By Glenys Furness
- Colin Fleming & Jonathan Erlich edged in Queen’s semi final
- Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares lose in quarter final
LONDON, UK – Colin Fleming & Jonathan Erlich were edged in the semi final at The Queens Club.
Fleming & Erlich progressed the furthest in the doubles at Queen’s. Awarded a wild card into the draw, their first round opponents were Kyle Edmund & Aljaz Bedene also in the event on a wild card.
The Brits got off to the best of starts as they took the match to the Brit/Israeli doubles specialists. Fleming & Erlich found themselves in deep trouble as they lost the first set without winning a game.
The second set saw the Brit/Israeli playing together much better, and they soon levelled up the match taking the second set. The match tiebreak that followed to decide the victors eventually went the way of the experienced doubles team, with Fleming & Erlich taking the match 0-6, 6-2, 10-6.
In the quarter finals the Brit/Israeli opponents were the third seeds. Jean-Julian Rojer & Horia Tecau dominated the first set as Fleming & Erlich were unable to work out the game plan.
Things were better for the wild card pairing in the second set, as Fleming & Erlich pushed the seeds to a tiebreak. Staying toe to toe with the seeds the Brit/Israeli eventually edged the set to level up the match.
Going into the final match tiebreak set Fleming & Erlich played very well against the seeds, and managed to edge the match 2-6, 7-6(7), 10-8.
Their opponents in the semi final were the top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut. The wild cards kept the match tight, securing the first set as they dominated the tiebreak.
Fleming & Erlich found themselves in trouble at 2-5 down in the second, however some excellent play had the set level, with another tiebreak following the top seeds dominated and the match was now level.
Once again some brilliant play for the Brit/Israeli kept things tight in the match tiebreak, before the top seeds edged it to take the match 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 10-8.
Dom Inglot is partnering Daniel Nestor over the grass season, with a view to a possible longer term commitment if things go well. Unfortunately for the Brit/Canadian their first round opponents were Herbert & Mahut.
Inglot & Nestor were outplayed by the seeds, although they did save break points in the first set. Ultimately the French were too strong winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares were seeded second. After their original first round opponents Stan Wawrinka & Benoit Paire withdrew, the Brit/Brazilian faced Steve Johnson & Nicholas Monroe getting in as lucky losers.
The Americans managed to stay toe to toe with the second seeds, until the tiebreak. Murray & Soares then put the hammer down to dominate and seal the set.
In the second set the Brit/Brazilian moved up a gear and successfully broke the lucky losers to take the match in straight sets 7-6(2), 6-3.
The quarter final opponents for Murray & Soares were the qualifiers Chris Guccione & Andre Sa. The Australian/Brazilian were full of confidence having reached this far, this certainly showed as they forced the Brit/Brazilian into a tiebreak. Guccione & Sa dominated to take the first set.
Murray & Soares fought back in the second set, with neither side giving an inch. Another tiebreak ensued, this time it was the second seeds who dominated the breaker to level the match.
Unfortunately in the final match tiebreak set, the Aussie/Brazilian stepped up a gear and dominated to dump out the Brit/Brazilian 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 10-3. Guccione & Sa went on to make the final before losing to the top seeds.
WTA Birmingham Aegon Classic Round-up
Over in Birmingham Johanna Konta & Elina Svitolina had been given a wild card into the doubles. Their first round opponents were Timea Babos & Oksana Kalashnikova. The Brit/Ukrainian struggled in the first set, and dropped it to Babos & Kalashnikova.
From there Konta & Svitolina got their game going and levelled up the match with a break of serve. There was no holding the Brit/Ukrainian back in the match tiebreak as they dominated to take the match. 2-6, 6-3, 10-1
Naomi Broady & Heather Watson teamed up for the doubles, with a wild card entry. They found themselves up against the second seeds Sania Mirza & Coco Vandeweghe. Although lower ranked the Brits were in stellar form, taking the game to the seeds.
The Indian/American had no answers to the Brits and before long the match was in the hands of Broady & Watson. 6-4, 6-4
The quarter final match up of Broady & Watson against Konta & Svitolina started with the British girls storming to an early lead against the Brit/Ukrainian.
Broady & Watson sealed the first set easily, however Konta & Svitolina fought hard in the second to keep things close. Neither team gave an inch and a tiebreak ensued. The all British team edged the tiebreak to move into the semi final 6-2, 7-6(5)
The semi final had the Brits against Karolina Pliskova & Barbora Strycova. Unfortunately the Czech team were too strong for the Brits and took the match 6-2, 6-4. Pliskova & Strycova went on to win the title.
ATP Ilkley Challenger Round-up
In the Ilkley Challenger Jonny O’Mara had a wild card into the main draw. Unfortunately for the Brit his first round opponent was the top seed Jordan Thompson.
The Aussie was taken to a tiebreak in the first set, before edging the set. Thompson upped the level to dominate the second set to take the match in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-2.
Brydan Klein also had a wild card into the main draw, and found his first round opponent to be Igor Sijsling the third seed.
The Brit is returning from injury and took the match to the seed. Klein got the vital break of serve in the first set to get the lead. The second was closer as Sijsling started to fight back, forcing Klein to a tiebreak. The Dutch player was unable to win the tiebreak and Klein moved to the next round. 6-4, 7-6(5)
In the second round Klein faced Grega Zemlja. The Brit took a while to get into the game as the Slovenian forced a first set tiebreak, to take the first set. Klein fought back to take the next two sets and move into the quarter finals. 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3.
Taking on Ryan Harrison in the quarter final, the Brit was in fine form. Securing a break of serve in the first set, Klein took the lead. In the second set the American fought back to break the Brit for the first time in the tournament.
Klein was in no mood to leave the event at this stage. The Brit dug deep staying with the American, to break right at the end to seal the win 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
At the semi final stage the opponent turned out to be Vincent Millot. Klein started out on top, taking the game to the Frenchman and winning the first set.
Millot and Klein would not give an inch in the second set and a tiebreak followed. The Frenchman eventually edged the breaker to level the match.
In the final set the Brit found Millot too good, dropping serve only once as the Frenchman took the win 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.
Liam Broady another wild card entrant had Zemlja as his first round opponent. The pair split the first two sets with comfortable scorelines, before the Slovenian secured a break of serve in the final set to knock out the Brit 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
Lloyd Glasspool also entered as a wild card and drew Michal Przysiezny. The Pole progressed through the qualifying rounds to the main draw and would be tricky.
The Brit battled hard against the Pole and forced a tiebreak in the first set, Glasspool edged the breaker to go a set up. However, from there Przysiezny stepped up a gear and sealed the win taking the next two sets comfortably 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3
In the doubles Jonny Marray & Adil Shamasdin entered as the fourth seeds. Their first round opponents were Marco Chiudinelli & Franko Skugor. The Brit/Canadian were forced to tiebreaks in both sets, however Marray & Shamasdin dominated both to take the win in straight sets 7-6(1), 7-6(2).
There was a full battle of the Brits as Glasspool & Klein paired up against Broady & Darren Walsh, both pairings had entered courtesy of wild cards.
The match up proved a very close affair with the first two sets ending as tiebreaks. Broady & Walsh edged the first set tiebreak. Glasspool & Klein dominated the second set tiebreak to force a decider. Glasspool & Klein once again dominated to win 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 10-4.
In the quarter final Glasspool & Klein faced Marray & Shamasdin. The fourth seeds were pushed in the first set, before breaking at the end to take the lead.
Glasspool & Klein were not done yet however, they broke the Brit/Canadian in the second set to level the match and take it to a deciding match tiebreak. The all British team edged the final set to move to the semi final 5-7, 6-4, 10-8.
The semi had the Brits playing against the top seeds Wesley Koolhof & Matwe Middelkoop. The Dutch team showed their ranking taking the first set comfortably, however the Brits were determined to put up a fight.
Forcing a tiebreak in the second set Glasspool & Klein edged the breaker and the match was level. Unfortunately the top seeds moved up a gear and dominated the match tiebreak to end the Brits run 6-3, 6-7(5) 10-2.
ATP Nottingham Qualifying
Qualifying for ATP Nottingham took place during the week. Ryan Storrie found himself drawn against the top seed Stephane Robert. The Brit started extremely well, keeping up with the Frenchman to force a first set tiebreak, which Storrie dominated.
The second set appeared to be heading the same way until Robert broke at the end of the set to level up the match. This was all the Frenchman needed and the final set was dominated by Robert who took the win 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-1.
Jay Clarke had a tough first round opponent, as he drew Matthew Barton. The fifth seed only needed one break of serve per set to seal the win, however the Brit did not disgrace himself. 6-4, 7-5.
Joshua Milton faced the third seed Marcelo Arevalo. The Brit stormed out of the blocks and dominated the first set. Arevalo could not hold serve at all in the set.
The Brit kept the momentum going in the second set, although Arevalo fought hard. Milton managed to break serve and seal the win 6-0, 6-4.
Against the sixth seed Ernesto Escobedo the Brit was unable to prevent the American from breaking in both sets to take the win 6-4, 6-4.
WTA Eastbourne Qualifying
Over in Eastbourne Freya Christie had a wild card into the qualifying rounds. Drawing Monica Puig the top seed was always going to be difficult.
The Brit pushed the top seed all the way in both sets, as Puig edged the tiebreaks to progress 7-6(5), 7-6(5).
Katy Dunne also drew a seed in the first round. Madison Brengle the fourth seed was too strong for the Brit on the day, taking the match in comfortable straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
In the first round Laura Robson faced Xu Yifan an alternate as her original opponent withdrew. The Brit made the most of the opportunity, although both sets were tight. Robson eventually came out the winner 7-5, 7-6(4). During the match Robson had a medical time out for an injury to her leg.
In the second round the Brit faced Brengle. The American secured a break of serve and Robson was still struggling with the injury from the previous round. Unfortunately this took its toll on the Brit and she was forced to retire from the match 6-4, 1-0.
Jodie Burrage faced the 14th seed Zheng Saisai. The Chinese player dominated the first set as the Brit struggled to make in roads on the game of Zheng. In the second set Burrage managed to read the game better, holding serve more often. Unfortunately the seed broke at the end of the set to seal the win 6-2, 7-5.
Next week Brits are in Nottingham, Eastbourne & Roehampton (Wimbledon qualifying)
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