Liz [poster on the rusedski site] went to Mons yesterday, here is her match report:

Alex broke Falla in his first service game of each set and wasn't broken at all himself. He got off to a great start leading 3-0, serving well, taking his first break point, winning game 3 with a great little diagonal shot across the net. Falla then started to play better and was winning his games to love with Alex doing nothing wrong. Alex then had a poor service game with 2 double faults but saved break points twice and won the game. When serving for the set he was 40-0 up but Falla came back to deuce and had 2 break points. Alex saved both with excellent serving and won the first set.

Great start in set 2 breaking to 15 then a series of games by both players to love or 15. At 4-2 Alex had 3 break points saved by winning shots from Falla but Alex won the game with a fine passing shot. In fact Falla came to the net about 3 times and each time Alex produced a superb pass. The match was pretty much all baseline rallies with a couple of smashes. When serving for the match, Alex missed 3 first serves but still won the rallies. Lost his first match point after a long rally and winning shot from Falla but took the second. Alex looked relaxed and confident throughout the match and very happy afterwards. I have a photo I'll put up when I work out how to do it. His coach said that after his match with Tim last week Alex is feeling very confident and positive and today he played an excellent match, well within himself.

I was very annoyed with the 2 coaches supporting Falla as they sat right in front of me before the match started despite the 3 of us being virtually the only spectators at that point. Later there were about 40. They shouted encouragement throughout plus comments like 'body language', 'positivo' and Spanish that I couldn't understand. Not once did they applaud any of Alex's winning shots. I was especially pleased when he won.

It's underway, on serve so far. Boggo leading 2-1

Boggo is 3-5 down, serving to stay in the set

0-15

Alex held for 4-5 so at least he's forced Sluiter to serve for it, hopefully the Dutchman will tense up and maybe give Alex a chance.

Still on serve in set 2, Alex leading 4-3

ales takes it into a decider 7-5 in the 2nd.