Top Seeds Take Different Routes to Kalamazoo Championships:: The Tennis Recruiting Network
My wrapup for tennisrecruiting.net was posted today. I did have an opportunity to speak with Ryan Thacher Tuesday evening (he ran for a plane Sunday afternoon without talking to the media; he ended up missing the flight and staying in Kalamazoo an extra night) and I can assure everyone who is worried about him after the heartbreaking loss in the 16s final that he's just fine. He's looking forward to starting his junior year in high school, and if he doesn't get a main draw wild card into the U.S. Open juniors, he's not going to mope about it. Is there anybody who has seen him play that thinks he shouldn't get one?
Speaking of wild cards, the men's choices were released today. I guess with Ryan Sweeting getting a main draw wild card, it's official that he's no longer playing under the Bahamian flag.
As for the qualifying wild cards, the second, third and fourth place winners in Kalamazoo (Levine, Smyczek and Fugate) got them, as did 2003 winner Robert Yim and 2004 finalist Scott Oudsema. Ryler DeHeart, a recent graduate of Illinois who has had an excellent summer on the Futures circuit, may be a name unfamiliar to those who follow only pro tennis, but he's a good choice.
A final note: It appears that what was first thought to be food poisoning is now more likely a viral infection that's responsible for the illness of several Kalamazoo finalists over the weekend. After an investigation, there's no evidence of any widespread food-borne illness in the area.
30 comments:
I've seen Ryan Thatcher play. He's a BEAST. If he's a worker he's going to be a doer. That kid is out of sight good.
I CANNOT believe that Jesse Witten did not get a wildcard. He's ranked #191. Only two of the wildcard entries from the US are ranked higher than him. He has only been on the tour a little over a year. Just because he won't DANCE for the USTA. This would never happen if David Markin had a say. NOT COOL. Austin where are you? How is this possible? I don't even know Witten, but the rankings speak for themselves. Don't get me started on Ryan Sweeting either. Great player, great talent and I'm sure a great kid. But how hard up can the USTA be to give a kid who jumps ship a wildcard. USTA and The LTA are shallow when it comes to this stuff. Come on David Markin where are you? Take a stand and speak for what's right.
I agree, thacher is by far the most athletic kid in the USTA juniors. I think him and Mcclune have the most potential out of any Americans besides Querrey.
Colette, Great post on the recruiting network.
Sweeting, from what I understand, has lived in the U.S. since he was 13, hs mother is American, and he's been representing the U.S. for several months. I don't think he should be penalized because he only recently changed his national affiliation. Frankly, disqualifying him for that reason coud be considered shallow.
Look, it's understandable why he didn't immediately switch his allegiance upon moving to the U.S. I'm sure he was still attached to the Bahamas. But after spending six years in the U.S. (with the likely expectation of spending the rest of his life in the U.S.), things evidently changed. I won't be so naive as to suggest that there couldn't have been other considerations that influenced his decision, but to hold his previous Bahamian allegiance against him is, in my view, unfair.
I don't think anyone should penalize Ryan Sweeting for becoming a US citizen either. But what about helping out some of the US kids. Is the US that weak that they have to turn to our country to represent them? We have other players too you know. We can help the US out. I know if we had an event the size of the US Open we wouldn't be helping out any US kids who live in the Bahamas unless George W Bush tells us to. You US people have a funny way of showing loyalty.
The wild cards for the U.S. Junior Open are now included on the acceptance list:
http://www.usta.com/news/fullstory.sps?iType=945&inewsid=354250
Thacher only received a qualifying wild card.
I saw the jr. open wild card recipients late last night. I'll comment on it in my post later today.
Sweeting is a dual citizen and has been living and training in the US for the last six years. He probably felt loyal to his Bahamas nationality throughout juniors. But he's also an American and why shouldn't he also feel pride in representing the US which has become his home? Also, it seems that he earned the wildcard with his results so far this year since playing 7 or 8 pro events and climbing 1000 places in the rankings in a few months? Plus isn't it normal that the US Open boys winner does usually get a wildcard entry?Although it's got to be a tough job to award the limited number of wildcards that are available.
It seems the USTA is making some pretty fair but tough decisions.
Don't worry whoever mentioned me above, I was just busy this morning, but I'm here to weigh in. Without criticizing there is nothing to talk about. Look at the number of comments the last 6 or so posts compared to the 10 before that, controversy sparks involvement.
I've got to say I'm surprised, not shocked, but certainly surprised neither Jessie Levine, Tim Smyczek, Sam Warburg, Scott Oudsema nor Jessie Witten were given wildcards into the maindraw. The reason I say this is because Scoville Jenkins has had his shot at wildcards and certainly deserved them, but here's a stat. Last year he was ranked 352 heading into the Open, he is now at 265 after two full years on tour, not great improvement. Kuznetsov can slide by because he had a broken leg that certainly hampered his game for a while and he looked to really be on the rise before the injury.
There are 19 people ranked ahead of Scoville that need a wildcard to get into the maindraw. 3 were given them and 1(Taylor Dent) is injured. That leaves 15 people with higher rankings who will have to play in the qualies. Sam Warburg and Jessie Witten turned pro last summer and have shot up the rankings, where's the love at for them? Scott Oudsema just won a Challenger.
Ryan Sweeting got a wildcard? He is clearly a talented kid, maybe the most talented of the under 21 bunch other than Querrey who I saw in person Tuesday against Nadal and man he is going to be good. He showed more emotion than I expected. I don't agree or disagree with that selection though, just didn't expect it. For the record, Odesnik is from South Africa, Levine is from Canada, Delic is from Bosnia, Bogomolov is from Russia and Kuznetsov was born in the Ukraine. My point is that wildcards have been given out every year to people not born in America but who grew up here, so don't hate on the Sweeting selection because of that.
Man I hope Scoville does kick some butt and really take advantage of this wildcard because he looks like he has the potential and he's fun to watch with his explosive game. I've seen him in person a few different times and really enjoy the way he plays. The USTA also doesn't typically give wildcards for more than 2 or 3 years without great results so this might be his last shot to make some noise. In reality it's kind of like those last at-large NCAA bball tournament teams, they are all even and some flop like Air Force and some are George Mason, guess we'll have to watch The Open to find out.
Bahama mama,
The point you're missing is that Sweeting *is* a U.S. kid. Sure, he's also Bahaman, but that's not who he's chosen to represent. And if there was a talented, young, American-born player who was a Bahaman citizen and chose to represent the Bahamas, you better believe that he would get a wild card in your country. And rightly so.
The U.S. is comprised of many people who have moved to the U.S. from all parts of the world. We tend to embrace those people even if they weren't born here. The fact that Sweeting spent the first 13 years of his life elsewhere doesn't mean that he's not American. If there's something wrng with that type of loyalty, then I don't want to be right.
There is nothin wrong with giving Sweeting or any other kid who is an American citizen a wildcard. It doesn't matter to me where the kid was born. What I think is unfair is the US has kids who have broken into the top 200 within a year on the tour and they don't get a wildcard. What's that all about man? In Bahamas I give the wildcard to my Bahamian who has worked himself up the ladder to top 200 in the world in a year, not a kid you has talent and good results. What do you tell Jesse Witten? Sorry man being on the tour for a little over a year and getting top 200 is not enough for a wildcard? What about Mike Russell? Who has battled injuries and is on the verge of making an incredible comeback? Sorry man we just got this stud from the Bahamas that became a US citizen take a backseat. I'm only using Sweeting as an example. Sorry if I'm singling the brother out. Ryan Sweeting deserves a wildcard. That's not my point. My point is it must be difficult for a guy like Jesse Witten to understand how he takes a backseat to guys who have had a ton more opportunities than he has ever had. He's done it the hard way. Why not reward him?
I would say that guys like Kendrick, Morrison and Reynolds were more deserving than Witten to get wild cards (all are ranked higher). Not sure I understand the outrage on that one.
does anyone know if this means sweeting is going pro? is he turning down the money?
Witten's been on the tour for a little over year. The other three you mentioned are journeymen.
they are all just a couple of years older than witten and one of those journeymen was 2 pts from beating nadal in second round of wimbledon. personally i think tennis would be better off w/out wild cards? does the nfl wild card teams into the play-offs, etc?
yes the nfl does technically "wild card" teams into the playoffs thats why the first round of the playoffs includes two non-divisional winners with the next best record...very bad example.
Well I think the reason that Witten should not be considered as the same age as Reynolds, Kendrick and Morrison is because the latter two turned pro in 2000 I believe and Bobby turned pro in 2003. They have all been high up in the rankings and couldn't hold it, so they have had their shots. Witten turned pro in 2005 and is still coming up and should get the wildcard opportunities that they all had in the US Open to try to reach his full potential. He has made $44,000 this year. 1st round at the Open is $16,500 and 2nd round pays $26,500. That could make a huge difference in what he is allowed to do in terms of traveling, not to mention ranking points.
Whoever gave a shoutout to Mike Russell being worthy of a wildcard, I like it. One of my favorite players under 5'10" on tour.
not so sure - the nfl takes the next 2 best teams in a conference, whereas the us open takes the next 200th or so best players - kind of different. just saying that i think allowing these young guys who have done zero at the pro level into a grand slam cheapens it a bit for me. that's my personal opinion.
well, looks like Sweeting is playing at a pretty good level - justifying that choice of WC in my book ....beating Philip Simmonds and Garcia-Lopez of Spain in New Haven in the qualies today (a tough qualy draw) - Garcia Lopez is 78 ATP.
Besides Querry, Sweeting is America's new hope.
The one problem with giving Sweeting a WC is that he was thrown out of U of F for drugs etc..and now is reaping the benefits of that. Is that the right message to send?
Sweeting????DUI and more. He is dismissed from UF and the Bahamas Davis Cup Team told him to leave. So now we embrace him here in the US? What message does that send to hard working and dedicated young men?
Of course it is. Look at professional sports. It's all over the headlines. Although Sweeting's drugs weren't enhancing his play, drugs are forgiven pretty quickly if you can play.
Come on now. Don't be so naive. Who ever said there were morals in sports? It's the age of forgiveness. Produce and all is forgiven. We all make mistakes.
I beg to differ, anything that allows you to "focus" as in the case of people that actually have ADD and need adderol, well I would think that would have helped Sweeting alot. Of course the damage that is done to the body by mixing it with alcohol would show up in his body later on. Hope he doesn't do it anymore
these comments about Ryan Sweeting are ridiculous. Do we hear anything at all about Alex Kuznetsov hitting a tree driving under the influence and getting pins in his knee? Of course not - as we shouldn't. He's an amazing athlete, who dealt with a mistake in a positive and focused way - as has Sweeting. These are young men, young athletes dealing with every pressure and temptation and issue that young men and women deal with as they grow up and mature. Those of you who are writing - I guess you've never made a mistake. Isn't the key how you learn and mature and grow and at 19 years old - these young athletes are probably way more focused and mature than most other college age young people out there. Isn't life all about learning and growing? Clearly the people writing these messages are perfect individuals. Florida has embraced Sweeting, his coaches are supportive as is the University and he has rebounded from mistakes in an amazingly admirable way. So I say go find some real problems to diss and stop hitting on a kid who is working incredibly hard, nice as all getup and is talented and showing great results. Get a life you all.
Alex K. did not get a wild card into the Open and it seems we are always making excuses for everyone. None of us are perfect but there needs to be some ramifications to our actions. That is what learning is all about. Do you think the folks at Univ of Fla. would be so supportive if the kid wasn't such a good player. If he was a bench warmer they wouldn't give him another look. They are using him to compete and anything goes if you can win.
Since cynacism appears to be pretty rampant on this blog and in the tennis community, perhaps knowing some of the people involved before making judgements might be appropriate. Coach Andy Jackson at Florida is top notch professionally and personally. He supports all his players on and off the court, and from what I understand is focused on total person development as well as fielding always competitive teams in the NCAAs. Sounds like a coach many kids and parents would like to have.
Alex Kuznetsov is certainly listed on the US Open Wildcard announcement - so you should check again.
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