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I think he will do far better than henman, he won junior Wimbledon I believe not that that means so much. He just needs to sort it out mentally and try and become brutal like Djokovic and Nadal were. Three double faults in one crucial game last night in the first set just show how much pressure he felt, aswell as being sick a few times on the court….Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Seems Draper was throwing up on court during his Semi Final, not the first time it’s happened in a game with him either.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/a...s/c7v5400dmdpo
Him being sick on court is very unusual. I don't recall ever seeing that happen and as TOBW has just posted it's happened before. You could well be right about him doing better than Henman but there aren't any players with the mental capacity of Djokovic and Nadal. Maybe he'll slot into somewhere between Henman and Murray. I just don't see him winning a Slam. He's won circa $3M on the tour though (singles and doubles) so he's doing pretty well.Quote:
Originally Posted by goats
For me, his biggest advantage is his left hand serve and two-handed backhand. At 6'4" he's got the height too. Definitely an exciting British player.
You probably know this but as goats mentioned draper winning Junior Wimbledon it reminded me that JPR Williams was a pretty nifty player back in the day https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news..._open_era.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Yeah, fraid I’m old enough to remember JPR’s tennis career such as it was - there was another tennis player from Bridgend around then called Gerald Batterick who was in the top half dozen male players in the country around then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Just looking at his Wiki page and was shocked he died at 51 years old. What's striking is that he was 5'10" which is too short for the professional game now.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
The era just after Roger Taylor and you (sorry, Bobby Wilson) were the best we had to offer. Loved Wimbledon in those days but Roger Taylor in particular just couldn't quite make it to the final, a bit like Henman.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Jack Draper will be in Manchester this week for the Davis Cup along with Norrie, Evans, Salisbury and Skupski. It puts into perspective the life of pro tennis players and the amount of traveling, adjustment to indoor/outdoor and surfaces. https://www.lta.org.uk/fan-zone/gb-t...tickets/?nis=2
That's 4 years past the average Male life expectancy in Bridgend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Mark Cox and Mike Sangster were two other names from that era I remember - seem to recall Gerald Batterick was a bit temperamental on court. Roger Taylor was supposed to have his big chance in the year that many of the top players boycotted Wimbledon (1973 I think), but was beaten in the SemiFinalI think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moodybluebird
A bit pedantic but there’s no ‘e’, it was Battrick.
Brian Clark, who scored what is,perhaps, Cardiff City’s most famous headed goal, was around that height (think he was 5 ft 11) - it was considered quite tall fifty odd years ago - Rod Laver, one of tennis’ greats, was only about 5ft 8.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
I'd completely forgotten Mark Cox but was able to put a face to his name straight away. I remembered that Roger Taylor got beaten in the semi by Jan Kodes, the eventual winner but completely forgot who he beat in the QF......a certain Bjorn Borg.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
...and 2 inches taller.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuerto
Why has no one mentioned Buster Motram….. :-/Quote:
Originally Posted by Moodybluebird
...I think the height of his legacy was being expelled from UKIP for attempting to broker a deal with the BNP....oh no...wait....there's the fact he wasn't granted membership to the AETC for 'looking at inappropriate material'...on AETC computers!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Dandruff
Jpr played for wales too, in the same team as my old man….Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Hopefully he will overcome the nerves and sickness as he gets used to playing at the elite levelQuote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
He used to have a tennis academy in Bridgend. I had coaching there for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
His son was a good player too, Welsh junior champion a few times I think. Was rivals with a lad called Loosemore - younger brother of Sarah Loosemore, who played at Wimbledon and a couple of the other Grand Slams in the early 90s.
Another Welsh player who played at Wimbledon (in the 80s) was Leighton Alfred.
Sarah loosemore played at Wimbledon, not sure her younger brother Dave did? Decent player like his older brother mark.Quote:
Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland
You just did......Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Dandruff
He came after the sort of players I mentioned, he was the main reason we got to a Davis Cup Final in 1977 I think it was.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Dandruff
See Citizen’s Nephew’s post above.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moodybluebird
You are welcome.
Can you believe Buster had a songwriting partnership with Kenny Lynch ?!! Too surreal for words.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Dandruff
Perhaps it is because he is now more famous for his links to the National Front and BNP rather than his tennis exploitsQuote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Dandruff
He was more well known for his Davis Cup tennis than anything else until the BNP and other unsavoury activities. He wasn't a very well-liked player and is even more unpopular now. You have to be a right knob to not be granted full membership to the AETC after 30 years! It's normally 10 years after temporary membership.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
That's another reason to not grant him full membership!Quote:
Originally Posted by Moodybluebird
I meant Sarah played there, not her brother - not my clearest of sentences!Quote:
Originally Posted by goats
Are going to Manchester this week?Quote:
Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland
lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
I have to look this partnership up now….
No. Interesting to see how we get on with in the post-Murray era with no Norrie either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Are you?
Wednesday. Just for the day. It’s going to be interesting. BTW the 2025 Wimbledon ballot closes soon (around 15th I think) which is worth a shout for extra tickets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland
It’s incredible isn’t it? The height a player can get on their serve now, with arm length and racket technology is immense.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
His father was a tennis player as well, seems he was banned from tournaments like Wimbledon for being a professional in the 50 and 60s.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
https://www.scotsman.com/news/obitua...-1970s-1464130
I was hoping Norrie would be available having pulled out of the US Open. A lot of pressure on all of the team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland
That’s a really interesting Obituary tbh and I love that when his tennis was interrupted by WW2 he became a pilot and won the DFC. Seems he was well ahead of his time too in terms of professionalism and training. Died at 96 too!Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Edit: lots of toos in that post….too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Only two toos, not too many.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Have a good day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Haven't entered that for a while. Might take a look, thanks.