Home
Glenys Furness
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Jay Clarke of Great Britain plays a backhand shot during Day 4 of the Viking Open match between Jay Clarke and Kevin Anderson at Nottingham Tennis Centre on June 08, 2021 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | Challenger & ITF Round Up | Clarke claimed title in ITF Hammemet

Glenys Furness
Tennis

By Glenys Furness

  • Jay Clarke lifted the ITF title in Tunisia
  • Brit was sixth seed
HAMMAMET, TUNISIA – Jay Clarke entered the ITF event and was the sixth seed. The Brit lifted the title ending a great week for the Brit.

 

Browse the Britwatch Sports Amazon Page for our latest Tennis Equipment recommendations

 

Brit of the Week

Jay Clarke entered the ITF event in Tunisia and was the sixth seed. In the first round Clarke was against Italian Qualifier Vito Dell’elba. The Brit dominated from the start, as the Italian struggled to hold serve. Clarke was soon through to the next round in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.

The second round saw Clarke against unseeded Spaniard Max Alcala Gurri. The 21 year old got off to the better start, breaking the serve of the seed to take the lead. The Brit re-grouped in the second set and dominated the young Spaniard to level up the match. The final set saw the seed break early and hold on to take the win and move into the next round 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

In the quarter-final Clarke was against German Peter Heller. The unseeded German stayed with the Brit in the first set, forcing a tiebreak. The seed edged through the tiebreak to take the lead. The second set was a bit easier for Clarke, as he broke early and claimed the win in straight sets 7-6(6), 6-3.

The semi-final saw the Brit against Romanian Sebastian Gima. The sixth seed dominated the first set and eased ahead. The second set was a little bit closer as Gima held serve. However, eventually, Clarke broke through and moved into the final in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.

In the final Clarke was against eighth seed Sandro Kopp. The Austrian got the better of the Brit in the first set, breaking serve to take the lead. The second set though, saw Clarke re-group and dominate to level up the match. The final set saw Clarke ease through after breaking early and lifting the title 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Honourable Mention

Amarni Banks entered the ITF event in Traralgon and was the fifth seed. In the first round the Brit was against Australian Gabriella Da Silva Fick. The seed was pushed hard in the first set as Da Silva Fick forced a tiebreak. Banks edged through the breaker and took the lead. The second set was much easier for the Brit as she broke serve early to move into the next round 7-6(4), 6-3.

The second round saw Banks against another Australian, this time it was Ivana Popovic. The fifth seed was too strong for Popovic and dominated from the outset. Banks eased through the first set quickly and took the lead. The second set was more of the same as Banks repeated the first set and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.

In the quarter-final Banks was against second seed Destanee Alava. The Australian was no match for Banks in the first set, as the fifth seed dominated and took the lead. The second set was much much closer, as the second seed tried to fight back. The set looked to be heading to a tiebreak, but the Brit broke right at the end to take the match and move into the next round 6-2, 7-5.

The semi-final saw Banks against sixth seed Lanlana Taraudee. The Thai couldn’t stay with the Brit in the first set. Banks broke early and took the lead. The second set saw Taraudee try to mount a fight back. However, Banks was just too strong and dominated to book a spot in the final 6-3, 6-2.

In the final the Brit was against unseeded Japanese Naho Sato. Banks got off to a great start, breaking early in the first set and taking the lead. Sato was unable to break back and the set was gone. The second set was more of the same, with Banks breaking Sato again at the start of the set to lift the trophy in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

 

 

Challenger & ITF Round Up

Francesca Jones was defeated by Lucija Ciric Bagaric in the final in Hammamet 2-1 (RET).

Naiktha Bains was defeated by Sayaka Ishii in the second round in Traralgon 6-3, 6-2.

Kyle Edmund was defeated by Titouan Droguet in the first round in Pau 6-2, 6-2.

Jan Choinski was defeated by Benoit Paire in the first round in Pau 6-4, 6-2.

Oliver Crawford was defeated by Alexey Zakharov in the first round in Pune 7-6(4), 6-3.

Felix Gill was defeated by Sasikumar Mukund in the second round in Pune 6-1, 6-0.

Talia Neilson-Gatenby was defeated by Manon Arcangioli in the quarter-final in Monastir 6-3, 6-2.

James Storrie was defeated by Goncalo Marques in the first round in Villena 7-5, 7-5.

Harry Wendelken was defeated by Diego Augusto Barreto Sanchez in the first round in Villena 6-1, 6-3.

Giles Hussey was defeated by Lilian Marmousez in the second round in Villena 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3).

Holly Hutchinson was defeated by Angelina Wirges in the first round in Manacor 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-4.

Ben Jones was defeated by Zura Tkemaladze in the first round in Sharm-El-Sheikh 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5).

Annabelle Lammas was defeated by Flavie Brugnone in the first round in Sharm-El-Sheikh 6-2, 6-0.

Emile Hudd was defeated by Amaury Raynel in the second round in Sharm-El-Sheikh 2-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.

Next Week Brits play in Dubai, Acapulco, Lille, New Delhi, Portugal, Spain, Egypt, France, San Diego, Austin, Slovakia, Australia, Finland, India & Tunisia.