This is the strongest Grade A out there apart the Slams. It begins on 21st May. Entry List.
Main draw: Daniel Evans, David Rice, Graeme Dyce, Daniel Cox. Qualies: Neil Pauffley, Josh Milton.
Heliovaara is playing for the first time in ages, so Dyce will be able to resume the partnership once again. Hopefully Cox will team up with Elias like they did the last time they were together at the same place.
David Rice [31] vs. Johnny Hamui [26] of the USA. Daniel Cox [50] vs. Emanuele Molina [639] of Italy. Neil Pauffley [145] vs. Andrew Thomas [27] of Australia. Daniel Evans [25] vs. Rupesh Roy [38] of India. Graeme Dyce [57] vs. Alejandro Gonzalez [44] of Colombia.
Hamui isn't weak clay like almost all the other American kids because he grew up in Mexico, but it isn't his best surface by any means. It's going to be tough but Rice can take this.
Molina seems to be fairly ordinary by the look of his results. Cox should win this if he plays properly.
Pauffley has a tough match against someone who outranks him by over a hundred places. But Thomas is essentially a fast surface player (as is Pauffley!). Neil has been playing a lot on clay in the last few weeks, so hopefully there'll be a massive upset.
Roy, like almost all other Indians, isn't comfortable on clay, but he had a good run last week. Evans will be the favourite in any case!
Dyce has the toughest match of all of them. Gonzalez is a clay specialist and is inside the ATP top 900. But if Dyce plays like he did against Eysseric...
shame to see Evans losing but I guess the quick flight from the UK after the tour final was less than ideal. Hopefully he can get some points from the doubles.
bravo to Cox and Rice though, good to see them winning
__________________
To look at a thing is quite different from seeing a thing and one does not see anything until one sees its beauty
David Rice [31] vs. Damian Hume [39] of South Africa.
Coxy's opponent hasn't been decided and thus he'll play tomorrow.
Ricey plays today against someone who is probably the weakest player in the top 75 (well, the most overranked - no idea what his game is like) since most of his points come from Bangladesh and weak African tourneys. But he did well to win a G3 in Spain a few weeks ago without dropping a set. Ricey should win if he plays like yesterday.