Week 12 - Futures F4 (10k) - Bath, Great Britain

wolf · Tennis legend

RE: Week 12 - Futures F4 (10k) - Bath, Great Britain

steven · Tennis legend

Thanks again for all the info and reports, tennisfan84, it's great that one of us has been there on the ground for this Future, we'll miss that next week! In summary, then, we seem to have:

QF1: (1) Richard Bloomfield WR 328 beat Ken Skupski WR 669 by 7-6(?) 6-4 smile

QF4: (2) Josh Goodall WR 343 beat (Q) Andrej Martin (SVK) WR 1197 by 3 & 5 smile

SF1: (1) Richard Bloomfield WR 328 v (3) Carsten Ball (AUS) WR 359
SF2: (2) Josh Goodall WR 343 v (6) Gregoire Burquier (FRA) WR 576

Probably the best result we could have had in the all-Brit match - it would have been worrying for Bloomers if he had lost it, but it must be encouraging for Ken to have made both sets close.

I think I know the Final most of us would like (!), and I'll be very disappointed if we don't get it, but both of the opponents are in pretty good form - Burquier won Tipton recently and Ball reached the Final in Albufeira last week before suffering 'death by Machado' like so many players recently. Ball is of course the player who lost 7-6(4) 7-6(10) to Kasiri two weeks ago before gaining a 5-0 def. win against him last week ... and we still don't know what the default was for!

Edit: I think I've been showing the wrong ranking for Bloomers all week ashamed

- corrected above.

> Katharina Brown

Yes, a good prospect, it seems. The longer she can go without gaining too 'British' a mentality the better, I imagine! wink

GB top 25 (see link in sig below) updated ...

-- Edited by steven at 16:27, 2008-03-20

tennisfan84 · Junior player

No, not staying for the doubles unfortunately

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Its an all brit doubles final -
Bloomfield / Skupski vs Bamford / Goodall

So gone exactly with seeding semis were 1-2-3-4 and final is 1 vs 2

SF
(1)Richard Bloomfield/Kenneth Skupski (GBR) d. (4)Carsten Ball/Chris Eaton (AUS/GBR) 7-5 7-6(4)

(2)Neil Bamford/Joshua Goodall (GBR) d. (3)Ralph Grambow/Rasmus Norby (GER/DEN) 6-2 6-7(6) [10-3]

tennisfan84 · Junior player

Match reports from the mens quarters & Ladies 2nd Rd

Mens Quarter Finals

Joshua Goodall bt Andrej Martin 6-3, 7-5

Josh played the same quality tennis that he had been all week. Martin was outplayed throughout the first set and as a result showed his frustration as Goodall closed out the first with ease. Goodall chose to slice the majority of his backhands throughout the match which was interesting given how strong his backhand usually is. He moved Martin around the court with it allowing him to open up the space for his forehand.

Richard Bloomfield bt Ken Skupski 7-6, 6-4

Neither player was at the top of their games although the tennis was still a pretty high standard. The first set was won on the tiebreak where Skupski played a few loose points to let Bloomers run away with it. An early break in the second was enough for Bloomers to serve out the second set. The serving of both men was good but neither were able to make a big impact receiving. The ranking difference between the two wasnt evident and its easy to imagine Skupski moving up the ranking quicker than you can say Wimbledon wild card.

Ladies Second Round

Olivia Scarfi bt Jocelyn Rae 6-4,6-7,7-5

Olivia played at her best throughout the first set going 5-2 up before Rae broke back. At 5-4 in the first, Rae had 3 break points to level the set at 5-5 but couldnt convert. Scarfi wrapped up the set and broke early in the second. She served for it at 5-4 only to be broken and lose the second on a tiebreak. She went 3-0 up in the third only to go 5-4 down with Rae serving. Scarfi then proceeded to win the next 3 games. Scarfis groundstrokes were excellent throughout and she deserved the win but there is no doubt we have a potential star in Rae. Her composure throughout was cool and calm showing no emotion at all. Giving a very mature performance for her young years, definitely a player for the future.

Sarah Borwell bt Irene Bescos

Considering how well Borwell started, this match was a real struggle. Borwell quickly moved 4-2 up with some powerful hitting off her forehand wing. Bescos stepped up and won the next 4 games with some great counter punching to take the set 6-4. When Bescos went a break up in the second, it looked like the tournament would lose its top seed. But Borwell fought hard throughout the second taking it and squeezing a tight third 6-4.

Mailyne Andrieux bt Katharina Brown

Katharina has a fantastic all round game and fought throughout the match against her higher ranked opponent. After being pushed in the first set, she raised her game to fight for the second and what a fight it was. After saving numerous break points she forced the tie break and rushed to a 6-2 lead before taking the tie-break 7-5. Unfortunately her opponent raised her game to take the third set and the match. Katharina like Rae has a brilliant mentality on court showing little emotion and much focus. I predict good things this year at Junior Wimbledon

Count Zero · Tennis legend

now all we need is a all brit single sfinal

then hutch will cancel the event next year as its too comfortable.

Shhh · Challenger level

In view of other debates over the last week can I make the (negative) point that whilst Bloomers and Josh steam ahead (hooray!) that "lowly" 10k's are surely staged with the view that younger players can make their first inroads. Only Ken joined them in getting past the 2nd round and, whilst I hope for an all Brit final here in both singles and doubles, we surely shouldn't ignore that the tournament has dissappointed in that regard again.

tennisfan84 · Junior player

I agree, but if you're looking for a small positive, 15 year old George Morgan made it through to the final round of qualies with two good wins over ranked opponents so that's something.

Shhh · Challenger level

Good call, the best one of the week I think!

steven · Tennis legend

I agree that it's a bit sad that we're left with all our hopes in a 10K on two players who should be playing Challengers. cry

However, it was also a very good week for Burnham Arlidge, who went one better than George and qualified without needing a LL place. smile

Unfortunately, neither of them got any points for their efforts, and they weren't the only ones in that situation - see below.

Here's a short summary of those who did better or worse than 'expected' this week and whether those in the former category got any reward or not, i.e. the list works like the smileys on the top 25 table, but is extended to those outside the top 25:

Brits who got further than they were seeded to this week and got points:

- Slabba (already in QFs in FRA when unseeded, beating two slightly lower-ranked players)
- Ward (already in QFs in ESP when unseeded, beating two much lower-ranked players)
- Skupski (reached QFs in Bath when unseeded, beating no. 5 seed Kasiri)

Brits who got further than they were seeded to this week but got no points:

- Arlidge (beat two higher-ranked players to qualify for Bath)
- Kinsella (qualified in CAN by beating a player ranked about 600 places higher)
- Morgan (beat a higher-ranked player to reach the FQR in Bath)
- Cox (qualified in TUR when not seeded to, though someone else took out the top seed in his section)
- Boggo (reached FQR in Sunrise when not seeded in qualifying, though seeds taken out by others)

Brits who went out before their ranking suggested they should this week:

- Seator (lost to lower-ranked Grambow in R2 in Bath when seeded 4)
- Kasiri (lost to lower-ranked Skupski in R2 in Bath when seeded 5)
- Feaver (lost to lower-ranked Arlidge in Bath QR2 when seeded to qualify)
- Illingworth (lost to lower-ranked Oostdam in Bath QR2)
- Rushby (lost to lower-ranked Tomic in AUS, not really a shock)
- Bradshaw (lost to UNR in CAN)

-- Edited by steven at 14:40, 2008-03-21

-- Edited by steven at 15:50, 2008-03-21

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Good news in Bath (another all Brit final)

Semifinal
Richard BLOOMFIELD (GBR) (1) def Carsten BALL (AUS) (3) 7-6(4) 6-4
Joshua GOODALL (GBR) (2) def Gregoire BURQUIER (FRA) (6) 6-4 6-4

steven · Tennis legend

Great news

- they do get just about forgiven for 'playing down' in a 10K if they do actually reach the Final LOL

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Goodall for the title!

(But who!?

)

What about James Ward this week Steven?

-- Edited by johnnylad at 15:04, 2008-03-21

steven · Tennis legend

Changed, the fact he hasn't played anyone in the top 1000 yet made me forget he was unseeded, of course Poch-Gradin was taken out by the qualifier James beat in R2.

tennisfan84 · Junior player

I saw both matches, to be honest quite dull especially Bloomfields win. All serving with one mini break in the tie break. Goodall's win was much more comphrensive although he is still slicing his backhand which seems a little strange.