Week 30 - Challenger ($50,000) - Kentucky Bank Tennis Ch., Lexington, KY (USA) - Hard

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Week 30 - Challenger ($50,000) - Kentucky Bank Tennis Ch., Lexington, KY (USA) - Hard

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Then there was one...

L16: (7) Frances Tiafoe (USA) WR 157 defeated Brydan Klein WR 266 by 6-4 3-6 6-4

L16: (WC) Brian Baker (USA) WR 384 defeated Liam Broady WR 275 by 4 & 3

L16: (Q) Lloyd Glasspool WR 282 defeated Nicolas Meister (USA) WR 290 by 3 & 2

****

QF: (Q) Lloyd Glasspool WR 282 vs Ernesto Escobedo (USA) WR 264 (CH = 259 in May)

Tiafoe (I really cannot bring myself to use the boy's Christian name) is the only seed left standing. He takes on Mitchell Krueger, who was responsible for despatching Mannarino in three sets in his second round match, in his QF. Lloyd's half of the draw is bristling with "giant"-killers: apart from Escobedo himself, who put out the fourth seed, Jordan Thompson, in the previous round, the Aussie, Andrew Whittington, accounted for Frat-boy (5), while another Yank, Daniel Nguyen, dumped out Malek Jaziri (2), in three. It ain't gonna be easy...

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Lloyd getting to the crunch part of the first set : 6-5*

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And Lloyd takes the first set 9-7 in the TB

It was his fourth SP, and had 3 BPs, against 0 conceded. Good set, Lloyd.

indiana · Tennis legend

Lloyd served for the match at *5-4, but was broken for the first time.

5-5*

Nix · Futures qualifying

Lloyd really tightens up when serving for the match. He had a pretty easy volley that he netted, then a forehand that he just had to hit in court to get the point. Ends up losing the game. Back on serve. Shame he couldn't close it out.

indiana · Tennis legend

Gone to a final set.

7-6(7) 5-7 *0-1

Hoppy · Junior player

Tried hard but legs gd gone after all this weeks matches

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

QF: Ernesto Escobedo (USA) WR 264 defeated (Q) Lloyd Glasspool WR 282 by 5-7 7-5 6-3

What a shame after such a good start! cry Still a good week for him.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Lloyd just tweeted this.

Us open q's gone. Gutted. Don't really know what to say.

I'm guessing that was on his mind when he served for the match in the 2nd set. A real shame if that is the case, but his upward trajectory suggests his time will come sooner rather than later.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

For someone to go from UNR to having a good shot of US Open qualis in only 12 months is pretty amazing.

Don't beat yourself up over it, Lloyd.

Of on a tangent, Mike C pointed out that Lloyd's younger brother is Parry Glasspool, the TV actor in Hollyoaks (or so they say, never seen it).

But just to mention it....

(NB Lloyd and Parry - loving those Welsh names - well done, Mum).

Oakland2002 · All-time great

You cannot accuse Mike C of not doing his research! Why oh why isn't Wimbledon Qualy's streamed with Mike C as guest commentator!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Oakland2002 wrote:
You cannot accuse Mike C of not doing his research! Why oh why isn't Wimbledon Qualy's streamed with Mike C as guest commentator!

I mentioned that idea to him once. He would absolutely love to fly over and do that.

Spectator · All-time great

Wouldn't that be super? For once, somebody who wouldn't assume that everyone playing was "unheard of" ... and who could give background and unintrusive commentary. Anyone have friends at the LTA? BBC?

In re: Mr Glasspool. Ouch, that must hurt. But as CD says, what a huge accomplishment to be at the point of potentially being eligible after one year on the tour. Upwards and onwards: think Australia, with its generous qualies package, when the UK is in the depths of winter ....

-- Edited by Spectator on Saturday 30th of July 2016 06:09:54 AM

Nix · Futures qualifying

Bob I think it was definitely the pressure getting to him rather than his game or fitness levels letting him down. Although there weren't many spectators there, those that were were supporting his opponent. Apparently they were shouting out to him to make Lloyd play every ball. Given that this would have been Lloyd's first challenger semi, and his opponent had been there before, plus the prize of US qualies, I do think that it affected his game. Up to that point of serving for the match, he really looked the cooler player. It was Escobedo who had thrown his racket at the wall and hit his cap across the court in frustration. But I guess it's as necessary to learn how to handle these situations through experience as it is to learn how to handle an overhead or a high volley. He can only gain from this. I'm not sure if the LTA puts any money into the psychological side of the game, but from the benefits it's offered Jo Konta for one, I'm sure it would be money well spent.