Qualifying [lots of British participation here from academy players]: These qualifying events are always very gruelling as players have to win through 4 rounds, they must be exhausted by the time they reach the main draw.
Key: ur= unranked
Rd1: M Palacios [Sp][ur] bt N Sego [GB][ur] 6-0, 6-0
J Ward [GB][16] v bye
J Esteban [Est] [ur] bt M Gregor [GB][ur] 7-6[3], 6-2
O Podlewski [GB][ur] bt M Cordobes [Esp][ur] 6-0, 6-3
M Czerwinski [USA][ur] bt A Hutchings [GB][ur] 6-3, 6-3
O Podlewski [GB][ur] bt B Battero [Fr][5][wr:928] 6-3, 6-4
P Martin-Adalia [Sp] bt S Konov [GB][ur] 6-1, 6-2
A Wright [GB][11] bt Y Shirshov [Rus][ur] 6-4, 6-4
O Hernandez-Pastor [Sp][ur] bt J Rambotas [GB][ur] 6-1, 6-4
Rd3:
D Robles-Torrabla [Sp][ur] bt O Podlewski [GB][ur] 6-4, 7-6[6]
A Wright [GB][11] bt G Sala [Sp][ur] 6-4, 7-5
Rd4:
A Wright [GB][11] v N Desein [Bel][6] [wr:937]
So Alan Wright is the last Brit left standing in the qualies. James Ward's loss was quite a shock, after his excellent performance in rd1 of ATP Barcelona qualies I thought that he'd cruise through. A fantastic rd2 win for 18 year old Oscar Podlewski, a shame he couldn't carry that form through to rd3.
I don't rate Alan's chances of making the main draw as his 18 year old opponent wad the world junior no 4 last year and has dropped no more than 4 games in any of hi matches so far. I think that Alan may have to rely on a lucky loser spot to get through. Hopefully he can pull off a shock victory.
