TJTC WORLD TOUR

This blog could have been given several titles: 1. To be the best you have to beat the best 2. Any changing of the guards? 3. No major surprise… 4. Project Angus

Aussie started out when the draw was made a week in advance going into the January 21^st start of the open when the draw came under fire. What is clear to us is that several quality players on tour are without a particular ranking and with the tour being of only 16-18 active players then the draw will always be under question as there will be quality first round lineups.

So far the top ranked players for the most part are finding ways to be on the final days of each tournament. Douglas for one is aiming at breaking up this trend on. 

To be the best you have to beat the best they say and this tour isn’t short of that statement. The top half of the draw was certainly loaded and doubts about the making of the draw surfaces. The championship concludes that the tour is definitely heating up especially with the increased number of active tour players going into a full calendar year. Matches are quite competitive from the very first round and some tend to go the distance.

There are good signs and bad signs. The tour has it’s few players who are always favourites for late round showings on the odds-makers chart but we beg to ask the question about frequent upsets or the emergence of rivalries. However, since the inception of TJTC players have improved and an increased level of display is visible.

There is a growing concern for lack of fair play during matches with controversial line calls and undesired outbursts on varying issues in the match. Makes no sense to be cheating each other for the sake of winning. Being gracious in defeat and humble in victory is preferred. Take Bartley for example, he may be heated on court but after the loss he’s pretty much over the match in a flash.

Aussie was quite competitive with Saddique facing a tough first set against Sheldon, and the rusty number two finding his range as he grind out a 3 sets win over a fast improving Plunkett. Ricardo suffered another tough loss to his rival Douglas and Bartley still yet to surpass the first round of an open for the past two tournaments. Orick had to be near his best to subdue Jordache. These were the major highlights of the tournament.

Jordache’s defeat to Angus shows us that we have to take our chances in tennis. It all boils down to the player with more guts and who takes their chances. Saddique’s victory over Sheldon proved that one can triumph over adversary but it takes hard work. Douglas’ repeat victory over Chambers reveals his mental toughness and tacticality to an aching Chambers during the biggest stages of the matches.

Though the number two seed was  predicted to lose to Doha champion Saddique in the semi-finals the Russian found it tough trying to close out the French man after squandering a 5-2 lead eventually losing the set 5-7 to Saddique. However the Russian showed some steel and held off the French man 6-4 in the second set. The third set started with both players holding serve until Saddique drew first blood 2-1 before retiring after coming under heavy attacks of cramping. Again for the 5^th time in a final (Shanghai, Paris, China and U.S open all in 2011).  

The match between Angus and Mullings was a decent display and it was a little better than the scoreline suggests as is the case with most of their previous encounter. Mullings lacks the fire power to stay longer in the rallies and dictate play against Angus. Mullings can’t be too happy to be seeing Angus on the last days of the major tournaments but is steadfast that to be the best you have to beat the best, no two questions about it. Congratulations to Angus as he continues to ride his unbeaten record of 15 consecutive matches.

So far we are doing decently as a family. With 2 tournaments down and 16 more to go (with four remaining majors) we urge players to try to take their games to the next level to give them a better chance of making it to the winners circle.

This blog could have been given several titles: 1. To be the best you have to beat the best 2. Any changing of the guards? 3. No major surprise… 4. Project Angus

Aussie started out when the draw was made a week in advance going into the January 21^st start of the open when the draw came under fire. What is clear to us is that several quality players on tour are without a particular ranking and with the tour being of only 16-18 active players then the draw will always be under question as there will be quality first round lineups.

So far the top ranked players for the most part are finding ways to be on the final days of each tournament. Douglas for one is aiming at breaking up this trend on. 

To be the best you have to beat the best they say and this tour isn’t short of that statement. The top half of the draw was certainly loaded and doubts about the making of the draw surfaces. The championship concludes that the tour is definitely heating up especially with the increased number of active tour players going into a full calendar year. Matches are quite competitive from the very first round and some tend to go the distance.

There are good signs and bad signs. The tour has it’s few players who are always favourites for late round showings on the odds-makers chart but we beg to ask the question about frequent upsets or the emergence of rivalries. However, since the inception of TJTC players have improved and an increased level of display is visible.

There is a growing concern for lack of fair play during matches with controversial line calls and undesired outbursts on varying issues in the match. Makes no sense to be cheating each other for the sake of winning. Being gracious in defeat and humble in victory is preferred. Take Bartley for example, he may be heated on court but after the loss he’s pretty much over the match in a flash.

Aussie was quite competitive with Saddique facing a tough first set against Sheldon, and the rusty number two finding his range as he grind out a 3 sets win over a fast improving Plunkett. Ricardo suffered another tough loss to his rival Douglas and Bartley still yet to surpass the first round of an open for the past two tournaments. Orick had to be near his best to subdue Jordache. These were the major highlights of the tournament.

Jordache’s defeat to Angus shows us that we have to take our chances in tennis. It all boils down to the player with more guts and who takes their chances. Saddique’s victory over Sheldon proved that one can triumph over adversary but it takes hard work. Douglas’ repeat victory over Chambers reveals his mental toughness and tacticality to an aching Chambers during the biggest stages of the matches.

Though the number two seed was  predicted to lose to Doha champion Saddique in the semi-finals the Russian found it tough trying to close out the French man after squandering a 5-2 lead eventually losing the set 5-7 to Saddique. However the Russian showed some steel and held off the French man 6-4 in the second set. The third set started with both players holding serve until Saddique drew first blood 2-1 before retiring after coming under heavy attacks of cramping. Again for the 5^th time in a final (Shanghai, Paris, China and U.S open all in 2011).  

The match between Angus and Mullings was a decent display and it was a little better than the scoreline suggests as is the case with most of their previous encounter. Mullings lacks the fire power to stay longer in the rallies and dictate play against Angus. Mullings can’t be too happy to be seeing Angus on the last days of the major tournaments but is steadfast that to be the best you have to beat the best, no two questions about it. Congratulations to Angus as he continues to ride his unbeaten record of 15 consecutive matches.

So far we are doing decently as a family. With 2 tournaments down and 16 more to go (with four remaining majors) we urge players to try to take their games to the next level to give them a better chance of making it to the winners circle.