Anton Matusevich during the LTA British Tour 2020, London, UK
Anton Matusevich during the LTA British Tour 2020, London, UK | (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | Challenger & ITF Round Up | Anton Matusevich claims title in Kouvola

  • Anton Matusevich claimed the ITF title in Finland
  • Ryan Peniston claimed the ITF title in Crete
KOUVOLA, FINLAND – Anton Matusevich claimed the singles title in the ITF event, the Brit was third seed. Over in Heraklion, Ryan Peniston took back to back titles.

 

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Brits of the Week

A double header this week. Firstly Anton Matusevich entered the ITF event in Kouvola and was the third seed. The first round saw the Brit against Bekhan Atlangriev. The Russian was no match for Matusevich in the first set as the seed dominated to take the lead. The second set was a little closer, as Atlangriev tried to hold on, however the Brit managed to break serve and take the win 6-2, 6-3.

In the second round Matusevich was against Oscar Weightman. The seed had no problems at all in the first set, as Weightman was unable to hold serve. The second set saw Weightman try to mount a fightback, however, Matusevich secured the break of serve needed to take the match 6-0, 6-4.

The quarter-final saw the Brit against Zsomber Velcz. The Hungarian struggled in the first set, as the seed dominated and took the lead. The second set was a little closer, however, it was Matusevich who secured the break of serve to move into the semi-final 6-0, 6-3.

In the semi-final the Brit was against top seed Alessandro Bega. The Italian stayed with Matusevich to start with, however the third seed managed to break serve to take the lead. In the second set the top seed again tried to stay with the Brit, but once again Matusevich broke serve to book a place in the final 6-4, 6-4.

The final saw the third seed against fourth seed Naoki Tajima. Matusevich made the better start and dominated the first set, loosing only one game. The Japanese re-grouped in the second set and managed to break the Brit to level the match. The final set was one way traffic. Matusevich once again dominated and the fourth seed was unable to get any games on the board. The Brit took the title 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.

Ryan Peniston was third seed in Heraklion. Going for back to back titles the Brit was up against Lorenzo Joaquin Rodriguez. Peniston secured a break in the first set to take the lead. However, the Argentine re-grouped and levelled up by breaking the seed. In the final set, Peniston once again broke serve to book a spot in the next round 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

In the second round the Brit was against Yuki Mochizuki. The Japanese was broken early in the first set by Peniston who took the lead. The second set was a little closer, however, once again the seed managed to secure the vital break needed to take the win 6-3, 6-4.

The quarter-final pitched Peniston against Arthur Fery. The seed was too good for Fery who was outplayed all match. The third seed dominated both sets, taking the match fairly easily. Peniston eased through to the semi-final 6-2, 6-1.

In the semi-final the Brit was against Dan Cox. Once again the seed dominated the match. As much as Cox tried to get into the match, Peniston was just too good. The third seed wasted little time in taking the match to move into the final 6-0, 6-2.

The final pitched Peniston against Zhang Ze. The Chinese player was the seventh seed. In the first set, Ze stayed with the Brit until Peniston secured the break of serve. The second set was dominated by the third seed, who was not going to lose. Peniston claimed the title 6-4, 6-1.

 

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Challenger & ITF Round Up

Billy Harris was defeated by Luke Johnson in the first round in Heraklion 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1.

Mark Whitehouse was defeated by Petros Chrysochos in the first round in Heraklion 7-5, 6-4.

Eliz Maloney was defeated by Darya Astakhova in the first round in Heraklion 6-3. 6-3.

Adam Jones was defeated by Zhang Ze in the second round in Heraklion 6-2, 6-1.

Harry Wendelken was defeated by Luke Johnson in the second round in Heraklion 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3.

Luke Johnson was defeated by Zhang Ze in the quarter-final in Heraklion 6-1, 6-1.

Felix Gill was defeated by Jose Fco. Vidal Azorin in the semi-final in Novomoskovsk 7-6(4), 6-1.

Stuart Parker was defeated by Matteo Gigante in the quarter-final in Antalya 6-1, 6-1.

Jack Pinnington-Jones was defeated by Sebastian Gima in the first round in Bucharest 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5).

Matilda Mutavdzic was defeated by Nika Zupancic in the first round in Otocec 6-3, 6-3.

Emilie Lindh was defeated by Oksana Selekhmeteva in the second round in Santa Margarita De Montbui 6-2, 6-0.

Amanda Carreras was defeated by Oksana Selekhmeteva in the quarter-final in Santa Margarita De Montbui 6-4, 6-0.

Freya Christie was defeated by Chiraz Bechri in the first round in Monastir 6-4, 6-4.

Alice Gillan was defeated by Haruna Arakawa in the second round in Monastir 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Next week Brits play in Paris, Dominican Republic, Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland, Greece & Boznia.

 

 

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