Week 4 - Great Britain F2 ($10,000) - Preston (Hard)

paulisi · Tennis legend

RE: Week 4 - Great Britain F2 ($10,000) - Preston (Hard)

steven · Tennis legend

Ed broke in the 1st game but Harrison broke back in the 4th and has had break points to win 4 games in a row. *2-3 deuce

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Ed lost the first set by 2-6, but is currently leading by 4-2* in the second....

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Ed fought like the devil for I don't know how long to preserve his slender lead in the eighth game of the second set (lost count of the GPs & BPs), but he eventually prevailed & then broke Harrison again to 30 in the next game to take it by 6-3 to level the match & take the final into a decider.

Spectator · All-time great

Would be delighted to see the Skupskis become GB's answer to the Bryan Brothers (whose interview after winning the AO certainly makes the point that playing "within the family" in a stable partnership has its merits). Have always admired the way that the elder Mr Skupski didn't sulk over lack of support but just got down to work and got on with it ... and also his decency later on towards those who had slighted him. Rather like Mr Marray, actually.

I was surprised by the initial comment that has inspired debate -- Skupski elder is #51 in the world for a reason, and his brother isn't someone who just picked up a tennis racket. But I don't think that it's British defeatism at play -- I do think (witness several posts over the past few weeks) that we in the UK tend to discount US university success more than we should ... so that people may not have realised just what the unranked younger Skupski brought to the table.

At any rate, congratulations to them, and all the best to Mr Corrie, too!

steven · Tennis legend

I was trying to think whether Ed had won a Futures singles title before - turns out he hasn't, though he has won 8 Futures doubles title, 6 of them last year.

Danger now though - Harrison has another bp in the 7th game ... saved.

2-6 6-3 *3-3 deuce

steven · Tennis legend

Ed holds on for 4-3* in the 3rd

Shhh · Challenger level

I echo all you say above Spectator, I have a lot of respect for Ken. 51 in the world yet I sometimes feel he hasn't been as sought after as other partners. I very much follow his results hoping for the best.

I felt his team up with brother, coming from university system.......a system which I actually rate very highly, is an exciting development. It may be for this one tournament but I'd love top think that if it could become a regular partnership, Ken may get the settled (and successful) partnership to take him to a personal high ranking wise.

My brief comment earlier in the thread obviously dosen't capture and this sentiment, nor the fact that I thought Thornley/Rice would prevail was because I rate them highly as well. I think the best thing for me would be to avoid brief comments on message boards altogether

But please don't anyone call me negative again, I have so much optimism for the Brits I am actually a deluded fool!