There is a large British contingent here, some preparing for the European Championships next week (U18/U16). Jack Draper has a tough draw against a recent G1 finalist
Am slightly curious as to why the LTA should pay out large sums to take the lads to play a G3 on Clay abroad when there's a G4 on Clay at home.....
I know they're staying on - the younger ones, i.e. Jack and Anton, listed as playing the ITF Veska G4 in the Czech Republic next week.
And maybe the kids back in Bournemouth are glad to play the event without them.
But surely it would be better for the LTA to spend the money on hosting another home tournament, rather than shipping out the likes of Jack and Anton plus coaches etc. etc. just to replicate what's going on at home anyway?
I'm guessing as the lads have been on the grass for the past 3/4 weeks it's a training week for some, preparation and match practice for the upcoming tournaments on the red clay.
Anton and Jack in Czech Republic. Aidan, Jake and Finn are all playing European championships followed by summer cups. Could benefit the younger ones, not so sure Finn would gain much from it, surely he'd have stronger sparring partners at the NTC.
Coming here provides stronger opposition (all the seeds are higher ranked than any at Bournemouth) on European rather than American clay
R1 (L32)
(1) Constant de la Bassetiere (FRA) v Jack Draper
Valentin Popescu (ROU) v (7) Jack Molloy
Ewen Lumsden d. (Q) Alexander Gima (ROU) 6-2 6-1
Filip Cristian Jianu (ROU) d. (6) Aidan McHugh 7-5 6-2
(WC) Nini Gabriel Dica (ROU) d. Anton Matusevich 6-4 6-4
(8) Francesco Forti (ITA) d. Jake Hersey 6-2 6-2
(2) Finn Bass d. Vladislav Melnic (ROU) 1-6 6-1 6-1
The fact that the seeds are slightly higher ranked makes sense for this week (as it's a Grade 3 rather than a Grade 4, so the seeds should be higher ranked).
But next week in Czech is a Grade 4.
I still don't think it justifies the expense (which is always huge for the LTA because, for some reason, they seem to have a tendency to fly over each and every coach).
With three of the favoured few having lost today, all in two sets, it doesn't help the argument either.
A successful round 2 sees all three progress. Jack M has also reached the doubles semis
R2
(7) Jack Molloy d. Valentin Popescu (ROU) 7-6(5) 4-6 6-2
Ewen Lumsden d. (Q) Radu Florin Macuvei (ROU) 6-1 6-3
(2) Finn Bass d. (WC0 Stefan Palosi (ROU) 6-0 6-4
QF
(1) Constant de la Bassetiere (FRA) v (7) Jack Molloy
Ewen Lumsden v Filip Cristian Jianu (ROU)
(8) Francesco Forti (ITA) v (2) Finn Bass
Finn unfortunately retired and unsurprisingly there was no joy for the other 2 against strong opponents. However Jack has made it to the doubles final
QF
(1) Constant de la Bassetiere (FRA) d. (7) Jack Molloy 7-5 6-1
Filip Cristian Jianu (ROU) d. Ewen Lumsden 6-3 6-4
(8) Francesco Forti (ITA) d. (2) Finn Bass 6-3 4-1 rtd
