Boys & Girls: Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship , USA, clay - Grade A (Week 49)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Boys & Girls: Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship , USA, clay - Grade A (Week 49)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Gemma withdrew and so far just one winner out of 3, though Jack was playing the Mexican GA champion. Anton (leading 4-2) and Ali (losing 2-6 2-4) are on court now. George has to take on the Eddie Herr champion tomorrow.

Boys R1 (L64)

(WC) Emilio Nava (USA) d. Emile Hudd 6-3 3-6 7-6(3)
(14) Aidan McHugh d. Keenan Mayo (USA) 6-4 7-6(2)
Anton Matusevich v Ryan Goetz (USA)
(13/WC) Drew Baird (USA) d. Jack Draper 6-1 6-4
(15) George Loffhagen v Adrian Andreev (BUL)

Girls R1 (L64)

Peyton Stearns (USA) v Ali Collins

DavidC · Tennis legend

Ali goes down 2-6 2-6 while Anton has been pegged back to 4-4

DavidC · Tennis legend

Disappointment for Anton as well

R1

Ryan Goetz (USA) d. Anton Matusevich 6-4 7-6(4)

DavidC · Tennis legend

George's match has been delayed by the weather in Florida, but the match before him is currently on court

Boys R2

Kirac Bekisoglu (TUR) v (14) Aidan McHugh

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

George led 4-2 in the first set but lost it 5-7.
Up a break in the second set and leading *2-1.

Spectator · All-time great

Impressive, given Andreev's recent track record.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

By George he did it! Came back to win 5-7 6-3 7-6(7-1). William Woodall next a US wildcard 17 ranked 167 CH 165 who put out Eastonian qualifier Danill Glinka (rank 226).

Well done George and Aidan but across the board some tough first round draws for the Brits only Emile was older than his opponent. For Anton, George and Jack still not yet 18 next year, despite higher long term aspirations I am sure this will be on their itineraries next year.

indiana · Tennis legend

Be great if at least one of them missed this next year through breaking into seniors so well. Naa, I've moved on

Well done, George and Aidan.

Spectator · All-time great

That's massively impressive - not only to win but to win in a third-set tiebreaker.

indiana · Tennis legend

George seems a bit inconsistent, which is fair enough for now. But when he pretty much puts all he has together there seems to be a really good prospect there.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
George seems a bit inconsistent, which is fair enough for now. But when he pretty much puts all he has together there seems to be a really good prospect there.

I was thinking that George had been remarkably consistent in the last 4 months or so smile - he's made the L16 or QF of everything, no further, no R1 losses. (And that was all G1 and GA events)

It has to be remembered that George was playing Grade 5 events in February - barely 8 months ago.

And this time last year George was ranked about 900.

It's been an amazing leap in terms of his profile (not maybe in terms of his tennis, his coach would be the one to know that).

He's certainly been my fave out of three (and Jack and Anton are very good prospects too), there is something intangible that is exciting in his play - and there's never quite the right box for that on the detection sheet!

indiana · Tennis legend

OK, I kinda just had in mind one recent thumping that he received. But must admit I didn't research further than that

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Yes definitely with CD on this, he is a tall agile athlete who appears to have a positive unassuming but optimistic mindset prepared to chase things down, yes the odd thrashing but I sense a its not over until its over attitude which is something you cant coach and a blessing as he progresses and margins becomer finer. To do so well from spring through to autumn is very impressive year 11 is tough, a lot going on, very early days but the best of luck to him.

It is very exciting to see this group of boys do so well, fitting a summer sport that they are playing at the age equivalent of professional level around GCSEs must be a nightmare. Jack is 6 months behind in age but an academic year behind in terms of schooling I would imagine this coming summer will be tight re fitting in GCSEs and playing tennis although both are his schools focus.

This summer must have been a bit tricker for Anton where although probably very obliging the schools sporting ethos is much more Rugby/Cricket and unlikely to be around Tennis. I feel it would be a good use of LTA resources if there was an individual tasked with faciltating this for players good enough to play at Grade 2 or above (perhaps grade 1 or above for girls ie age appropriate related to rank) at 15 turning 16. Just to let the schools know they have a very good athlete on their books who may become professional. I presume at the moment all this gets left to Mum and Dad?

DavidC · Tennis legend

A long dramatic match, with the following report from Colette

"The marquee boys match of the day pitted No. 15 seed George Loffhagen of Great Britain against unseeded Eddie Herr champion Adrian Andreev of Bulgaria and it did not disappoint. After three hours and 39 minutes, Loffhagen prevailed 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(1) after saving three match points at 6-5 in the third.

Loffhagen served for the first set at 5-4, only to lose the next three games with ill-timed forehand errors. In the third set, Loffhagen fell behind two breaks at 3-0, but Andreev could not close him out, serving for the match at 5-2, 5-4, and after another rash of forehand errors by Loffhagen to get broken at 5-all, at 6-5.

Andreev had his first match point at 40-30, but missed a backhand long early in the rally. On the second, an excellent point from both players ended with Andreev netting a volley into the open court after Loffhagen's backhand forced a quick reaction. On the third match point, a long rally that Loffhagen took control of ended with Andreev's defensive shot going wide, and two forehand errors from Andreev later, a tiebreaker would decide it.

For all the drama of the match, the final game was a disappointment, although Loffhagen did come up with a couple of forehand winners and a fine touch shot on the backhand side. Andreev decided to just hit his forehand as hard as he could and those shots mostly landed in the net, giving Loffhagen an easy ending to a strenuous battle."

George is back on court any minute now, with Aidan having just begun his round 2

Boys R2

Kirac Bekisoglu (TUR) v (14) Aidan McHugh
(15) George Loffhagen v (WC) William Woodall (USA)