Week 11 - Challenger ($150,000+H) - BMW of Dallas Irving Tennis Classic - Irving, TX, USA (hard)

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Week 11 - Challenger ($150,000+H) - BMW of Dallas Irving Tennis Classic - Irving, TX, USA (hard)

Spectator · All-time great

Well the doubles are as bad as or worse than the singles. The non-seeds (!) include Petzschner and Peya, Dustin Brown and Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Yen-Hsun Lu ... and that's just the top quarter. Absurd.

Unsurprisingly, Mr Bambridge is not playing doubles. I had wondered whether he might play with one of the local university players in a WC pairing, but if it was ever an option, TCU's needs and the availability of some rather serious star attractions for WCs must have militated against that. Well done to him for making it a useful week by scoring two wins in singles. His final round in qualifying is:

Luke Bambridge WR 618 vs (q4) Denis Kudla (USA) WR 130

-- Edited by Spectator on Tuesday 14th of March 2017 08:45:51 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

It was very close, but no cigar.

Luke lost 7-5 7-6(3)

But against Kudla that's a very good score.

And, frankly, the best three matches I've seen Luke put together, for ages, if not practically ever.....

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

He had a chance to serve for the 2nd set at 5-3 but went 0-40 down only to save the 3 break points to then lose the game and the break anyway. A shame that he gets nothing for two good wins. Always feel you should get a couple of points for making FQR especially in the higher paid challengers.

the addict · Tennis legend

Yes, 5 points for qualifying, nothing if you lose in FQR. It really ought to be worth a couple of points

davidn · Junior player

TCU playing in California hence none of their team available to play singles or doubles. Despite Luke losing to Kudla I agree that's a great performance and should give him confidence that he can live it at this level

indiana · Tennis legend

Pity re no points. It is often argued that there should be points for reaching Challenger FQRs but clearly you do get pretty weak qualifying fields at times and there are swings and roundabouts. As Madadman said maybe say for the bigger 5 point qualifiers give a couple of points for reaching the FQR. Clearly actually 2 or 3 points would not be hugely here nor there over the season but maybe just fits better especially if a little dosh for such FQRs too.

What hopefully Luke does take away from here is the encouragement of such really good looking performances.

Jan · Hall of fame

Aljaz has taken the first set vs Lorenzi 6-4

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

And the second in a tie-break

indiana · Tennis legend

Yay, Aljaz

L32: (ALT) Aljaz Bedene WR 105 beat (2) Paulo Lorenzi (ITA) WR 38 (CH 35 last September ) 6-4 7-6(5)

L16: (ALT) Aljaz Bedene WR 105 vs Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) WR 71 (CH 21 in July 2010)

This super challenger gives 10 points for a R1 win and 25 points for winning R2, oh and 125 points for winning the title.

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

That's great news. I hope it means the Davis Cup saga is getting out of his head now.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

On the plus side Aljaz knocks out the 2 seed and has his route through the draw now, on the negative side the next opponent is Thomaz Bellucci so if he is going to repeat the success of previous years here Aljaz is going to need to bring his A game again.

Jan · Hall of fame

Brilliant! Well done Aljaz

indiana · Tennis legend

Aljaz off to a flier against Bellucci, 3-0*

He broke serve in the second game at the 6th attempt.

Jan · Hall of fame

Sadly Bellucci has won the next 4 games.
3-4*