Week 22 - Challenger (€42,500) - Aegon Trophy, Manchester, UK (Grass)

Jiwan · Club Coach

Week 22 - Challenger (€42,500) - Aegon Trophy, Manchester, UK (Grass)

Spectator · All-time great

And it's 3-4, with Berrer to serve. Can't watch more than a game or so ... but did really enjoy watching A Ward play. Can see why people say he's fun to watch. So exciting to see him playing at this level!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

First set down the pan by 4-6. cry

Jiwan · Club Coach

A mixed bag. 2 aces, one double a screaming winner and terrible forehand error. But alex holds 1-0

1-1

It's patchy stuff from Alex, inspired mixed up with some shots that are hitting the middle of the net. He hold though 2-1

Arrgh! Alex gets a break point but hits a net cord which if it had landed more favorably would have given him the break. 2-2

Claws back from 0-30 with some aggressive play. 3-2

Berrer holds to 30. 3-3

Obviously come out with a plan to attack. Not always paying off but he holds. Alex leads 4-3

4-4

If alex can cut down the errors you have to fancy him to win. even from this position. Berrer had 3 more break points. some beautiful play saves the day and holds for a 5-4 lead

Maybe alex heard me. Consistency, pressure, kept the ball in and breaks to win the set 6-4.

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 02:26:35 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 02:30:24 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 02:36:26 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 02:40:30 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 02:44:16 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 02:48:47 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 02:51:21 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:01:57 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:07:37 PM

Jaffa · Challenger level

Snatches the second!!

He really is playing very well, although Berrer's backhand slice is pretty formidable. This could go either way!

Jaffa · Challenger level

Ed on the other hand was getting battered but has come right back in to it, just can't seem to win the big points

Spectator · All-time great

Actually, I've been watching Mr Corrie on live stream for the past few minutes. He has quite a lovely grass game, doesn't he. Some very nice shots, good sense of the court. Stakhovsky served two terrific aces to save the game that went to interminable deuces. But when they're in a rally, he's got a good look at any given point. (Indeed, just had two super points to go up 4-3 on serve)

Edit: And then went on to watch Mr Ward hold at start of third set. End of tea break ... but what an enjoyable way to spend a tea break! Good luck to them both.

-- Edited by Spectator on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:19:22 PM

Jiwan · Club Coach

He did well to compose himself after an over rule went against him. another break point to the German but alex holds in a very long game. 1-0

ALEX BREAKS! 2-0. The German looks rattled

That's four on the bounce for alex. He holds to love

Berrer breaks the streak. 3-1

Alex has not missed a ball in the last 20 minutes. Another beautiful game. 4-1

4-2.

He survives the 7th break point of the match and takes the game with an ace. WOW! 5-2 and within reach

5-3. alex didn't get many serves back

He's done it! GSM Alex
-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:20:39 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:23:30 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:28:17 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:31:30 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:34:49 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:39:52 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:40:32 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:43:42 PM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Thursday 2nd of June 2016 03:45:55 PM

Jaffa · Challenger level

Alex has a break in the decider although the ball I'm almost positive hit the line on BP. Lucky there.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

As I feared, "Stakh" was a bridge too far for Ed, but with any luck, he'll have learnt from the encounter:

L16: (6) Sergei Stakhovsky (UKR) WR 97 defeated (Q) Ed Corrie WR 402 by 1 & 5

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
L16: James Ward WR 173 defeated (5) Benjamin Becker (GER) WR 96 by 3 & 4
QF: James Ward WR 173 vs Dustin Brown (GER) WR 116 (CH = 78 in June 2014)

Alex seems to be reverting to that brief period a couple of years or so ago, before he picked up his serious injury, when he was proving better in Challengers than in Futures (I don't think my ageing memory is playing tricks on me, but am prepared to be corrected...)

L16: (WC) Alex Ward WR 253 defeated Michael Berrer (GER) WR 112 by 4-6 6-4 6-3

What a result! biggrin

******

QF: (WC) Alex Ward WR vs Peter Gojowczyk (GER) WR 185

Alex has more than justified his WC. It would be nice to think that he could avenge Evo's defeat...

'Twill be an all-Ward semi, should both boys win! wink

Jiwan · Club Coach

Mr ward brought his A game today. As soon as he cut down on the loose shots he was just too good for the German. Played a blinder in that final set and a half. I've a feeling he will do very well on grass this year. Very entertaining player to watch

Spectator · All-time great

Hurrah again! This could become a very pleasant habit.

And well done also to Mr Corrie, who played very well in what I saw of the second set.

Do we have any sense yet of Surbiton entries? I presume that A Ward will get one, unless they're waiting to see if he gets an SE

(what a lovely thought!) But I'd go for ones for Mr Corrie and Mr Broady, too, based on their performances here.

FriendofLouieG · Lower Club Player

Also hoping to see Alex advance and get an SE for Surbiton. If not, surely a WC is in the bag anyway?

Nice new CH for him.... As someone else said, this could be a very exciting grass season for him this year. This rise up the rankings is very long overdue....he's got a fantastic attitude and really looks after himself off the court. He really deserves it.

DavidC · Tennis legend

john wrote:
Hello guys, thinking of attending this tournament as I live not too far away. Can you buy tickets on the gate? I notice they are selling ground passes online, does this cover centre court? There is no centre court tickets being sold yet I see lots of empty seats on the stream so I can only assume the £7.50 ground pass covers everything? Thanks if anyone has been to the tournament or has some knowledge that could help

https://www.lta.org.uk/major-events/international-events/aegon-trophy-series/aegon-manchester-trophy1/tickets/ is the key page which explains the situation. Until today you could get a ground pass which includes Centre (unreserved). From tomorrow seating on Centre is reserved and you will need to pay £12 at the ticket office (£17 Sat/Sun) if you want to see matches on Centre. If you click through to the page for buying tickets you can see that there are plenty of seats available tomorrow, but fewer at the weekend so you would have to gauge whether or not you need to buy in advance for those days.

Tomorrow there are 4 singles and 2 doubles matches to be scheduled, so they can't all be scheduled on Centre. The £6 Ground Pass will enable you to see the 2 matches on court 1 (Lu v Stakhovsky and the Skupskis)