(1)Richard Bloomfield (Gbr) WR 176 vs Qualifier Adam Feeney (Aus) WR 343 vs Qualifier Joseph Sirianni (Aus) WR 286 vs Qualifier (7)Jamie Baker (Gbr) WR 249 vs Qualifier
Pity the 2 Brits are both in the same quarter. Hopefully we'll get one of them into the semi finals.
Is Qureshi playing here ? If not, I'd be very surprised if they didn't team up for doubles. Both are trying to play more to improve their net games for singles.
Really gutted that they're in the same section...this 15K+H is amazingly strong given that Jamie's ranked 249 but is only seeded 7th !!
They've played once before, Richard won in straights in rd1 of Surbiton last year. However, Jamie has improved a lot since then, he has by far the better baseline game so a lot will come down to how well he can return the Bloomfield serve. On fast indoor hard, Richard's going to get a lot of cheap points and he'll be serve-volleying. Richard's a good volleyer but can still miss some relatively easy ones at times, particularly on the backhand. If Jamie can keep making him play after the serve, it may tell on the big points.
R1: (1) Richard Bloomfield WR 183 v (LL) Antoine Benneteau (FRA) WR 1518 R1: (7) Jamie Baker WR 269 v (Q) Clément Morel (FRA) 568
Unfortunately, both Brits are in the top quarter of the draw, but with the other players in that quarter being Adam Feeney (Aus) WR 343 and Joseph Sirianni (Aus) WR 286, both of whom are also due to play qualifiers in R1, it'll need a disaster to avoid us getting at least a semi-finalist out of it.
On Tuesday, Richard is 3rd on Court B not before 13.00 GMT and Jamie is 5th on Court A at about 16.00 GMT.
No Brits in the doubles, surprisingly.
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Should be a nice straightforward start to the week from Jamie. I have a feeling if Jamie and Richard meet, then the Baker boy will come out on top. Certainly, I'm expecting Jamie to make the semi final here. Should round off a nice few weeks on the Future circuit ready for him to make a triumphant return to challengers.
-- Edited by john at 00:52, 2007-03-20
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
R1: (1) Richard Bloomfield WR 183 beat (LL) Antoine Benneteau (FRA) WR 1518 by 7-6(1) 6-7(3) 6-4 R1: (7) Jamie Baker WR 269 beat (Q) Clément Morel (FRA) 568 by 7-6(7) 7-6(6)
R2: (1) Richard Bloomfield WR 183 v Ouanna/Feeney R2: (7) Jamie Baker WR 269 v Bourgeois or Sirianni
Bloomers made unbelievably heavy weather of beating a LL with just one ranking point and Jamie was taken to 9-7 and 8-6 t/bs, but at least they both lived to fight another day. Tsonga took two t/bs to get past qualifier Charly Villeneuve too, so there must be something odd in the Poitiers air!
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!