Britain - Done Me Proud

This is the first time I have actually felt a sense of pride with how our British players played in this first round. The 2nd round looks great for British tennis. Joining Murray is Ward, Keothavong, Watson and Baltacha. Baker started well in his encounter with Roddick and with a bit of concentration and better execution could still make a match of it.

However, let's not forget those who fell at the first hurdle. Golding and Robson take a bow. Robson showing why she is top 20 material. She may have lost in 3, but she had Schiavone scrambling all over the court and outplayed her throughout the match. She has recently overcome a series of injuries and maybe with an injury free schedule she might start to climb the rankings. Golding put in a brilliant display against Andreev. Andreev had to play some stunning shots to stay in points and Golding after a poor result against Baker at Queens absolutely upped his game to such a level. He ran away with the first set and was unlucky in 2 of the TB's. His serve was solid and his BH was awesome. Just little dips when it mattered and also rushing himself on big points cost him, but she showed enough signs that he could break into that top 100 in the next 12 months.

Naomi Broady and Johanna Konta were also gave a good account of themselves in their matches.

The one disappointment was Josh Goodall. Ineffective BH and a 26 year old playing in futures is just bottling the bigger events. When you have a promising junior in Kyle Edmund, I think even though it would be unlikely to progress beyond the first round, from a career perspective it would be more beneficial to Edmund who is up and coming rather than Goodall who is going nowhere and is not showing his career the serious consideration that it needs.

legendkillarV2 wrote:

The one disappointment was Josh Goodall. Ineffective BH and a 26 year old playing in futures is just bottling the bigger events. When you have a promising junior in Kyle Edmund, I think even though it would be unlikely to progress beyond the first round, from a career perspective it would be more beneficial to Edmund who is up and coming rather than Goodall who is going nowhere and is not showing his career the serious consideration that it needs.

Josh Goodall performed above his ranking taking his match to four sets. He lost because he wasn't able to match the physical fitness, stamina and continued concentration that characterises a top 100 player. If he doesn't work to improve his physical fitness there is no point in awarding him further wildcards.

Nore Staat wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:

The one disappointment was Josh Goodall. Ineffective BH and a 26 year old playing in futures is just bottling the bigger events. When you have a promising junior in Kyle Edmund, I think even though it would be unlikely to progress beyond the first round, from a career perspective it would be more beneficial to Edmund who is up and coming rather than Goodall who is going nowhere and is not showing his career the serious consideration that it needs.

Josh Goodall performed above his ranking taking his match to four sets. He lost because he wasn't able to match the physical fitness, stamina and continued concentration that characterises a top 100 player. If he doesn't work to improve his physical fitness there is no point in awarding him further wildcards.

I don't think he performed above it. Zemlja wasn't playing like a 112 player. Goodall just used the BH slice, but not very well and it was painful to watch. For me fitness and stamina won't improve Goodall to the point of a massive jump up the rankings. I think like Boggo he is a wasted wild card.

Remember though that Goodall is more renowned as a doubles player. As for other Brits that lost there were encouraging performances from Golding and Robson and Baker (who looks like losing) hasn't disgraced himself.

Zemlja is a doubles specialist too. For me Goodall having a wild card ahead of Edmund is bizarre and unwarranted. I think Edmund it serves as a massive learning curve and could propell him further up the rankings comapred with Goodall.

legendkillarV2 wrote:Zemlja is a doubles specialist too. For me Goodall having a wild card ahead of Edmund is bizarre and unwarranted. I think Edmund it serves as a massive learning curve and could propell him further up the rankings comapred with Goodall.

I wouldn't disagree about Edmund.

Agree there legend, suppose players like Goodall and Bogdan are just happy to pay the bills. Its almost like the bait being fed to the sharks, I can't imagine the French giving too many wildcards for their slam to players like Goodall and Bogdan, they couldn't bear the humiliation. Only players with terrific talent should be getting wildcards, not players who would even find it hard beating juniors.

legendkillarV2 wrote:Zemlja is a doubles specialist too. For me Goodall having a wild card ahead of Edmund is bizarre and unwarranted. I think Edmund it serves as a massive learning curve and could propell him further up the rankings comapred with Goodall.

Edmund did get a wildcard. His current ranking is about a thousand or something and he needed a wildcard to get into the Wimbledon qualifiers.

I think I may have done Josh Goodall a disservice. I didn't watch the end and he seemed to have broken back in the fourth set to make it closer - only losing it by a single break: 4-6 6-3 6-7 4-6