The top 3 seeds in qualifying have all got byes into the main draw, but the 4th seed, our own Andrew Fitzpatrick, plays Fabio Lavazza from Italy for a place in the main draw. Lavazza is 27 years old, and has lost all five of his pro matches, the last one being in Nov 2005.
Alright guys, typing from the luvly benin city itself, to reply to the comment above, pakistan was shocking while i was there given the bombs etc... as of yet i havent come into to much trouble here. The locals are so friendly, just the tribal people you have to be aware of, if i stay in at night eveything is fine. just a hassle to do basic things like eat, drink, and shower. Like ,my room is a sauna, and i have a bucket to wash in! won my match 2 and 2 today, guy was massive, but only had a big serve.
yea thats me into the main draw, i had a chance of being straight in, but i pulled out 3 other seeds and not me, some would say unlucky, but i didnt mind getting the match practise to be fair. Yea kinda their in the next room to us, along with john Mcgahon. They took away the +h around december so, just a standard 15,000$. I have no clue who im playing, but apparently the qualifiers have good draws, so im hoping i got a good draw, given i won sheffield british tour before i came out here and with a good draw, i think i could get quite far.
U will probably be able to find out who im playing before me!
Well done Fitzy! Hopefully some success makes the trip seem worthwhile, I'm sure it will if you win a MD match and get a point anyway ...
In case you're still around, you've got Antoine Tassart (FRA) WR 1031, 23 years old. He lost 3 & 2 to Brit Dominic Inglot in Frinton last year last year but beat Ed Allinson 3 & 5 and Jim May 4-6 6-4 6-3 in Felixstowe the previous week before going out to Josh Milton 3 & 2 in the final qualifying round. (yes, I had to check I'd got those four results the right way round!)
He did ok towards the end of last year, but has only played once this year, getting stuffed 1 & 0 by an unranked Frenchman who hardly ever plays.
I'm not sure what you can work out from that except that to say he blows hot and cold would be putting it mildly! I hope he has a cold day in the extreme heat when he plays you!
-- Edited by steven at 18:00, 2008-02-17
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
OK, let's pick up the rest of the Brits in the main draw:
L32: Maniel Bains WR 1048 v Mario Tupy (AUT) WR 1203 L32: (4) Edward Seator WR 528 v Alexei Filenkov (RUS) WR 891 L32: (Q) Andrew Fitzpatrick WR 1491 v Antoine Tassart (FRA) WR 1031
I forgot to mention that the 'reward' for winning that last match is likely to be a meeting with no. 2 seed Bogdan-Victor Leonte, who's got Irishman John McGahon in R1. That'd be fun ...
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
i think ed seator is going to win this week....he plays filenkov 1st round. ive seen him practicing and he looks like hes playing sum ball. out here in this heat his dog fighting attitude and pure heart tennis will surely win him thru. i think he ill do well. Indian Warrior.
i also think john magan of ireland will be a force to be reckoned with. this guy takes playing with ur heart on ur sleeve to new levels. i thort bagdathis was good....but this guys something else. he has number 2 seed bogdan leonte 1st round. a tough draw but if the big bog isnt dropping his usual bomb down then the big irish bear can take him from the back. come on john boy!! give me a J....give me a O....give me a H.....give me a N.....JOHN!!!