I dunno if all of you have read the info Slabba gave me about his rd1 qualies match here and last week's matches in Korea...posted it on britishtennis.net:

""It was a good win as Moon qualified last year beating some good players. I played well and face Marvin Rolle of the Bahamas in rd2 tomorrow, he's a pretty solid all-rounder. This week the courts are fast and conditions are also slightly windy but not too bad. We're playing right next to a theme park though, every time a rollercoaster goes by I can hear screaming, can be quite off-putting ! "

Looking back at last week's 15K in Korea (where he qualified before losing 6-4, 6-1 to 2nd seed Motomura in the main draw) Alex said, "I came through some tough matches last week, courts were nice but it was not far from the sea and very windy ! In my first round qualies match against a wildcard I was 6-2, 5-4 up and serving for the match but got broken and it went to a 3rd. Started raining at 6-2, 5-7, 1-1 and we had to go indoors on some brand new courts, slow and bouncy - quite similar to Bath. I managed to tough it out and win 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 , had to play really well as the guy was very solid, no mistakes at all."

"In rd2 qualies I played another solid Korean with a great single-handed backhand. I was set point down in the first set breaker - he led 6-5 on his serve but I managed to pull it back and came through 7-6, 6-2. In the final qualies round I took the first set 6-4 but fell 1-4 down in the 2nd. I managed to pull things back and win 6-4, 6-4 producing some really aggressive play right when I needed it. These wins helped me start to build up some confidence but I had a feeling I'd draw Motomura in the first round, I don't know why ! I'd watched him play in Japan, he won 2 futures in a row, plays very solid off both sides and is quite quick and skillful about the court. I started well against him, led 4-2 in the first set and had a break point for 5-2 but he saved it with a winner out of nowhere. I was playing really aggressive, taking lots of shots on and hitting him off the court, hardly losing any points. However, when serving at 4-3 I fell 0-30 down on my serve - on both points I drew him out wide but missed the easy forehand into the open court, he then smashed two return winners to break back for 4-4. We had another long game at 5-4 but he somehow managed to break again to take the set. I was gutted to lose the set after playing so well, felt robbed and lost a bit of composure in the 2nd, started missing more and went down 6-4, 6-1."

(6)Alexander Slabinsky (GBR) d. (11)David To (AUS) 7-6(4) 7-5

(5)Frederik Nielsen (DEN) vs (q)Alexander Slabinsky (GBR)

Good close win over To! Hoping for the best against Nielsen!!!

Drew wrote:

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With his luck he will get Nielsen !!!

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Sorry Slabba...will keep my mouth shut from now on !!

(5)Frederik Nielsen (DEN) d. (q)Alexander Slabinsky (GBR) 6-1 6-3