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

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

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

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

Neil holds to love to win the set 7-5. After a tight set, Neil won the last eight points. Good timing.

steven · Tennis legend

Just realised this must be on by now and probably on bet365!

*2-3 in the 2nd.

Miriambee · Futures level

4-4 in the second set, Neil won the 1st.

Tennis Nut · Social player

Neil Receives the same level of help and funding as the 'chosen few' you refer to. He is a fe years older but as you say he had a few bad injuries. A ver nice quiet guy with a level head a good work ethic.

I suspect these chosen few don't request the mentions they get. All they want to do is get on with trying to become a top pro. The LTA obviously mention them because they need some evidence of their efforts.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

SF: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 beat (1) Marek Michalicka (CZE) WR 348 by 7-5 7-6

F: (7) Neil Pauffley WR 533 v (6) Roman Jebavy (CZE) WR 538 (CH 404 in May)

steven · Tennis legend

Great to see Neil doing so well!

Jebavy took out the other top two seed today and in fact, he is on a 9-match winning streak, having won the title in Roznov pod Radhostem last week.

This week's run will, as things stand, see Neil jump from GB no. 16 to GB no. 12 (ahead of Fitzy, Cox, Slabba & Corrie) on Monday week and make it certain that he will break into the top 500 for the first time.

(his QF win might have been enough for that but it wasn't certain)

korriban · Challenger level

Not going to plan. 0-2 already in set 3 with all the momentum on the other side of the net. Needs something to happen quickly to get back in this.

Thanks for taking action as requested Neil. Now 2-2! If you could now win the next 4 games!

-- Edited by korriban on Sunday 11th of November 2012 10:31:03 AM

korriban · Challenger level

4-3*

Meanwhile over in Greece, Germany's Robin Kern wins the Futures event there. Remember Robin beat Liam in the Junior Wimbledon Final couple of years back, but has been a slowish starter on the men's tour. He's just gone Win, Final, Win in his Greece futures trip, so it's starting to click - and will make the top 500, probably alongside Oli by year end. One to watch next year for sure. Unfortunate picture on the ATP website - looks like something out of an old war film.

EDIT - sorry, Liam beat Robin at Wimbledon. It was Luke Saville I was thinking of. Going loopy

-- Edited by korriban on Sunday 11th of November 2012 10:51:34 AM

korriban · Challenger level

Neil wins 6-4 in third!

Hope he does well next week in what I presume will be his last tournament of the year. Entry list does look MUCH tougher, however as available tournaments dry up. To come back from long term injury and do what he's done so rapidly, and to produce such consistency of performance is so impressive. He must have a very strong head on his shoulders, with a great will to succeed, and be serious in his approach. Half of me wishes he could be out in Miami with Andy's training team, sure he'd benefit exceptionally to build on his progress.

Well done anyway. Viva Slough!

-- Edited by korriban on Sunday 11th of November 2012 11:05:48 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Great to see biggrin

Not bad from Neil, having started on the circuit again in March unranked after 20 months out due to bad injury problems. As Steven said earlier, he will now rise from GB No 16 to GB No 12 on Monday week ( unless Ed Corrie or even moreso David Rice go a bit mad in their US Challenger ), and with Alex Ward having Czech title points to come off from last year ( Czech Republic seems a good hunting ground ) and Oli Golding Turkish points, he will very possibly end the year as GB No 10 at least. He is now level with Oli at joint 10th in points won this year and, whereas Oli is we understand finished for the year, Neil is due to czech in for another futures next week.

Neil will also ( more importantly ) rise to around the WR 450 mark in the Monday week rankings. And he is still only 22, having lost the best part of 2 years due to injuries.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 11th of November 2012 12:22:28 PM

korriban · Challenger level

Neil won the first set this morning in the final against the form horse Jebavy. However now 0-4* in set 2 so looking like a set 3 showdown on the cards. Neil "keep calm and carry on".

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Second set 6-2 to Jebavy.

Into the decider we go.

christian · Intermediate Club Player

Looks like the momentum is still with Jebavy as Neil goes an early break down 2-0. Hope he can battle back but will be tough to turn round.

christian · Intermediate Club Player

Lo and behold he's done it, back to 2-2, come on Neil.