Week 24 - Belgium F2 ($15,000) - Binche (Clay)

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Week 24 - Belgium F2 ($15,000) - Binche (Clay)

steven · Tennis legend

Alex saves match point and holds for 5-5*

DF · Tennis legend

Whew! 6 - 6

steven · Tennis legend

Into a final set tiebreak. So close - Alex has won 87 points so far to FFS's 86.

DF · Tennis legend

All on the tiebreak

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Got to love a bit of squeaky culo time - as long as Alex comes out on top in the end,

steven · Tennis legend

Tiebreak, FFS serving first:

*1-0 m/b Alex

*1-1 m/b FFS

2-1*
2-2*
*3-2 m/b Alex

*3-3 m/b FFS

changeover

steven · Tennis legend

4-3*
5-3* m/b Alex

*5-4
*5-5 m/b FFS (in more ways than one - double fault)

5-6* m/b FFS

match point
6-6* m/b Alex

phew!

changeover

steven · Tennis legend

*7-6 m/b Alex

match point
*7-7 m/b FFS

8-7* match point

He's done it!

FINAL: (5) Alex Ward WR 343 beat Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) WR 519 (CH 517 last month) by 2-6 6-3 7-6(7)

It's Alex's 6th Futures singles title (3rd this year) and 2nd at 15K level and makes him provisional GB no. 6 on Monday week.

freerider · Futures level

great win for Alex pleased he toughed it out, but got to feel a bit for the other guy too - must be hugely gutting for him.

DF · Tennis legend

Hurrah!

paulisi · Tennis legend

Excellent win - really done well since his injury.

Straight back to UK and back on grass for Wimbledon tomorrow. Hope he can pick up a few points.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Fine win for Alex. Really pleased to see him doing so well at the moment. Looks like in the end, he just coped that bit better with the pressure.

During the match, there were 29 games and just 5 breaks of serve (17%). In the TB, 11 of the 16 points went against serve (69%). Nerves must have been jangling a bit for both players.

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Very happy for Alex. I was wary after the first set but he really came back and it's great to see.

steven · Tennis legend

Alex does indeed jump from GB no. 11 to GB no. 6 - he is up 46 at 312, just 2 places off his career high, which he set last September.