[Bangkok. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.It's Marmite City. You will love it, or you will hate it.]

Bangkok. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

It's Marmite City. You will love it, or you will hate it.


Why do people use the Marmite term then explain it?

Some people love to have it explained to them, others will hate it. 

Not getting any easier for Norrie, 17th in live rankings means unseeded and playing Fritz (1 seed) in the first round in Tokoyo. Draper playing Alec De-M 3am tomorrow morning.

Both gone

FWIW Edmund has won 3 matches at Edgbaston.

Of more interest for the future, Hannah Klugman has won 2 in an ITF W100 at Shrewsbury.  Just beaten Miyazaki.  She was the youngest to ever qualify for one and is still only 14.  

She will be the only 14 year old in the top 1000 on the WTA rankings; if she wins the next match, she'll be ranked higher than any 15 year olds. 

Didn't realise they had fallen so far, do they get the number 1 ranking back if they win today.

Just had a thought, Tara Moore has disappeared from the news.  Couldn't see any recent news stories, she has deleted her twitter and is now showing as a former tennis player on Wikipedia.  Wikipedia has no recent news and there is no reference for the "former".

I couldn't even find the length of her ban.  Did she just retire after getting suspended?  Or do we just assume it is what happened until hearing otherwise.  Quite a difference to Simona Halep who seems to still crop up frequently.

Saw Draper made the final.  Had a brief hope that we had 5 in the top 100, but Broady has been booted already.

Broady is up 7 places and back into top 100 without playing this week. According to https://live-tennis.eu/en/atp-live-ranking

thats the 5 men in top 100

I don't think they were ever officially in at the same time.  The temporary rankings delete the rankings from the same week in the previous year, but people can still overtake by the end of the week..

Broady is still listed outside the top 100, and don't think he has been officially inside this month. 

We giving up on Edmund yet?  Sad he can't even win in the first round of small ITF tournaments currently though one time was defeated by the heat.

My first reaction was why is Watson still getting picked, but assume she is only in for the doubles (with Dart?)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67098077

Think squad works ok like this, but harsh on Barnett/Nicholls who are currently on their way to a possible WTA125 final.

Still think you don't need Watson,  with Dart much more capable of deputising in the singles if there is an issue with Boulter or Burrage.  And Barnett/Nicholls are your best doubles team, and if Dart has played a singles match, it will be detrimental to a Dart/Watson team?

And who do they pick as 5 now?

Fixed.

Has to be this type of link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GE-n-0067c but must be http:// instead of https://

Thanks.  Think the links are odd on my phone, so should use my laptop really.

Saw Kristin Hersh the other day.



https://youtu.be/7GE-n-0067c?si=aqhSsK89elYWGmZJ


 



Not my video, but so special to see someone who was/is such an important artist playing in a room with less than 100 people in.  Can't imagine many of those who were so influenced by the Throwing Muses doing this.  She is still producing original music too.

Would recommend if she in your area. Good to not be looking over a sea of phones and nobody was chucking beer around too.


EDIT; Tried to fix invalid link David, not sure if worked.

Anyone know why Cash and Pattern are playing with different partners this week and next?

Don't know, could be just that Patten doesn't want to trawl round China.  Feels like a mistake if so, as a lot of tournaments are a bit soft right now as people wind down. 

Both played in same event this week cash getting knocked out in round one and patten making the final

both in same comp again next week

cash seems to have linked up with the American Galloway and patten trying out another new partner


meanwhile draper is playing in the final on challenger tour tv and back into the top 100

Saw Draper made the final.  Had a brief hope that we had 5 in the top 100, but Broady has been booted already.

Did you see Boulter today, didn't see any of it, as was working.  Leading both sets 5-4 with the serve against Sabalenka is seriously good going; even if she lost both in the end.  Did you watch it?

https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/09/stuart-rutter-runs-away-with-the-2023-gukpt-luton-main-event-44538.htm

well played stu

10 ball please.

Great stuff Stu

Anyone know why Cash and Pattern are playing with different partners this week and next?

Don't know, could be just that Patten doesn't want to trawl round China.  Feels like a mistake if so, as a lot of tournaments are a bit soft right now as people wind down.  I saw someone tweet last week that Guadalajara was a really soft WTA 1000 and it was a good chance for Sakkari, and she went ahead and won it.

In other news, Liam Broady has made it to the top 100 not long before his 30th birthday.  Must have been a hell of a slog over the years for him.  Guess he is making a profit at last, and will get straight into the Aussie Open.

And Dart and Burrage have made it through qualifying to their tournaments in Asia.  Good to see them both competing.  Finally found out why Katie Swan isn't playing much, she has aggravated an old back injury.  I assume she is going to be ably to protect her ranking a bit, but it will still be a struggle to get back near the top 100.  Way more chance for Radacanu as she has more atlent and is bound to get more wild cards.

Jack Draper not able to get protected ranking entries? i noticed he has been playing in smaller events

You are limited to how many times you use protected rankings.  I think it is 12 times.  So if you aren't feeling up to competing at the highest level yet, there is no point wasting one of the 12. As Draper is on the borders of top 100, and never top 32, then I don't think he needs it for slams.  Guess he'd use it for 1000s or 500s when he gets to near full fitness, though not entirely sure on best strat.

Kyle Edmund can't have many events left now, and dare say he could have used it better?

Anyone know why Cash and Pattern are playing with different partners this week and next?

Don't know, could be just that Patten doesn't want to trawl round China.  Feels like a mistake if so, as a lot of tournaments are a bit soft right now as people wind down.  I saw someone tweet last week that Guadalajara was a really soft WTA 1000 and it was a good chance for Sakkari, and she went ahead and won it.

In other news, Liam Broady has made it to the top 100 not long before his 30th birthday.  Must have been a hell of a slog over the years for him.  Guess he is making a profit at last, and will get straight into the Aussie Open.

And Dart and Burrage have made it through qualifying to their tournaments in Asia.  Good to see them both competing.  Finally found out why Katie Swan isn't playing much, she has aggravated an old back injury.  I assume she is going to be ably to protect her ranking a bit, but it will still be a struggle to get back near the top 100.  Way more chance for Radacanu as she has more atlent and is bound to get more wild cards.

Bloody hell, did anyone see that?

GB 0-40 and 4-5 down in the final set and just won.  Don't even think the French did much wrong.  Seemed on top for nearly all that doubles.

Can confirm Dan Evans is in form.

Hannah Klugman has made the last 8 of the US Open girls at 14, beating the girl who beat her at Wimbledon. She is still in the doubles too.  She is quite a bit younger than my eldest who is doing her GCSEs this year.

Well Tikay would be proud of that bok.   Didn't win a game and retired at 0-6, 0-3. Looks like the heat got to her.  Can't see her making the doubles as she'll be due on fairly soon. 

Cheers Stu.

How are you? Busy I expect.

How's the family?

How's the alcohol consumption? Surely you must have slacked off a bit?

I am well thanks!

Family are all good, all 3 of them back to school yesterday so Mrs Hopkin can get back to normal!

Click to see full-size image.

I still enjoy a fair few pints, but overall I would say yes it has slacked off a fair bit.

Will no doubt have a few next Friday as I'm off to Doncaster races with Matt, Giblin and a few others.

That is if I survive Wednesday! https://www.justgiving.com/page/monarch-1689845298867

Good luck with that, never ever doing that again.   And remember to breathe... seriously.

I almost missed this.

https://twitter.com/IanGas/status/1695821876088480227?t=SLS-JZPDKCRn-dj-Id2Z3Q&s=19

Congrats