Week 39 - Portugal F7 ($10,000) - Castelo Branco (Hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RE: Week 39 - Portugal F7 ($10,000) - Castelo Branco (Hard)

steven · Tennis legend

A good day in Portugal

QF: (1) Alex Ward WR 380 beat (Q) Thomas Bréchemier (FRA) WR 1116 (CH 1106 last month; 18yo JWR 120, CH 94 in May) by 6-3 5-7 6-3

QF: Josh Ward-Hibbert WR 783 beat Ricardo Villacorta Alonso (ESP) WR 725 (CH 517 in 2013) by 3 & 4

SF: (1) Alex Ward WR 380 v Josh Ward-Hibbert WR 783

H2H 0-1 - JWH won 7-6(6) 3-6 7-5 in Sheffield last year

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

JWH completes a long but very rewarding day with his 3rd win - 2 singles and 1 doubles.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Alex took the first set 6-3

steven · Tennis legend

6-3 5-3* match point Alex, saved with an ace by JWH

steven · Tennis legend

Josh holds so Alex will serve for the match 6-3 *5-4

steven · Tennis legend

Josh breaks back!

6-3 5-5*

steven · Tennis legend

Tiebreak - Alex has an early lead 3-1*

steven · Tennis legend

Alex makes his 7th Futures singles final of the year (W 4 - the last 4 - L 2)

SF: (1) Alex Ward WR 380 beat Josh Ward-Hibbert WR 783 by 6-3 7-6(1)

Spectator · All-time great

Mr Ward's post-injury comebacks are extraordinary. Well done to him - and well played to both.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

In the doubles final, the Brits (Josh and Luke) have taken the first set on a tie-break 7-6(0)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

A good day indeed for the Brits in Portugal:

Final: (2) Luke Bambridge & Josh Ward-Hibbert CR 662 (273+389) defeated (1) Iván Arenas & Jaime Pulgar (ESP/ESP) CR 584 by 7-6(0) 6-4

Luke & JWH s ! biggrin

steven · Tennis legend

When I saw the order of play for today, I couldn't work out why on earth the second singles SF was scheduled for after the doubles Final, especially when JWH was playing in both the first singles SF and the doubles Final, which mean he'd have to have an hour or two's rest in between anyway, thus putting the second singles SF even further back. confuse

Whatever the reason, it has backfired spectacularly on the schedulers because the second SF has had to be rescheduled for tomorrow morning. Could be good for Alex though, especially if the second SF turns out to be a long 3-setter!

steven · Tennis legend

Anyway, the remaining SF is due to start at 10 am (local and BST!), with the Final due off at 3pm.

FINAL: (1) Alex Ward WR 380 v (5) Andrés Artuñedo Martinavarr (ESP) WR 644 (CH 293 in Mar) or Calvin Hemery (FRA) WR 677 (CH 614 last Nov)

H2H v AAM: 2-0 - Alex won 4 & 2 on clay in Madrid in 2012 then 2 & 4 on hard at Wirral Futures last year

Hemery's run is making Luke's R1 loss look a bit more respectable!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And now it would seem that the weather is playing up !

OoP has been pushed back to 12.30 pm for the semi and 4 pm for the final