Week 44 - Challenger ($50,000) - Charlottesville VA, USA (Hard)

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

RE: Week 44 - Challenger ($50,000) - Charlottesville VA, USA (Hard)

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

And the hits just keep on coming. Another fantastic result for Liam and his first (and well deserved) Challenger semi final to come. Really great to see.

DWH · Club Coach

What a performance from Liam!!! biggrin Massive Congrats to him.

Its been said before, today and through his challenger stretch but his point construction is sweet. smile

TMH · Futures qualifying

Wow another cracking win, well done Liam.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Really enjoyed that match. Harrison was excellent and you can see why he was a top player, big serve, good court coverage and makes plenty of shots.
Brilliant fighting spirit from Liam who had to fight for every service game, whereas Harrison was fairly comfortable on serve.

Very high standard and no reason why Liam, if he can maintain those levels, can fly further up the rankings.

Jaffa · Challenger level

There was a comment not too far back this year that i had a good bite at about Liam having no weapons.

Im not one to gloat but...

Absolutely fantastic from liam.

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

paulisi wrote:
Really enjoyed that match. Harrison was excellent and you can see why he was a top player, big serve, good court coverage and makes plenty of shots.
Brilliant fighting spirit from Liam who had to fight for every service game, whereas Harrison was fairly comfortable on serve.

Very high standard and no reason why Liam, if he can maintain those levels, can fly further up the rankings.

Agree. Only saw the 2nd half of the match but the standard was impressive from both players. Harrison has tons of ability, just needs to stay calm and cut down the number of stupid shots he goes for; the attempted smash from close to the baseline that set up the break for Liam was crazy. Liam seems far more proactive than in the summer, even during the longer rallies he's trying to make things happen, backhand down the line seemed to create an opening for him on a regular basis. Both players excellent at the net while I was watching.

Priesty · Challenger level

paulisi wrote:
no reason why Liam, if he can maintain those levels, can fly further up the rankings.

Oh dear, I hope that's not going to be the case.... smile

paulisi · Tennis legend

Liam would have had to go through qualifying next week, but has just earnt himself a SE.

I assume Marcus and Lewis will miss out on singles next week due to their doubles success.

steven · Tennis legend

Liam's tennis shoes have bitten the dust LOL instagram.com/p/u1kSabskuJ/

steven · Tennis legend

I'm told (via an American Twitter follower, @rourkeytennis) that qualifying sign-in for Knoxville isn't until tomorrow. If so, Liam would need to win tomorrow too to get a special exempt place. Looking on the bright side, it might mean Marcus and Lewis can play singles qualifying in Knoxville after all, despite their doubles success this week.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Final: (1) Treat Huey & Freddie Nielsen (PHI/DEN) CR 160 (53+107) vs Lewis Burton & Marcus Willis CR 481 (233+248)

stevemcqueen · Futures qualifying

steven wrote:
I'm told (via an American Twitter follower, @rourkeytennis) that qualifying sign-in for Knoxville isn't until tomorrow. If so, Liam would need to win tomorrow too to get a special exempt place. Looking on the bright side, it might mean Marcus and Lewis can play singles qualifying in Knoxville after all, despite their doubles success this week.

Re the SE, Liam is going to be on court at around 17:00 local time today (Saturday). He can not travel the 350 miles to Knoxville on Saturday night. It is a 6 hour drive and I don't think you can fly direct. There will be very few flights late on a Sat evening and fewer still at the crack of sparrows on sunday. He will get an SE. But even if he doesn't, I think his level and intensity would be sufficient to win thru.

I wonder what his plans might be for the start of the next season?

I look forward to watching tonight's match, it'll be a toughie for sure. Good luck mate!

EddietheEagle · County player

What a contrast (in comments) to his earlier endeavours on the US futures circuit when he wasn't picking up much by way of points. That was the tennis education; the learning curve and the sticking it out aspect that would prove invaluable later on. What he's achieving now is the payoff.

steven · Tennis legend

stevemcqueen wrote:
steven wrote:
I'm told (via an American Twitter follower, @rourkeytennis) that qualifying sign-in for Knoxville isn't until tomorrow. If so, Liam would need to win tomorrow too to get a special exempt place. Looking on the bright side, it might mean Marcus and Lewis can play singles qualifying in Knoxville after all, despite their doubles success this week.
Re the SE, Liam is going to be on court at around 17:00 local time today (Saturday). He can not travel the 350 miles to Knoxville on Saturday night. It is a 6 hour drive and I don't think you can fly direct. There will be very few flights late on a Sat evening and fewer still at the crack of sparrows on sunday. He will get an SE. But even if he doesn't, I think his level and intensity would be sufficient to win thru.

The rules don't allow travel considerations to be taken into account in awarding SE places - you have to be still playing on the day qualifying starts. Having said that, the rule is a bit ambiguous - it mentions Friday throughout as if qualifying always starts on a Saturday. So it's wait and see, I guess ... but hopefully he'll win tonight and remove all doubt!