There's a strong British presence here, but Ben Davis has really drawn the short straw. Top seed David Souto is ranked in the top 10, having won two Grade 1s, a Grade 2 and last week's Spanish Grade 3 this year, for a 24-1 W-L record
R1 (L32)
(1) David Souto (VEN) v Ben Davis (GBR) (3) Alastair Barnes (GBR) v Mike Vermeer (LUX) Tom Allen (GBR) v Scott Griekspoor (NED) (7) Pavel Krainik (CAN) v Tom Gutteridge (GBR) Laureano Agullo Jean (ESP) v (4) Ahmed El Menshawy (GBR) Taro Daniel (JPN) v Nick Jones(GBR) Oliver Golding (GBR) v Michal Kozelsky (CZE)
Having seen the drawsheet today (yesterday the links were messed up, so it was only possible to deduce pairings from the oop) I see that both Tom Allen and Tom Gutteridge are in the draw with WCs. In the case of Tom A that will be because he is based at the academy hosting this event (the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy), and I guess that Tom G must be based here as well. Both acquitted themselves well, given it was Tom G's first ITF main draw.
R1 (L32)
(1) David Souto (VEN) d. Ben Davis (GBR) 6-1 6-1 Mike Vermeer (LUX) d. (3) Alastair Barnes (GBR) 7-5 5-7 6-4 (WC) Tom Allen (GBR) d. Scott Griekspoor (NED) 6-2 6-4 (4) Ahmed El Menshawy (GBR) d. Laureano Agullo Jean (ESP) 6-3 6-2 (7) Pavel Krainik (CAN) d. (WC) Tom Gutteridge (GBR) 6-3 6-4 (SE) Taro Daniel (JPN) d. Nick Jones(GBR) 7-5 6-1 Michal Kozelsky (CZE) d. (Q) Oliver Golding (GBR) 6-3 6-3
R2
Mike Vermeer (LUX) v (WC) Tom Allen (GBR) (4) Ahmed El Menshawy (GBR) v Alvaro Iturriaga Romero (SPA)
(WC) Tom Allen (GBR) d. Mike Vermeer (LUX) 6-3 6-4 (4) Ahmed El Menshawy (GBR) d. Alvaro Iturriaga Romero (ESP) 6-4 6-3
QF
(WC) Tom Allen (GBR) v (LL) Adam Pavlasek (CZE) / (6) Pavel Liska (CZE) Kevin Griekspoor (NED) v (4) Ahmed El Menshawy (GBR)
Ahmed has the chance to complete a British double over the Dutch twins. The identity of Tom's opponent is a puzzle. According to the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy site it is the lucky loser, but the ITF have Liska beating him in round 1, and looking at his previous results it is hard to believe that Pavlasek has reached the quarters here for the loss of just 4 games.
Doubles SF
Golding/Jones (GBR) v (4) Iturriaga Romero (ESP) / Uchiyama (JPN) Griekspoor / Griekspoor (NED) v (2) Barnes / El Menshawy (GBR)
(LL) Adam Pavlasek (CZE) d. (WC) Tom Allen (GBR) 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) (4) Ahmed El Menshawy (GBR) d. Kevin Griekspoor (NED) 7-6(0) 6-2
SF
(4) Ahmed El Menshawy (GBR) v (2) Stanislav Poplavskyy (UKR)
Ahmed's first Grade 2 semi, and another win would give him the British number 1 spot. However the Ukrainian is in good form winning one of the 2 previous Spanish tournaments, and a finalist in the other.
Excellent news in the doubles, where we are guaranteed a title
Doubles SF
Golding/Jones (GBR) d. (4) Iturriaga Romero (ESP) / Uchiyama (JPN) 6-4 6-2 (2) Barnes / El Menshawy (GBR) d. Griekspoor / Griekspoor (NED) 6-1 5-7 [11-9]
The Dutch twins must be sick of the Brits this week
Final
Golding/Jones (GBR) v (2) Barnes / El Menshawy (GBR)
