Week 21 - Challenger (€85,000) - Loughborough Trophy, Loughborough, Great Britain (indoor hard)

Jaffa · Challenger level

Week 21 - Challenger (€85,000) - Loughborough Trophy, Loughborough, Great Britain (indoor hard)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. That was very, very close.

JonH · All-time great

And Neuchrist seems to like British courts. He played all 3 F1-F3 events earlier in the year, getting a F, SF and QF finish including a SF on these very Loughborough courts.

So not too shoddy from Alex Ward.

Ed Corrie up next.

scottie1 · Futures level

Corrie just broken down 2-4 first set

Babfive · Pro player

Ed lost the first set 3-6

JonH · All-time great

Ilkel seems to be in control. Impressed by his profile picture on live scoring - suit and a nice red tie!

DavidC · Tennis legend

Ed lost 3 & 4 and since then James has beaten Lloyd 5 & 1

DavidC · Tennis legend

Dan is second and Luke 6th on Centre tomorrow

L32: (WC) James Ward WR 614 beat (WC) Lloyd Glasspool WR 452 7-5 6-1
L32: (6) Cem Ilkel (TUR) WR 276 beat (WC) Ed Corrie WR 444 6-3 6-4
L32: Maximilian Neuchrist (AUT) WR 295 beat Alex Ward WR 328 7-6(3) 7-6(4)
L32: (WC) Luke Bambridge WR 589 v (Q) Jurij Rodionov (AUT) WR 533
L32: (Q) Dan Evans WR 1192 v (2) Max Purcell (AUS) WR 218

Jiwan · Club Coach

Mystic Jiwan predicts - If Evo and Dino can stay healthy and increase their fitness over the Summer they will rocket up the rankings. If Evo has a couple of deep runs I think he will be awarded MDW's rather than QDW. He is a draw for the crowds which Challenger tournaments would benefit from. Dino will get MDW's.

If only Alex could stay healthy for longer periods, he would be ranked much higher. Like EWB he loves the sport and keeps going but you wonder for how long for with those reoccurring injuries. At some point he needs to look at his long term health outside of the sport?

Sheddie · administrator

Today's press release report:

BRITAINS WARD ADVANCES TO SECOND ROUND OF LOUGHBOROUGH TROPHY

Britains James Ward has capitalised on his wildcard entry to the Loughborough Trophy ATP Challenger, getting the better of compatriot Lloyd Glasspool in straight sets to advance to the second round.

Ward fired down 10 aces to seal the match 75 61 in just one hour and nine minutes.

I served really well throughout the whole match, I returned well. I made a lot of balls, put a lot of pressure on him, the Brit reflected. I think I was a bit unlucky not to break him a few more times in the first set, as well.

Ward is returning to the sport after knee surgery in 2017 put him on the sidelines for seven months.

He added: It's nice playing at home. There's always great support, people come out and watch. Yeah, it's great, and I'm feeling fine physically.

Glasspool struggled to return Wards powerful serve, and at 41 down in the second set called for a medical time out.

The first set was a high level, and then I lost concentration in one service game, and all it really takes is one break and thats it, the wildcard said.

[Its] just some kind of strain, I dont know - nothing too serious.

Other first round results saw Maximilian Neuchrist (AUT) defeat Britains Alex Ward 76(3) 76(4) and Edward Corrie (GBR) go down to Cem Ilkel (TUR) 63 64.

Earlier in the day, Britains Dan Evans successfully made it through to the tournaments main draw, defeating Germanys Tobias Simon in a second set tie-break 64 76(5).

Today was tough, he [Simon] served big and its good to get through and beat someone like him because the courts are quick and hes dangerous, said Evans.

Its good to get out there and play some matches. Like I said, three matches, they are invaluable going into the grass, its so good to get some matches in like that.

The result is an encouraging return to the sport for the Birmingham born player, earning five ranking points in addition to the points he secured at last months Glasgow Trophy.

Evans will now face No.2 Seed Max Purcell (AUS) on Tuesday before pairing with Glasspool in the doubles against Scott Duncan (GBR) / Isaac Stoute (GBR).

The remaining qualifiers to make it through to main draw were Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN), 19-year-old Jurij Rodionov (AUT) and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion Frederik Nielsen (DEN).

I've been to Loughborough several times it's my fourth time here, and second time this year. I love it it's a really nice tennis centre, people come to watch. I like the city, and it's got everything you could desire when you're a tennis player," said Nielsen.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Jiwan wrote:
Mystic Jiwan predicts - If Evo and Dino can stay healthy and increase their fitness over the Summer they will rocket up the rankings. If Evo has a couple of deep runs I think he will be awarded MDW's rather than QDW. He is a draw for the crowds which Challenger tournaments would benefit from. Dino will get MDW's.

If only Alex could stay healthy for longer periods, he would be ranked much higher. Like EWB he loves the sport and keeps going but you wonder for how long for with those reoccurring injuries. At some point he needs to look at his long term health outside of the sport?

James Ward has used all his MD WC's now.

Jiwan · Club Coach

Ah yes, I forgot he used them last Summer and lost first round each time?

Mystic Jiwan has retired

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Don't know if it's been posted but Marcus and Guez lost their doubles .... :(

spud · Challenger qualifying

People should check out the tweener that was hit second to last point in Marcuss doubles...

Jimmy09 · Intermediate Club Player

Impressive start from Evo breaks in the 1st game... Keeps this up Purcell doesnt have much to hurt him