Jonny down an early break at 2-3*. He was broken in the opening game.

1st set in the bag for Jonny, 7-5

Back to *5-5

Jonny struggling with cramp

Well done to Jonny, though a bit worrying to have been cramping.

Jonny O'Mara

Where do I start with this one ? Jonny was suffering big time with the flu before he even started today. Throughout his first match, he was coughing a spluttering between points and I know he was not looking forward to the prospect of two matches in one day.

In the morning session, the diminutive Spanish opponent offered the first real challenge to Jonny this weekend but he passed this test with flying colours. Despite being under the weather, he controlled the match pretty much from start to finish. Solid on the backhand side and destructive with his forehand, he swiftly took the first set 6-2. The Spaniard dug deep in the 2nd and broke to lead at *4-3 but Jonny broke straight back and went on to win comfortably 6-2 6-4.

But the drama was only just beginning. The 2nd match was moved to court 6 at the last moment, which had not been used for any matches at all so far over the weekend. From what the players were saying, this court was completely different to the other courts in pace and bounce. Jonny served first and got to 30-0 and then served an ace - or so he thought. The umpire didn't call it out at first, but the Dutch player lifted his finger to indicate out, and so the umpire called it. Jonny was not happy and said so. He let it get to him, served a double fault and before you knew it, he had been broken.

Over the next few games, the talented Dutchman played a very sensible match. He had one strategy. Keep the ball away from the O'Mara forehand. The tactic worked and the next few games were very even. When Jonny was able to get around onto his forehand, he invariably won he point. Jonny forged a couple of BPs at 2-3* down but both were saved with big serves that he could do nothing about. At 3-4* 30-30, he managed to get round onto that forehand and dominate a rally to create another BP. The Dutchman went hard and flat for the Ace down the T and dumped it into the net. Then for some inexplicable reason, repeated the same serve on 2nd serve, with the same result. We were back to *4-4.

Up to this point, the Dutchman had not uttered a word. His on court demeanour was almost Bjorn Borg like. He didn't say a word, shrugged off close line calls without reacting and looked totally focussed. But suddenly, with this DF, he changed. It was Jekyll and Hyde stuff. The racket was on the floor, he started complaining to the umpire at every opportunity and his game plan was intermittently forgotten. Jonny controlled the remainder of the 1st set and it was no surprise when he broke again to take the set 7-5.

The 2nd set started in the same fashion that the 1st set had finished. Jonny was now completely in control and although the Dutchman played some very good tennis, Jonny was never really under any pressure. His forehand was simply too much for the opponent to handle. The only issue was that the combination of the flu and the days exertions were beginning to take their toll and Jonny's movement was becoming more restricted. He said afterwards that he started to cramp as early as the 1st game of the 2nd set. He joked that he doesn't normally run out of steam after one set, but the bug had got the better of him.

Despite this, Jonny got to 5-2* comfortably and a straightforward win looked on the cards. He had an MP on the opponents serve in the next game, but the Dutchman saved that with some good play. But by the time Jonny was serving for the set, he was pretty much serving on one leg, and beginning to just "T-off" with the forehand in an attempt to finsh the point as quickly as possible. It didn't help his demeanour that at this time the club decided to start a junior traning session on the court next door with about twelve 7-10 year olds belting the ball everywhere. The match was constantly interrupted as balls came over from the adjacent court. Jonny complained to the umpire describing the situation as "Amateur Hour". It really was truly farcical. Nothing was done.

Jonny was broken twice in a row and found himself 5-6* down. He was literally using the racket as a walking stick between points as he collected the both the balls and a "time violation warning". His hand was cramping so badly he was struggling to hold the racket.

Serving for the set, the Dutchman got to 30-0 with Jonny unable to do anything. At this point, I was thinking, two more points and Jonny will be retiring at 1 set all. There was just no way he would be able to play another set in his condition. Then out of the blue, the Dutchman hit consectutive DFs for 30-30 and Jonny smashed an outrageous forehand return. It was an "all or nothing" shot but it worked, landing just inside the baseline. The Dutchman was convinced the ball was out and said so - very loudly. He dumped the next point into the net and out of nowhere, we were into a TB.

By this stage, if the ball was in the hitting zone, Jonny just went for the shot. The footwork was non-existent and everything was being hit with arm and shoulder only. Jonny got to 6-3* before the opponent held his two points. On the third MP, Jonny hit a kicker to the backhand, and the slice return was met with a hammer forehand crosscourt which the Dutchman was unable to retrieve.

The was a feeling of disbelief that Jonny had come through that one. I have no idea how he hung on in there to win, but he did. I hope I have been able to convey at least some of the drama that this match offered, but it would be impossible to include everything that went on.

Jonny has a doubles tomorrow. I somehow think Scott will be doing most of the running.

Very well done Jonny. Whatever happens from now, this match alone was worth the trip over from Spain.

Coup Droit wrote:

---

Robbie seems to have found his speciality - his opponent today was age 29, UNR, but ex-WR 212.

Pretty much the identical profile to yesterday.

Not easy to beat.

Well done to Robbie and Jonny - and FanBob too

---

Not sure where you found this CD.  His profile on ITF says UNR and never ranked.  He doesn't appear on the ATP site at all.  Neither of which surprises me given how he played.

QR3: (q4) Jonny O'Mara WR 835 beat Juan Pablo Canas Garcia (ESP) WR 1490 (CH 1427 Sept 2015) 6-2 6-4
QR3: (q8) Robbie Ridout WR 1019 beat (WC) Joao Coelho (POR) UNR 6-1 7-5

--------------------------------------------

FQR: (q4) Jonny O'Mara WR 835 beat Vincent Van Den Honert (NED) WR 1408 (CH 1309 Dec 2015) 7-5 7-6(5)
FQR: (q8) Robbie Ridout WR 1019 lost to (q9) Connor Farren (USA) WR 1028 (CH 882 Nov 2013) 7-5 6-2

--------------------------------------------

L32: (Q) Jonny O'Mara WR 835 v (5) Jesse Huta Galung (NED) WR 453 (CH 91 Feb 2014)
L32: (WC) Joel Cannell WR 1240 v (6) Carlos Baluda Purkiss (ESP) WR 464 (CH 404 Dec 2015)

Safe to say the draw could have been kinder. I was talking to Joel's father and he said that at 13 yo, Boluda Purkiss was meant to be the next Nadal and was given a 10 year sponsorship contract with one of the big companies (Nike ?) but he never really made it.

Huta Galung has just won the tournament in Vale do Lobo last week.

Joel plays tomorrow while Jonny/Scott also play doubles. It will be the end of my adventure before I head back to Spain tomorrow evening.