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Draper looks like he’s going to be a household name one day
He's got so much talent and an absolutely fantastic attitude. He's been struggling with niggling injuries for the last couple of seasons which has held him back, but he wasn't out of place against Djokovic last Wimbledon and managed to take a set off him (I was there and it was a fab match). He also got into the final of junior Wimbledon when he was 16 (he's now 20). He's got a great coach, who has worked on his core fitness and that seems to have ironed out his injuries (he's also grown a few inches in the last couple of years which doesn't help and is now 6ft 4).
Another match which was absolutely brilliant involved de Minaur's girlfriend Katie Boulter, who beat the number six seed, who's been finalist at Wimbledon in the past. Katie's also struggled with loads of injuries and ME which has held her back, so it's great to see her doing well.
British tennis is in a relatively strong place with some promising youngsters coming through, especially on the women's side, as well as some of the older guys, like Peniston and Broady coming into their own a bit after a long time in the lower levels of the game. There's someone called Hannah Klugman, who's the best 14 year old, in the UK and possibly the world, who has a really bright future if she continues to develop and doesn't get injured.
I went earlier in the week for the first time in decades, a lot bigger and corporate now but still a good day out. You really notice just how hard and fast they hit the ball close up.
Draper certainly looks to have the tools to win it.
watched the last 2 sets and was impressed with Draper. Agree he has the tools although he will need to add some variety to his game and improve his volleying... he is young tho, so plenty of time.
I love Wimbledon and tennis in general. Love playing it too. I will be going on Monday and really looking forward to it. It is a crumpet fest too as a bonus.
I love Wimbledon and tennis in general. Love playing it too. I will be going on Monday and really looking forward to it. It is a crumpet fest too as a bonus.
I also love playing the game , played 3 times last week & twice this week so far . Live in South Norfolk but play just over the border into silly Suffolk. At 57 i am slowing down around the court but love being outside in all weathers . Do you mostly play singles or doubles ?
I also love playing the game , played 3 times last week & twice this week so far . Live in South Norfolk but play just over the border into silly Suffolk. At 57 i am slowing down around the court but love being outside in all weathers . Do you mostly play singles or doubles ?
Nearly always doubles. My backhand is quite poor so I can get away with that in doubles more and at 58 myself singles is a big ask!
Nearly always doubles. My backhand is quite poor so I can get away with that in doubles more and at 58 myself singles is a big ask!
I thought I was maybe pushing it a bit playing into my early seventies but last year I was chatting with the coach at our local club ( who’s a big QPR fan and season ticket holder) and he said see that bloke playing doubles on the court over there? He’s in his late eighties!
I'm 62 and play wheelchair tennis 2-3 times week, so it's mainly doubles for me too.
I was at the Draper match yesterday and sitting near to his mum, who I know from 30 odd years ago when we ran some some wheelchair tennis sessions at a Portsmouth tennis centre where she was the manager. I spoke to her briefly and she is obviously very proud of Jack. He played very well last night, against a tough opponent who finally wore him down. However on that showing at just 20, I think he has a big future ahead of him in the sport.
It's a meh from me. But then I'm dead inside since Dom Ball left, so don't take me too seriously.
I'll just return to rocking gently in the corner, wrapped in a threadbare blanket, muttering.
...but we'll always have the home game against Cardiff
and that time in Italy
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
Some great Tennis so far. I enjoyed watching Draper and of course, Katie Boulter.
[Post edited 1 Jul 2022 12:04]
I'm not sure what you see in her. Must be her tennis ability!
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky
Meanwhile, back to the tennis... one player: Alcaraz. Wow. 19. Scarily good. Great to watch as well. Could he do it this year? I think he will meet Djokovic in the semi final if he keeps winning.
Meanwhile, back to the tennis... one player: Alcaraz. Wow. 19. Scarily good. Great to watch as well. Could he do it this year? I think he will meet Djokovic in the semi final if he keeps winning.
That'll be an interesting one. Alcatraz is less likely to be overawed by the Djokovic reputation.
I struggle to get really excited by any sport where the spectators are told to keep quiet.
Imagine the response and what football would be like if you couldn’t start until the ref had said: ‘Quiet please. Rangers lead by one goal to nil. Play’ or, we were reduced to ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. The game of tennis itself can be a brilliant to watch; I just think it would be more so if the fans could participate more.
However, having worked at Wimbledon for three years as a student in the 80s, I’m reminded annually of a comment made by someone: everything that’s wrong about Britain is on show for two weeks a year in SW19.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
I struggle to get really excited by any sport where the spectators are told to keep quiet.
Imagine the response and what football would be like if you couldn’t start until the ref had said: ‘Quiet please. Rangers lead by one goal to nil. Play’ or, we were reduced to ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. The game of tennis itself can be a brilliant to watch; I just think it would be more so if the fans could participate more.
However, having worked at Wimbledon for three years as a student in the 80s, I’m reminded annually of a comment made by someone: everything that’s wrong about Britain is on show for two weeks a year in SW19.
You should have been in the stands in the JFH era.
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