Week 5 - Challenger (€42,500) - The Scottish Championships, Glasgow (indoor hard)

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Week 5 - Challenger (€42,500) - The Scottish Championships, Glasgow (indoor hard)

freerider · Futures level

Corrie takes first set against Ward 6-3

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

biggrin Elated not just for Marcus but for all our GB players , already a great success for our lads to compete at a high level on favoured surface , without the ardour and expense of foreign travel .

Scotland has always been a successful venue for Marcus not sure why although tennis Scotland always do A good job including the ITF seniors . In the doubles draw also have some v good all GB doubles pairs including A1 Pharmaceuticals LTC no1 pair B & B all of whom are capable of punching well above their current CR ranking

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

goldenboy wrote:
really nice win for Dan - really dug in when behind in the 2nd set - break points saved and turning round games when his opponent was ahead.

particularly good to see as Dan has seemingly struggled whenever coming up against top 200/250 opponents over the last couple of years. Seems his game has come on a bit, and is now (hopefully) injury free.

" Dan the man "

Jaffa · Challenger level

Ed is playing very, very well here. 6-3 3-0*

Jaffa · Challenger level

That said, you can tell Alex isn't at home indoors. Someone get him on the dirt!

steven · Tennis legend

Alex holds through deuce (not sure if there were any match points) and now has 0-30 as Ed serves for the match at 6-3 *5-3

steven · Tennis legend

Back to 30-30, now 40-30 match point ...

L32: Ed Corrie WR 243 beat (WC) Alex Ward WR 342 by 3 & 3

L16: Ed Corrie WR 243 v (4) Andrej Martin (SVK) WR 189 (CH 119 in 2013)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

He has such a nice, neat game, does Ed. It works very well inside. Glad he won. Nothing against Alex, but Ed's start to the year has been a bit non-existent so good to get going.

steven · Tennis legend

With today's win, Ed moves 1 point ahead of Brydan in the race for GB no. 5 next Monday. Of course, the Dan's could figure in that race too if they go very deep this week - even Marcus could, but he would need to win the title.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Ewan is only really there to gain experience and add some local scottish flavour for the fans and local press, but it's interesting to get a chance to see our youngsters. And great to see him taking it in his stride and breaking back, with winning volleys and well constructed points.

Jaffa · Challenger level

He's clearly not as good as his opponent, Ewan, but he's a great little scamper at the back of the court and is making his opponent miss.

Needs a lot more meat on the serve and groundies though.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Jaffa wrote:
He's clearly not as good as his opponent, Ewan, but he's a great little scamper at the back of the court and is making his opponent miss.

Needs a lot more meat on the serve and groundies though.

Yes, agree. It's a real 'young boy' serve against a man's. But he's got very good placement on his groundies, nice point construction and he's playing smart. The Italian should win, without too much trouble, but it's great to see the 16 year-old hold his own.

indiana · Tennis legend

Good stuff. That 3 Brits into R2 so far ? That was my prediction so noone else to win, please :)

Anyway, there are more Brits than for a long time at least verging on Challenger level. Brits ( like other nationalities ) tend to do better at home. And hey ho, Brits are winng home challenger matches and the accompanying prize money and ranking points.

It's not exactly rocket science and it's why it was high time for more British Challengers, and not just on grass !

Thanks, LTA, for replacing the originally planned Glasgow future with this challenger. It's a step.

steven · Tennis legend

Wed - L32: (WC) Dan Cox WR 284 v (Q) Matwe Middelkoop (NED) WR 624 (CH 197 in 2008)
L32: (WC) Dan Smethurst WR 292 beat (5) Andrea Arnaboldi (ITA) WR 190 (CH 165 last Jun) by 7-5 7-6(4)

L32: Ed Corrie WR 243 beat (WC) Alex Ward WR 342 by 3 & 3

Wed - L32: (Q) Josh Milton WR 384 v (6) Julian Reister (GER) WR 186 (CH 83 in 2013; on a 5-match losing streak) - H2H 0-1, 4 & 2, Mons 2009
L32: (Q) Marcus Willis WR 357 beat (8) Matteo Viola (ITA) WR 185 (CH 118 in 2013) by 2 & 2

L32: (WC) Ewan Moore UNR lost to Roberto Marcora (ITA) WR 233 (CH 215 last Sep; on a 7-match losing streak) by 3 & 1

L16: (WC) Dan Smethurst WR 292 v Cox or Middelkoop
L16: Ed Corrie WR 243 v (4) Andrej Martin (SVK) WR 189 (CH 119 in 2013)
L16: (Q) Marcus Willis WR 357 v Maxime Authom (BEL) WR 192 (CH 143 in 2013)

H2H 0-1 - Authom won 4 & 2 on clay in Jupille-sur-Meuse back in 2009