The second Serbian Grade 2 is slightly stronger than the first, and George Morgan is unlucky to miss out on a Special Exempt. At the time the qualifying draw was made he was on the alternates list here, and though some below him eventually got in as alternates, that was too late for George to be offered an SE.
Richard Gabb, Lewis Burton and Ashley Hewitt were in qualifying, with only Ashley negotiating the qualies as a Lucky Loser. First round action today included another fine win for Tom Allen over a top 100 player, but another disappointing result for James Marsalek.
R1 (L32)
(Q) Ivan Turudic (CRO) defeated James Marsalek (GBR) 6-1 6-2 Tom Allen (GBR) defeated (5) Mick Lescure (FRA) 6-4 6-4 (LL) Ashley Hewitt (GBR) defeated (LL) Victor Baluda (RUS) 6-4 5-7 7-5 (SE) Tomas Hanzlik (CZE) defeated (WC) David Livingston (GBR) 6-0 6-1 (6) Jack Carpenter (GBR) defeated (Q) Ralf Steinbach (GER) 4-6 6-3 6-0
R2
(LL) Kalle Averfalk (SWE) v Tom Allen (GBR) (7) Romain Arneodo (FRA) v (LL) Ashley Hewitt (GBR) (6) Jack Carpenter (GBR) v Ahmed Triki (TUN)
George got a WC for the men's future event in nottingham.
Thanks - it makes more sense for George to play there, along with Andrew Bettles and Oliver Golding, as it enables the Junior Davis Cup squad to be together for longer in preparation, on a more suitable surface (the finals in San Luis Potosi in 2 weeks time are on hard courts)
DavidC wrote:Thanks - it makes more sense for George to play there, along with Andrew Bettles and Oliver Golding, as it enables the Junior Davis Cup squad to be together for longer in preparation, on a more suitable surface (the finals in San Luis Potosi in 2 weeks time are on hard courts)
Really? That's great, i expect the side to function much better on hardcourts
Tom Allen (GBR) d. (LL) Kalle Averfalk (SWE) 6-2 6-2 (7) Romain Arneodo (FRA) d. (LL) Ashley Hewitt (GBR) 6-2 2-6 6-1 (6) Jack Carpenter (GBR) d. Ahmed Triki (TUN) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-1
QF
Richard Muzaev (RUS) v Tom Allen (GBR) (6) Jack Carpenter (GBR) v (2) Damir Dzumhur (BIH)
One more win would take Jack above Oliver as top ranked boy, though Ahmed (playing in Kentucky) could also overtake
No top spot for Jack but Tom makes his third Grade 2 semi, and is just one win away from the top 100. However top seed Mate Zsiga, last year's Tennis Europe U16 Masters champion and currently top 40 ITF, is a formidable opponent.
QF
Tom Allen (GBR) d. Richard Muzaev (RUS) 3-6 6-4 6-2 (2) Damir Dzumhur (BIH) d. (6) Jack Carpenter (GBR) 6-1 6-3
Tom is quite consistent and is moving up the rankings. What kind of game does he play?
Tom is very consistent, having only once failed to win a match in the main draw in the last year. He rarely plays in the UK, being based in Spain, so I haven't seen him play - hence all I can tell you is that he is left-handed, hails from Surrey originally and gets nearly all his points on clay (a potential problem as all the major junior tournaments after next week are on hard courts). If he had as many doubles points as any of our other top 10 boys he would be in the top 100 now - but I don't expect training at a Spanish academy focuses much on doubles skills.
