Week 45 - Czech Republic F8 ($10,000) - Opava (Carpet)

steven · Tennis legend

Week 45 - Czech Republic F8 ($10,000) - Opava (Carpet)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Neil's having a dabble in the doubles as well this week:

R1: Matej Maruscak & Radoslav Novodomec (SVK/SVK) UNR vs Neil Pauffley & Ondrej Vaculik (CZE) WR 2349

steven · Tennis legend

L32: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 beat Francesco Vilardo (ITA) WR 805 by 3 & 4

L16: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 v (Q) David Pavlik (CZE) WR 1544 (CH 1275 in Jan)

The other seed in Neil's quarter went out today

-- Edited by steven on Wednesday 7th of November 2012 07:05:44 PM

SMC1809 · All-time great

Neil won the first set 6-3 and it's 4-3* in the second.

steven · Tennis legend

Unexpectedly close, perhaps, but Neil has made his 9th QF of the year (his 6th since the start of September)

L16: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 beat (Q) David Pavlik (CZE) WR 1544 (CH 1275 in Jan) by 6-2 5-7 7-5

QF: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 v Otakar Lucak (CZE) WR 797

Lucak is the player who upset Oli in the QFs in Qatar last month.

korriban · Challenger level

There have been lots of those odd Oli upsets!

Neil has been quietly moving up the rankings, without much fanfare, seemingly from nowhere (he was formerly ranked, but started the 2012 season unranked with zero points) with a very solid and consistent points haul each week, and I recall a tournament win in Germany. I suspect there were 1 or 2 wildcards early in the season, but he's had to work his way up from qualifiers, so to be where he's got to is no mean feat from a standing start. Generally he beats who the rankings say he should beat (sometimes with a struggle) and has even shocked a few of the bigger "names".

Plus he's from Slough (my part of the world), which must be a good thing!

Don't know if he's one of the LTA's "chosen few". I don't think so, as there has been no fanfare, so if this is the case, it's all down to him.

It's good to see people like this, outperforming some of those who receive all the attention. Hope he does some damage this week or next.

Spectator · All-time great

Agreed. He and Willis were among the LTA "elect" I think when they were juniors (seem to remember they did well at junior Wimbledon in doubles). But then he didn't seem to be playing for a while. Good to see another player entering the fray and making progress.

indiana · Tennis legend

It is good to see Neil doing so well, well surpassing what he achieved before in the senior ranks. His long time out was due to injury problems, I don't know the particular details.

korriban · Challenger level

Just seen the full backstory on Neil, explaining that he didn't play a single ITF match in anger from Wimbledon in 2010 (he'd already got to a ranking inside 700 by then) all the way to March 2012, due to a series of very bad injuries. So he didn't even kick off his season in January! Makes his achievement this year even more praiseworthy. Only 2 "surprise" defeats were both to Ashley Hewitt, who I suspect may be one of those players who can have "Rosol" days from time to time.....

SMC1809 · All-time great

Neil won the first set 6-3 and its 3-3 in the second.

SMC1809 · All-time great

Neil breaks after a mammoth game (18 points I think) and will now serve for the match.

SMC1809 · All-time great

Neil holds to win 6-3 6-3.

indiana · Tennis legend

Good stuff. That win should just about squeeze Neil into the top 500 on Monday week. Hopefully one or two more smile

steven · Tennis legend

QF: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 beat Otakar Lucak (CZE) WR 797 by 3 & 3

SF: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 v (1) Marek Michalicka (CZE) WR 348 (CH 244 in Jul)

H2H 1-0, Neil beat him 4 & 4 in Bath in March when he was a wild card and the Czech was the no. 3 seed.

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Neil on a good run so far, last 4 weeks have been SF, QF, QF, SF at least.