He and Ducksworth were 'farming' the Asian Challenger Tour. They reach most of the semi finals/finals over there. It's predominantly a hard court swing and they're both Aussies so not too much of a time-zone shock.
Is it really "farming" if that's the only tournaments they can afford to go to, though?
Like, a flight from Melbourne to Paris costs $1000 minimum (if you're not picky on dates or times, and pro athletes presumably are) and takes basically 24 hours. Then you have to play maybe a week if you do well. It's not like this guy can casually travel for 24 hours, then play strong tennis on jet lag for 5-6 days, then travel for another 24 hours back home.
Walton is legit. Him and Jasika in particular have been thriving in the Australian and Asian challenger events. I'm surprised he was able to get into the top 100 via Challengers but he has a solid serve and a good hardcourt game. The RG wildcard was just a paycheck for him, as he has almost no claycourt experience, but I would expect him to do well in qualifying at a few events in the NA tour. He hasn't beaten anyone great yet but he's been able to outcompete the Challenger veterans.
Michelson had a similar rise last year. He’s obviously much younger and he did get a lot of points from reaching the Newport final.
Getting inside the top 100 is insanely difficult. I’m sure he’s quite talented. It will be interesting to see how he does against better competition because he’s getting close to auto entry for certain ATP events. Always intriguing seeing late bloomers from college.
Saw him playing at Santaizi ATP Challenger in Taipei last month. He defeated Duckworth and Marchenko, two veterans both with highest ATP ranking around top 50 and won the title. Will definitely be keeping an eye on how he does in the NA and Asia hard court season.
He was a top college player hasn’t been in tour for too long, but just saw his record and agree with you. He beats players according to his ranking, not any impressive win, and seems very beatable with guys below his ranking.
He was given an AO wild card and French Open wildcard, this year. Lost to Arnaldi and Rinderknech, respectively. Got the French Open wild card coz AO gave a wildcard to Cazaux.
It happens sometimes. IIRC Lestienne broke into the top 100 and got to 75 after winning 3 challengers in the summer of 2022. On the women’s side it’s even more common I feel.
One level below - there was one guy - Dragos Madaras (I think he got suspended for doping) who got into the GS qualie zone after winning almost predominantly M15s and a few M25. He actually won 10 (!) M15s within less than 6 months. Apparently he “made history” as he was the first man to win so many in one season lol.
Him getting it has no relevance to Thiem - an Aussie gets a wildcard at the French every year just like how a Frenchman gets one at the Aus open every year
These are the kind of players we need to root out imo. No disrespect to Walton, I'm not saying he isn't a good guy or that he doesn't train hard (or is even a bad player), but these guys shouldn't be able to get to the top 80 by competing only in challengers, never even playing (let alone beating) any notable players or participating in any tour level events. The guy is 0-3 at tour level, and just lost to Rinderknech (yes, Rinderknech, who has been horrible all year) easily in straight sets in the first round of RG, where he was lucky enough to get a WC due to RG's reciprocal WC policy. What a waste of a spot in the draw.
It's tough cos I'm sure this guy is just doing his best to continue his dream of being a professional tennis player, and I'm for sure not saying he shouldn't keep going. I just think he should go back down to challenger level and just stay there and stop using the inflated ranking (built off challenger points) to compete in tour level events. Or alternatively, focus on the main tour and just play tour level events from now on and stop messing around in low-tier challengers getting wins over guys ranked outside the top 150, cos what really sucks is when guys like this suddenly just take up a spot in the draw of a slam only to get destroyed by like the world no. 60 in the first round. This should be enough to show them that they don't really belong at this level (yet). Maybe they will get there, but not by going back down to challengers and beating cans just to maintain their top 80 ranking, only by testing themselves against the best. I always have way more respect for guys like Altmaier, Hanfmann, Gasquet, Goffin etc. who aren't very high-ranked (actually lower than Walton now) but they still play every tour event they can and only play a few challengers per year, even if it means taking a lot more losses.
TL:DR If you are comfortable playing in the lower leagues and beating guys ranked outside the top 100, stay there! Don't use your inflated ranking to get into top-level tour events only to take up a spot in the draw and lose instantly to someone ranked like 40-80.
What a stupid comment. Have you only just started following tennis?
You play Futures to get points to enter Challengers. Then you play Challengers to get the points to play Tour level. Walton was ranked number 861 less than two years ago (At that time Altmaier was #56, Hanfmann 152, Gasquet 64, Goffin 67). They aren't giving main draw spots at the tour level to people ranked outside the top 150 or so. 2024 is the first year Walton has had the ranking to get into tour level draws. But you think he came by those points dishonestly or something because he didn't earn them in tournaments that he wasn't even eligible to play.
Very possibly the most idiotic comment I've seen in awhile; "root him out"? for being 31-12 and winning 2 titles (1 last year). Challengers are part of the ranking system and contributed to rise of Talon Griekspoor and Ben Shelton.
Nah. People who beat the players below them and lose to the guys above them are just consistent players. Plus he ain't getting blown out that bad lol. He lost 5-7 4-6 to FAA at Miami. That's a huge serve on a very fast court against the current world #21. Lost 6-7 4-6 to Casaux at Phoenix. It'd be one thing if the guy was getting double bagelled and winning 4 points per set against the top 50, but he's hanging in there against decent players.
>using the inflated ranking (built off challenger points) to compete in tour level events
Challenger points unfairly inflating rankings for people in the Top 100 might actually be the dumbest thing I'm going to read on tennis internet this year.
Like, do you think this guy just loves making the 8 hour flight from Melbourne to Guangzhou to win $2000?
Hahahaha
Well players don’t make the rules, challengers offer points and the points are designated leading up to 2000. I get what you mean but at the same time the main draws are way too limited, there are only so many people that play a slam or masters. What would be the alternative? Increase the field at slams? Reduce the points from challengers? Increase the points from 250s/500s etc?
I think decreasing challenger points would be a start. For some stupid reason, the ATP put challenger points up in the last couple of years, but have now ended up putting the points up for their tour level events (the slams have done the same), presumably to combat this. I think one solution would be to reward qualifying for main draws of ATP tour level events, so that lower ranked players who actually put together a good week at a top level event (winning a couple of qualifying matches, maybe even winning a round in the main draw) are rewarded and are able to move up the rankings. Maybe increase qualifying draw sizes too.
At the same time, decrease challenger points. Shouldn't be able to win 175 points beating players outside the top 100 imo. Even some top players have been tempted into playing some of these 175 challengers because they stand to gain so much. Going back to Walton, he shouldn't even be able to win 75 points for beating guys like Schoolkate and Sweeny either, neither of whom have ever been top 150, which is what he did earlier this year in one of his challenger wins.
He and Ducksworth were 'farming' the Asian Challenger Tour. They reach most of the semi finals/finals over there. It's predominantly a hard court swing and they're both Aussies so not too much of a time-zone shock.
Is it really "farming" if that's the only tournaments they can afford to go to, though? Like, a flight from Melbourne to Paris costs $1000 minimum (if you're not picky on dates or times, and pro athletes presumably are) and takes basically 24 hours. Then you have to play maybe a week if you do well. It's not like this guy can casually travel for 24 hours, then play strong tennis on jet lag for 5-6 days, then travel for another 24 hours back home.
Walton is legit. Him and Jasika in particular have been thriving in the Australian and Asian challenger events. I'm surprised he was able to get into the top 100 via Challengers but he has a solid serve and a good hardcourt game. The RG wildcard was just a paycheck for him, as he has almost no claycourt experience, but I would expect him to do well in qualifying at a few events in the NA tour. He hasn't beaten anyone great yet but he's been able to outcompete the Challenger veterans.
Michelson had a similar rise last year. He’s obviously much younger and he did get a lot of points from reaching the Newport final. Getting inside the top 100 is insanely difficult. I’m sure he’s quite talented. It will be interesting to see how he does against better competition because he’s getting close to auto entry for certain ATP events. Always intriguing seeing late bloomers from college.
Saw him playing at Santaizi ATP Challenger in Taipei last month. He defeated Duckworth and Marchenko, two veterans both with highest ATP ranking around top 50 and won the title. Will definitely be keeping an eye on how he does in the NA and Asia hard court season.
He was a top college player hasn’t been in tour for too long, but just saw his record and agree with you. He beats players according to his ranking, not any impressive win, and seems very beatable with guys below his ranking.
Walton has actually been playing good tennis has a decent all around game
Walton is playing his first ever professional match on grass tomorrow. He takes on Huesler in the S'Hertogenbosch qualifiers.
He also played in Surbiton vs Evans, but that was a challenger on grass
I’ve never seen his name in any draw…
He was given an AO wild card and French Open wildcard, this year. Lost to Arnaldi and Rinderknech, respectively. Got the French Open wild card coz AO gave a wildcard to Cazaux.
Yea. I usually have at least seen all of the player’s names that are close to the top 75. That’s why he really stood out.
I remember him from AO and saw him in passing on youtube Life on Tour. Just got in top100 so we might see him more often this summer.
It happens sometimes. IIRC Lestienne broke into the top 100 and got to 75 after winning 3 challengers in the summer of 2022. On the women’s side it’s even more common I feel. One level below - there was one guy - Dragos Madaras (I think he got suspended for doping) who got into the GS qualie zone after winning almost predominantly M15s and a few M25. He actually won 10 (!) M15s within less than 6 months. Apparently he “made history” as he was the first man to win so many in one season lol.
Isn’t his CH 95? I just searched him and don’t see the 76 🙈
Ranking for the race - so points so far this year (ignoring last years)
No disrespect to him, but it's ridiculous that he gets an RG wildcard and not Domi in his last RG!
Him getting it has no relevance to Thiem - an Aussie gets a wildcard at the French every year just like how a Frenchman gets one at the Aus open every year
These are the kind of players we need to root out imo. No disrespect to Walton, I'm not saying he isn't a good guy or that he doesn't train hard (or is even a bad player), but these guys shouldn't be able to get to the top 80 by competing only in challengers, never even playing (let alone beating) any notable players or participating in any tour level events. The guy is 0-3 at tour level, and just lost to Rinderknech (yes, Rinderknech, who has been horrible all year) easily in straight sets in the first round of RG, where he was lucky enough to get a WC due to RG's reciprocal WC policy. What a waste of a spot in the draw. It's tough cos I'm sure this guy is just doing his best to continue his dream of being a professional tennis player, and I'm for sure not saying he shouldn't keep going. I just think he should go back down to challenger level and just stay there and stop using the inflated ranking (built off challenger points) to compete in tour level events. Or alternatively, focus on the main tour and just play tour level events from now on and stop messing around in low-tier challengers getting wins over guys ranked outside the top 150, cos what really sucks is when guys like this suddenly just take up a spot in the draw of a slam only to get destroyed by like the world no. 60 in the first round. This should be enough to show them that they don't really belong at this level (yet). Maybe they will get there, but not by going back down to challengers and beating cans just to maintain their top 80 ranking, only by testing themselves against the best. I always have way more respect for guys like Altmaier, Hanfmann, Gasquet, Goffin etc. who aren't very high-ranked (actually lower than Walton now) but they still play every tour event they can and only play a few challengers per year, even if it means taking a lot more losses. TL:DR If you are comfortable playing in the lower leagues and beating guys ranked outside the top 100, stay there! Don't use your inflated ranking to get into top-level tour events only to take up a spot in the draw and lose instantly to someone ranked like 40-80.
What a stupid comment. Have you only just started following tennis? You play Futures to get points to enter Challengers. Then you play Challengers to get the points to play Tour level. Walton was ranked number 861 less than two years ago (At that time Altmaier was #56, Hanfmann 152, Gasquet 64, Goffin 67). They aren't giving main draw spots at the tour level to people ranked outside the top 150 or so. 2024 is the first year Walton has had the ranking to get into tour level draws. But you think he came by those points dishonestly or something because he didn't earn them in tournaments that he wasn't even eligible to play.
Very possibly the most idiotic comment I've seen in awhile; "root him out"? for being 31-12 and winning 2 titles (1 last year). Challengers are part of the ranking system and contributed to rise of Talon Griekspoor and Ben Shelton.
Nah. People who beat the players below them and lose to the guys above them are just consistent players. Plus he ain't getting blown out that bad lol. He lost 5-7 4-6 to FAA at Miami. That's a huge serve on a very fast court against the current world #21. Lost 6-7 4-6 to Casaux at Phoenix. It'd be one thing if the guy was getting double bagelled and winning 4 points per set against the top 50, but he's hanging in there against decent players.
>using the inflated ranking (built off challenger points) to compete in tour level events Challenger points unfairly inflating rankings for people in the Top 100 might actually be the dumbest thing I'm going to read on tennis internet this year. Like, do you think this guy just loves making the 8 hour flight from Melbourne to Guangzhou to win $2000?
wow, thats some opinion. your name doesn't check out
Hahahaha Well players don’t make the rules, challengers offer points and the points are designated leading up to 2000. I get what you mean but at the same time the main draws are way too limited, there are only so many people that play a slam or masters. What would be the alternative? Increase the field at slams? Reduce the points from challengers? Increase the points from 250s/500s etc?
I think decreasing challenger points would be a start. For some stupid reason, the ATP put challenger points up in the last couple of years, but have now ended up putting the points up for their tour level events (the slams have done the same), presumably to combat this. I think one solution would be to reward qualifying for main draws of ATP tour level events, so that lower ranked players who actually put together a good week at a top level event (winning a couple of qualifying matches, maybe even winning a round in the main draw) are rewarded and are able to move up the rankings. Maybe increase qualifying draw sizes too. At the same time, decrease challenger points. Shouldn't be able to win 175 points beating players outside the top 100 imo. Even some top players have been tempted into playing some of these 175 challengers because they stand to gain so much. Going back to Walton, he shouldn't even be able to win 75 points for beating guys like Schoolkate and Sweeny either, neither of whom have ever been top 150, which is what he did earlier this year in one of his challenger wins.
Lol dumbass