Week 14 Challenger $35k+H San Luis Potosi, MEX

steven · Tennis legend

Week 14 Challenger $35k+H San Luis Potosi, MEX

Vandenburg · Futures level

ward needs a solid performance here,season hasnt got going yet.

steven · Tennis legend

QR1: (WC) Oliver Golding UNR beat Marco Aurei Nunez (MEX) UNR by 5 & 2

QR2: (WC) Oliver Golding UNR lost to (q1) Julio Cesar Campozano (ECU) WR 385 by 3 & 3 cry

Took full advantage of the dream QR1 draw and didn't get disgraced against the top seed, he's got to be happy with that for his first go at Challenger qualifying.

L32: James Ward WR 283 v Joao Souza (BRA) WR 243

An OK R1 draw, but as with Oliver in qualifyng, the winner is likely to face the top seed in R2, Horacio Zeballos (ARG) WR 126.

steven · Tennis legend

Souza hit a CH of 188 in February because he qualified and reached the semis of the same Challenger last year, except that it was held a couple of weeks earlier. His only experience of playing a Brit is when Robert Dee was across the net from him in doubles in Colombia last year - Dee & Kane took 6 games off Souza & Miele too!

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Souza looks to be an out and out clay courter, so it will be interesting to see how Ward gets on against him.

Seeing how they've both played this season, anything other than a Souza win would be a bit of a shock though

steven · Tennis legend

I agree, but it's still a relatively ok draw for Wardy, I didn't give him much chance of getting through R1 whoever he faced. Brave of him to have a go on clay though!

Vandenburg · Futures level

you no how we call them grass court clowns, is there like a spanish or french translation for when brits play on clay, meaning clay court clown?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

ForeverDelayed wrote:

Souza looks to be an out and out clay courter, so it will be interesting to see how Ward gets on against him.

Seeing how they've both played this season, anything other than a Souza win would be a bit of a shock though

One of the denizens of MTF seems to be under the impression that James did in fact win. No indication of the score, needless to say, just a statement that it was info he was getting from his "investors"! Presume he's a big gambler...! disbelief

If it's true, serves the b*gger right! biggrin

Vandenburg · Futures level

any more confirmation yet? never trust mtf.

steven · Tennis legend

Still MTF, but a Brazilian (posting under a Zimbabwean flag, but we'll skate over that) seems to have confirmed it with a score:

L32: James Ward WR 291 beat Joao Souza (BRA) WR 244 by 6-3 3-6 6-3 biggrin

Very impressive under the circs

However, if he is to be the first Brit since Martin Lee at Telde in 2006 (also the only tournament where Bloomers has won a Challenger match on clay, I believe!) to reach the QFs of a clay court Challenger, he's likely to have to beat (1) Horacio Zeballos WR 132 to get there, which is probably beyond him at this stage.

freerider · Futures level

very nice result. it has renewed my confidence in him!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

steven wrote:

[...] if [James Ward] is to be the first Brit since Martin Lee at Telde in 2006 (also the only tournament where Bloomers has won a Challenger match on clay, I believe!) to reach the QFs of a clay court Challenger, he's likely to have to beat (1) Horacio Zeballos WR 132 to get there, which is probably beyond him at this stage.

Unfortunately, it will be the top seed in the second round for James: Zeballos beat Mitsuhashi in two closely fought tie-breaks, 7-6(4) 7-6(5). hmm

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Surprised at that result, but very happy to be after a great win for James, and maybe after this win he should stick to playing on the clay rather than the hard courts which haven't worked out for him at all this year.

I'd be surprised if he beat Zeballos, but at least he's got one win from this event and got his confidence going.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:

steven wrote:

[...] if [James Ward] is to be the first Brit since Martin Lee at Telde in 2006 (also the only tournament where Bloomers has won a Challenger match on clay, I believe!) to reach the QFs of a clay court Challenger, he's likely to have to beat (1) Horacio Zeballos WR 132 to get there, which is probably beyond him at this stage.

Unfortunately, it will be the top seed in the second round for James: Zeballos beat Mitsuhashi in two closely fought tie-breaks, 7-6(4) 7-6(5).

And that match is the second on Court 8 today, the first (Ferreiro/Salamanca) having kicked off at 18.00 BST. Fingers crossed...

steven · Tennis legend

L16: James Ward WR 291 lost to (1) Horacio Zeballos (ARG) WR 132 by 0 & 3 cry

A pity, but no great surprise - James still did better than expected this week.