By Glenys Furness
- Dan Evans claimed challenger title in Nottingham
- Ken Skupski & Jonny O’Mara took the doubles title
NOTTINGHAM, UK – Dan Evans entered the Challenger event and was the top seed. Ken Skupski & Jonny O’Mara were the third seeds. The Brits claimed the singles and doubles titles at the event.
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Dan Evans was the top seed in Nottingham, and in the first round he drew the French player Enzo Couacaud. The Brit and Couacaud stayed toe to toe in the first set, before Evans managed to secure the break of serve right at the end to move ahead. The second set was just as close. Neither player could get ahead and a tiebreak followed. Evans managed to secure the breaker and move into the next round 7-5, 7-6.
In the second round Evans was against Thomas Fabbiano. The Italian stayed close to the Brit in the first set, before once again Evans broke at the end of the set and took the lead. The second set saw the top seed dominate, without being troubled by Fabbiano. The Brit didn’t lose a single game in the set and moved into the next round in straight sets 7-5, 6-0.
The quarter-final saw Evans against eighth seed Marc-Andrea Huesler. The Swiss tried to stay with the Brit in the first set, before the Brit managed to break serve and take the lead. The second set was much of the same, with Evans breaking serve to move into the semi-final 6-4, 6-4.
In the semi-final Evans was against the seventh seed Jack Sock. The American stayed with the Brit in the first set, until Evans managed to get a break of serve and move in the lead. The second set was easier for Evans, with an early break of serve to move into the final 7-5, 6-3.
The final saw the Brit against Jordan Thompson. The Australian third seed tried to stay with Evans, but the top seed secured the break of serve required to move into the lead. The second set was the same, with the Australian failing to break serve, whilst Evans broke and took the title in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
Doubles Event
In the challenger doubles event, Ken Skupski & Jonny O’Mara teamed up and were the third seeds. Their first round match was against Antoine Hoang & Geoffrey Blancaneaux. The French pairing stayed close to the third seeds, and broke at the end of the first set to take the lead. The Brits re-grouped in the second set and dominated Hoang & Blancaneaux to level up the match. In the ensuing match tiebreak, the seeds eased through to book a spot in the quarter-final 5-7, 6-2, 10-4.
The quarter-final saw the Brits against Artem Sitak & Divij Sharan. The Kiwi/Indian pairing stayed with the third seeds at the start, but eventually Skupski & O’Mara broke serve and took the lead. The second set saw the Brits break early, and Artem & Sharan were unable to break back. Skupski & O’Mara moved into the semi-final in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
In the semi-final Skupski & O’Mara were against Felix Gill & Arthur Fery. The third seeds battled hard against Gill & Fery before securing the break of serve to take the lead. In the second set Skupski & O’Mara broke early and Gill & Fery were unable to get back on terms. The third seeds moved into the final 6-4, 6-3.
The final saw the seeds against the only other remaining Brits in the draw Julian Cash & Henry Patten. The unseeded pair got the jump on Skupski & O’Mara and broke serve early. The third seeds re-grouped in the second set, and dominated to level up the match. The final was a match tiebreak, and was very close. Both pairs were toe to toe, before Skupski & O’Mara finally edged through and lifted the trophy 3-6, 6-2, 16-14.
Nottingham Round Up
Alastair Gray was defeated by Fernando Verdasco in the first round 7-6, 7-6.
Paul Jubb was defeated by Jay Clarke in the first round 6-3, 6-2.
Daniel Cox was defeated by Marc-Andrea Huesler in the second round 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Jay Clarke was defeated by Jordan Thompson in the second round 6-4, 6-4.
Liam Broady was defeated by Jack Sock in the quarter-final 7-6, 1-6, 6-4.
Ryan Peniston was defeated by Alexei Popyrin in the quarter-final 6-3, 6-4.
Liam Broady & Jay Clarke were defeated by Treat Huey & Willam Blumberg in the first round 6-4, 3-6, 10-2.
Charles Broom & Aidan McHugh were defeated by Ryan Peniston & Alastair Gray in the first round 6-3, 6-2.
Ryan Peniston & Alastair Gray were defeated by Treat Huey & William Blumberg in the quarter-final 3-6, 7-6, 10-5.
Next week Brits play in London, Ilkley, Corrientes, USA, Spain, France, Dominican Republic, Belgium, Israel, Tunisia & Birmingham.
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