Impressive stuff from Josh, serving really, really big...just got so many cheap pts, hit 3 aces in a game a few times. As I mentioned in the commentary, he used the backhand slice very effectively today, suddenly slowing things right down and getting it really deep...it caught Gojo completely off guard a number of times and he mistimed it. Josh was pretty solid from the back too...very clinical when he got the chance. However, Gojo didn't really have that much to hurt him, decent serve but nothing special and Josh made most of the returns after a couple of games. Just a solid player from the back too...hit some good forehands but was never going to blast Josh off the court

Josh did have to up his level though and play a different game to last night where Norfeldt was a very flashy player...would smash two aces and then hit two doubles. Josh served well and just kept it consistent from the back. Today he had to be more aggressive.

Next up is either Durek or Elias...interesting one. Elias has a really great forehand and good touch at the net. Durek's quite erratic from the back but has got a huge serve, one of the top 5 in this tourney...not as good as Ryderstedt or Goodall's (which are ATP standard) but one of the best after those 2. The courts are pretty fast so I'll go with Durek to shade it in 3.

I think Josh will make the final here, he's definately getting some form back and looking confident after the tough spell he's had. Ryderstedt is still massive fav to win tho, imo. Should make the latter stages in the two Nottingham 15Ks and then he'll be moving up to 275ish and back to challenger level. Until December there's not too much to defend so hopefully he can end the year about 250ish, so securing Aussie Open qualies place.

It'll been quality this week, getting to watch the Brits. Hadn't seen Kasiri play since 2004, I was impressed....definately backed up my feeling that he's the most promising prospect from 500 upwards atm. First set he was letting Ryderstedt dictate and hit forehands with a lot of topspin...playing more of an outdoor hard game and was getting hit off the court. 2nd set, he was a lot more aggressive particularly off the forehand side, flattening out the shots and really matching the Swede, some amazing rallies there...you wouldn't have thought there were 350 ranking places between them. Miles doesn't have a particularly big serve, gets a lot in but doesn't force many return errors....however from the back he can hit big winners off either side. The backhand is particularly dangerous, the backhand down the line looks like the trademark Kasiri shot. If he stays injury free he'll surely be top 500 end of year.

Bamford is an excellent mover around the court, but from the back he had little to trouble Elias who dictated play for most of the match with his forehand and Bamford wasn't consistent enough. He didn't serve particularly well either, very low first serve percentage. His strength is at the net, didn't serve-volley at all but regularly tried to chip-charge and rush Elias.....If he'd served better he might have sneaked it as Elias let him back into it at times...the Portuguese teenager led 6-2, 5-3...and 4-2 in the breaker but lost the breaker 7-4.

john wrote:

---

Josh won 6-3 6-2. A little out on the score there Sheddie lol, but I know it's very very difficult to follow these matches and the result is the main thing. :D

---

lol, I felt there hadnt been enough games for 7-5, 6-3

yeah its tough with no scoreboard on the court and I missed a no of games from 4-3 1st set...was having to guess, Josh hadnt looked like breaking up to that pt so I just assumed he still hadnt   

Thanks for the commentary Sheddie. 

Drew wrote:

---

1 from 4 is disapointing...go Josh !!!

---

Was kinda expected from the rankings...Kasiri played a great match, against most other players in this field he would have won in 2. and Rushby must have played well to take Paukkhu (who's won back to back 15Ks) to 6 and 3. 

 

Durek beat Elias 6-3 6-4

Thanks for that article

The actual process doesnt seem to hard, just need to buy a webcam for about 10quid and then buy/download windows media encoder....problem is gonna be the laptop and then the wireless internet connection with it lol...wonder whether the LTA would let us borrow a laptop and set it up for the week

They're interested in getting more publicity to their tournaments and this would be a great way...maybe could email the suggestion to Rhian or Roger Draper, mentioning Sweden's live streaming this week.

hmmmm