2021 Tennis

[Buzzo]

Yeah, my kids both play and I am happy that they just enjoy themselves. You can sense a palpable change when a parent is pushing there kids for greatness and as you say the standards to be absolute elite level are ridiculous.

[Lecter]

A guy I know who coaches has a seven year old son who is on the LTA radar.

I'm always a bit sceptical about how good kids actually are in the grand scheme of things

The other week I happened to be watching a doubles match and there was a lady (she turned out to be only 16 year old girl) who was incredibly good, she was playing doubles and competing in a semi final that ultimately leads to a final match at one of the prestige events Liverpool Tennis Club

Was talking to someone after this and he just dismissed her as an average player nowhere near the best in the county

Its when you think that beyond county level is national level and beyond that is the junior tour

The difference in levels are massive

[Lecter]

A guy I know who coaches has a seven year old son who is on the LTA radar.

Good that she is enjoying it though. It is a fantastic game to play. How about yourself how are injuries these days?

Injury is fine now, fully recovered.

Have had the odd hit here and there but have found a bit of a mental block when it comes to chasing stuff down (that use to be something I was good at)

Its weird because when I was playing football never had any issues coming back after injuries, maybe old age has finally caught up to me

[Buzzo]

No, shes nowhere near good enough for LTA county standard

I have never had any amibition for her other than plsying club tennis

Reality is if we had any ambition like that she would have been under LTA County coaches from the age of about 5 or 6

A guy I know who coaches has a seven year old son who is on the LTA radar.

Good that she is enjoying it though. It is a fantastic game to play. How about yourself how are injuries these days?

[Lecter]

Sounds amazing. Is she under the tutelage of the LTA? What is the ambition?

—-

Amazing to see Andy Murray on court tonight. Though it was only doubles he looked pretty mobile. Rusty first set, but his sharpness and competitive spirit were returning big time in the second set.

It’s amazing thinking back now how he used to limp and trundle along the back of the court between points and here looked pretty sprightly. He was performing to a high level, reaching 1/4’s semis and finals with the injury so he must have a chance of doing well in singles... I guess we are soon to find out.

No, shes nowhere near good enough for LTA county standard

I have never had any amibition for her other than plsying club tennis

Reality is if we had any ambition like that she would have been under LTA County coaches from the age of about 5 or 6

[Buzzo]

Sounds amazing. Is she under the tutelage of the LTA? What is the ambition?

—-

Amazing to see Andy Murray on court tonight. Though it was only doubles he looked pretty mobile. Rusty first set, but his sharpness and competitive spirit were returning big time in the second set.

It’s amazing thinking back now how he used to limp and trundle along the back of the court between points and here looked pretty sprightly. He was performing to a high level, reaching 1/4’s semis and finals with the injury so he must have a chance of doing well in singles... I guess we are soon to find out.

[Lecter]

My daughter been playing adult first team tennis the last few weeks, shes only 14

Its doubles matches (ladies and mixed)

She played some second team matches last year and again this year but was really thrown in at the deepend a few weeks back

She predominantly plays U16 Junior tennis in the local league (this is singles), so far this season shes unbeaten in 6 matches and has only dropped 3 games

So the club have got her to play regular second team tennis (all the local leagues are doubles) which is a huge step up and its an even bigger step up to the first team

Really pleased for her shes not looked out of place despite playing people in their 20's & 30's (or 40's), but the higher up the league you go the more nous the players have

[Buzzo]

I know what you mean but... I think he has to find out otherwise he will always wonder. At different times we’ve all thought Roger and Rafa should retire also and they are still performing at the top level.

He’s still young so what else is he going to do?

Speaking to the coaches I know and they reckon with the surgery he should be able to play at a very high level, it’s just whether he can play at that absolute elite level that separates the champs from the also rans again.

The other thing is that outside of the big three there is no one winning Slams. The last was Andy, which is ridiculous. So he must feel that if he can get competitive he might have a shout.

[Shaggy]

Planning his return to singles late 2019...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48609943

Remember when they retired him in Melbourne

I really don't think he should bother though. He'll be nowhere near his level. It'll be like watching Ian Rush playing centre midfield on loan at Sheff United in 1998.

[Buzzo]

Planning his return to singles late 2019...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48609943

[Buzzo]

Saw Murray related news on BBC Sport. Checked this thread. Saw Buzzo had posted. Chuckled to myself. Left.

Thanks for your contribution

I did also post about Jo Konta. She has an amazing chance of a final, and... if she plays like she did yesterday of winning.

[Pablo]

Saw Murray related news on BBC Sport. Checked this thread. Saw Buzzo had posted. Chuckled to myself. Left.

[Buzzo]

Konta just obliterated Sloan Stephens 6-1, 6-4 to get to the semis of the French.

[Buzzo]

Lazarus begins his return

Andy Murray is planning to make his return to competitive tennis in the doubles at the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen's Club later this month.

The Briton, 32, has not played since the Australian Open and had a hip resurfacing operation in January.

The former world number one, who has since said he is "pain-free", aims to play alongside Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

The tournament in London will start on Monday, 17 June - two weeks before Wimbledon begins.

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller said: "I don't see this as the start of a doubles career but as a stepping stone.

"He's not ready for singles at all but I think he intends to give it a go later. It is incredibly early days. He's only been back in full training for two weeks.

"It's an obvious way to ease yourself back in, but who knows what will happen from here."

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray had a hit with Australian Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon last month and posted a video of him serving on grass on his Instagram account earlier this week.

Murray has said he could play doubles at Wimbledon but effectively ruled out competing in the singles this year.

Former British tennis player Naomi Cavaday says Murray will not want to feel any pressure on his return and that will be reflected in his choice of partner.

"In this particular situation Andy would have asked around the locker room to see who was set," said Cavaday.

"He wouldn't want to play with a serious doubles guy, then there is pressure on the match. He doesn't want pressure on the match, he just wants to play on court.

"So a singles guy who isn't solely focused on doubles means there isn't a huge pressure because that guy isn't trying to make a living."

The Scot had the hip resurfacing operation - which keeps more of the damaged bone than a hip replacement, smoothing the ball down and covering it with a metal cap - in London on 28 January.

Sixteen-time Grand Slam doubles champion Bob Bryan had the same surgery in 2018 and was back playing again, alongside twin brother Mike, five months later.

BBC Sport will have live coverage from the west London club across television, radio and online.

[Buzzo]

I’ve watched a bit.

Jo Khonta having her best tournament in France.

I’ve entered a box League and won my first two matches last weekend