ANTHONY CLARK:
A RECORD IN SIGHT
Richard Eaton reports
It will be a record-equalling ninth successive men's doubles
title for Clark if he and Robertson win that title again. But it
is Clark's partnership with Olver, which is just a few weeks
old, which will attract the attention of people seeking insights
into the future.
When Robertson and Wallwork were in a similar situation last
year, they were beaten early on. It is a negative augury and
Clark is aware of it, especially as Olver, like Wallwork, is
having to replace a famous player.
“Trying to replace a partner like Donna (Kellogg) is very
difficult,” said Clark. “Of course I am not trying to replace
Donna in any way. I just wanted still to play mixed doubles. I
felt I had a lot to offer. So I sat down with the coaches and
had a long chat.
“People said Heather was very dedicated and looking forward to a
challenge. And her performances with Mariana (Agathangelou, in
women's doubles) were very, very good. So I made that decision
and I am very pleased with it so far.
“She's a very, very dedicated individual, who works very hard,
who works with myself and with coaches trying to help her. We've
already seen an improvement in her, which has come in just the
four or five weeks we have played together.
“I would love us to be world class in the next few weeks, but
that's unrealistic. We have though beaten Robert Mateusiak and
Nadiezda Kostiuczyk (the world-ranked number ten partnership
from Poland), which none of the other players have done. Donna
and I lost to them last time, so that's a fantastic result.
Heather is capable of stepping up to the plate.”
A down side is that Clark and Olver lost to Robertson and
Wallwork in Malaysia last month. “But that's very different,”
Clark pointed out. “Nathan has a style which is different to any
other player in the world. He manipulates the girl at the net.
“But she's definitely going to come into her own. She's her own
player, and very different from Donna. She's a good athlete.
That's her biggest attribute,” he emphasised.
Clark went on: “If she gets the sharpness around the net she
will be a phenomenal player. I will obviously help her with
that, and so will the coaches. Out of all the girls she is the
most likely to come out as a world class player.”
But how difficult is it for Clark himself to lose a long-lasting
partner like Kellogg, with whom he won so much, including the
last three national titles?
“I totally understand the decision she made,” he said.
“I was expecting it for a while. She found it very difficult
because a lot of people her own age had retired, and there was a
big gulf between her and the other girls. I fully expected it in
a way.”
But could he and Olver really win the nationals so soon?
“Absolutely,” Clark answered. “No-one stands out as favourite.
Nathan and Jenny will fancy their chances, mainly because they
beat us in that tournament.
“But it is open to anyone this year. We are definitely one of
those who can do it. We have a great chance of winning, though
I'm not putting any pressure on Heather to win.
“We know we are a new partnership. And we will go out there and
keep improving. She sees it as a massive opportunity to become
one of the best players in the world, with this is a stepping
stone.”
As for his partnership with Robertson, it had stalled since its
triumph in winning the Singapore Super Series partly because
England had withdrawn from the world championships due to the
terrorist threat, Clark suggested, after which there had been a
lull in training and loss of momentum. But they knew they could
beat anyone in the world and certainly anyone in Manchester.
And for him, they are more important than for Robertson. “They
are a big stepping stone,” Clark emphasised.
“If you can't win the nationals, what chance do you have in the
Super Series? It is a shame that funding is based so much on
international tournaments. But I do see it as an important
tournament.
“UK Sport has such an emphasis on medals in the Olympics and
World Championships. If we don't get these we will get our
funding cut, let's be realistic.
“So if you have to sacrifice national championships then I am
afraid it has to happen. But you don't want that to happen. You
like national championships to be a part of it all.”
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