With Marcus Willis and Alex Ward upsetting seeds (and 6th seed falling) dare i say there is a real chance of all brit q/fs?????
Given that we only have two guaranteed quarter finalists I would be very pleased if we got all 8 slots. While 5 of the 6 other matches see the brits as favourite (based on rankings) all have the potential to be competitive.
R1: (1) David Rice / Sean Thornley WR 392 beat Daniel Evans / Tom Burn WR 1417 : 6-2, 6-4 R1: Joshua Milton / Marcus Willis WR 2501 beat Julien Obry / Mathieu Rodrigues (FRA/FRA) UNR : 6-1, 6-2 R1: Toby Martin / George Morgan WR 1730 beat (3) Richard Becker / Martin Fischer (GER/AUT) WR 1049 : 6-3, 1-6 [12-10] R1: (WC) Neal Skupski / Christian Harrison (USA) UNR lost to Kevin Griekspoor / Antal Van Der Duim (NED/NED) WR 1327 : 6-1, 6-3 R1: (4) Daniel Smethurst / Alexander Ward WR 1312 beat Andrew Fitzpatrick / Joshua Ward-Hibbert WR 1838 : 6-2, 6-1 R1: (WC) Scott / Clayton / Richard Gabb UNR beat (WC) Alan MacDonald / Jonathon Pankhurst UNR : 6-3, 3-6 [12-10] R1: Tom Farquharson / Neal Pauffley UNR beat (2) Lewis Burton / Ed Corrie WR 574 : 7-6(5), 6-3
QF: (1) David Rice / Sean Thornley WR 392 v Joshua Milton / Marcus Willis WR 2501 QF: Toby Martin / George Morgan WR 1730 v Sergei Kritiouk / Matthieu Roy (RUS/FRA) WR 1556 QF: (4) Daniel Smethurst / Alexander Ward WR 1312 v Kevin Griekspoor / Antal Van Der Duim (NED/NED) WR 1327 QF: (WC) Scott / Clayton / Richard Gabb UNR v Tom Farquharson / Neal Pauffley UNR
The one I would be concerned about is Dan Evens match with Van der Duim. I only saw a bit of Dan's match yesterday but he was quite rusty, hitting a lot of loose shots. The first set ebbed and flowed according to how well Evo was playing. The Dutchman just blasts away so it will take a bit of guile and concentration for Dan to get on top. The other Brits seem to be playing well but they are up against good opposition so fingers crossed.
The one I would be concerned about is Dan Evens match with Van der Duim. I only saw a bit of Dan's match yesterday but he was quite rusty, hitting a lot of loose shots. The first set ebbed and flowed according to how well Evo was playing. The Dutchman just blasts away so it will take a bit of guile and concentration for Dan to get on top. The other Brits seem to be playing well but they are up against good opposition so fingers crossed.
Dan is always a concern because you never know which Dan is going to show up. That said he really shouldn't be rusty because he has played eight British Tour matches in the last two weeks. I would guess that his problems yesterday were more down to his usual lack of focus against players who he should beat quite easily.
Quite a close one between Marcus and Toby - 6-7(7) 7-6(6) 3-3*
Marcus led 4-2* in the first and had at least one point for a double break. He didn't take, was broke back and lost the set. Toby had a match point in the second set tie break but Marcus saved it with an ace.