By Glenys Furness
- Cameron Norrie knocked out in the Semi Final in Lexington
- Jay Clarke made semi final in Italy
KENTUCKY, USA – Cameron Norrie continued last weeks good run, making the semi final in Lexington.
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Brit of the week
Cameron Norrie entered the Lexington Challenger on a Special Exemption, after winning in Binghamton the previous week. The Brit drew the seventh seed in the first round Andrew Whittington, but the Australian wasn’t going to make things easy. The seventh seed secured the first set with a break of serve, however the Brit managed to force a tie break in the second set. Norrie edged the tiebreak to send the match to a deciding set, the Brit had now got a handle on the Aussie and dominated the final set to move on 4-6, 7-6(5). 6-2.
The second round saw Norrie against Jared Hiltzik, the Brit had very little trouble against the American. No matter what Hiltzik tried the Norrie had the answers, it didn’t take long for Norrie to take the first set. The second set was much more of the same as the American struggled to make any in roads onto the Brit serve and Norrie secured the place into the quarter final 6-4, 6-3.
The quarter final opponent was Dominik Koepfer, the German had defeated the top seed in the second round over a tough three sets. Norrie was able to take advantage of being the fresher and soon had the first set in the bag. The second set was even easier for the Brit as he dominated the second set to book a spot in the semi final 6-3, 6-2.
In the semi-final the Brit ran into John Millman the third seed. The Australian has a habit of defeating Brits in challenger events, having defeated both Kyle Edmund and James Ward in back to back finals previously. Millman kept up his record against Brits in Challengers and totally dominated both sets, Corrie only managed to get two games in the whole match to have his winning run ended 1-6, 1-6.
Jay Clarke was top seed in Bolzano, Italy. The Brit first round opponent was Italian Jacopo Stefanini, Clarke managed to get the break of serve in the first set and managed to take the lead. The second set was much closer as a tiebreak ensued, the Brit won the breaker fairly easily to move on 6-4, 7-6(4).
In the second round the Brit was up against another Italian, this time it was Luca Pancaldi. Clarke got off to a great start and soon sealed the first set, however the Italian fought back in the second and Clarke was unable to respond. The final set however went back the way of the Brit who then moved into the quarter final 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
The quarter final opponent was the eighth seed Robin Kern. The German fought hard in the first set and managed to force a tiebreak with Clarke, however the Brit held firm and edged the tiebreak. Kern was no match for Clarke in the second set though, as the Brit dominated to take the semi final spot 7-6(5), 6-2.
It was in the semi final where the Brits fine run came to an end, unseeded Italian Andrea Basso had the measure of Clarke from the start. The Italian would not let the Brit get into the match at all, and soon had the match under his belt. The Brit tried to get into the match, but Basso was better on the day, Clarke lost 3-6, 2-6.
ATP Challenger & ITF Tennis roundup
Ed Corrie lost in the first round in Lexington 6-2, 1-6. 2-6.
James Ward lost in the quarter final of Chengdu – Ward defeated fifth seed Ricardas Berankis in the first round 7-6(6), 7-6(4). The two wins in Chengdu have raised his ATP ranking from 1081 to around 855. The Brit entered on a Protected Ranking and squeaked into the main draw. The score in the quarter final was 6-7(5), 3-6.
Next week Brits play in Montreal, Toronto, Aptos & Portoroz.
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