling Eyes

But the spirit will be there! Very Happy

_________________
Catriona x

Jac · Site Admin Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 114

Cat - in case you haven't come across it, this site is excellent for discussion on all British tennis players, especially the lower ranked guys where news and info isn't covered anywhere else. i post there often myself.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=61841&p=1

in case that link doesnt work go to www.britishtennis.net then follow their link to the forums.

Catriona · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Thanks for the link, Jac, will check it out. I'm so bad on forums though, never know what to say - well, apart from here, you've not been able to shut me up over the last couple of days, you poor guys, lol. Wink

Then again, a lot depends on the other people who are on them. I'm not saying any names but some forums I've been on for players have been less than welcoming, not to mention WAY too obsessive about the players in question, & I'm never going back to them - the websites, yes, but never the forums. On the other hand, I met my partner-in-crime LT on Djokovic's forum, so there you go, they can be good! Very Happy

And one final thing (I say that, then I'll probably think of something else) that this weekend has done for me: it has shown me that there are some SERIOUSLY great guys in this country. Not that I thought the entire male population of the UK was awful, but I haven't met many guys since I left school almost 7 years ago, & the ones I did meet were mainly complete prats. So unless Colin, Ross, Chris, Josh & James - & Alex, can't forget him! - are six in a million, so to speak, then I'm reassured that there are wonderful men out there. I'm not talking romantically (though that could enter the equation at some point Wink

), just generally. Anyway, thanks again for the link, will have a look later on.
_________________
Catriona x

Jac · Site Admin Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 114

there's a few idiots on the site, there are on many, but 99% are very nice. a few of us have been posting on their for years and years so of course there is some joking etc going on, but people are always nice to new members.

on other message boards etc my nickname is normally count zero, however my posts usually stand out by their bad spelling and vociferous defence of boggo Smile