By Glenys Furness
- Johannus Monday claimed the title in USA
- Brit was unseeded
- Defeated two seeds en route
LOUISEVILLE, KENTUCKY, USA – Johannus Monday claimed the ITF event title and was unseeded. The Brit defeated the top seed and fourth seeds en route.
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Brit of the Week
Johannus Monday entered the ITF and was unseeded. The Brit drew qualifier Evan Zhu in the first round. The American stayed close to the Brit in the first set, before Monday secured the vital break of serve and moved ahead. The second set saw Monday dominate Zhu, who struggled to stay with the Brit. Monday moved into the next round in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
The second round saw Monday against another qualifier Sebastian Dominko. The Slovakian had defeated the third seed in the previous round. Monday dominated the first set and took the lead. The second set was a little bit closer, as Dominko tried to stay with the Brit. Eventually, Monday broke serve and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
In the quarter-final the Brit was against yet another qualifier Keshav Chopra. The American was outclassed by Monday in the first set. The Brit dominated and eased into the lead. The second set was a bit closer, as Chopra tried to mount a fight back. However, Monday managed to secure the break of serve and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
The semi-final pitched Monday against the top seed and fellow Brit Aidan McHugh. Monday and the top seed battled hard in the first set, before the unseeded Brit broke serve and took the lead. The second set saw McHugh fight back and break Monday to level up the match. This spurred on Monday who dominated the final set and moved into the final 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
In the final Monday was against the fourth seed Tyler Zink. The American could not stay with the Brit in the first set, as Monday dominated and took the lead. The second set saw Zink try and get back into the match. Monday, though, was having non of it. The Brit broke early and went on to lift the trophy in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
Honourable Mention
Jay Clarke entered the ITF event in Italy and was the second seed. The Brit drew qualifier Joaquin Aguilar Cardoza in the first round. The Uruguayan proved dangerous in the first set, breaking the seeds serve and taking the lead. However, Clarke re-grouped in the second set and dominated to level up the match. The final set was more of the same with the Brit continuing to dominate. Clarke moved into the next round 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
The second round saw the Brit against Italian Gabriele Pennaforti. The Brit managed to break early to keep Pennaforti at bay in the first set. The second set was much easier for the seed, as he dominated whilst the Italian struggled to keep pace. Clarke moved into the next round in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
In the quarter-final the Brit was against the fifth seed Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo. Clarke dominated the first set and took the lead. The Spaniard tried to fight back in the second set, staying with the Brit at the start. Eventually, Clarke broke serve and moved on in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
The semi-final saw Clarke against unseeded Nerman Fatic. The Bosnian defeated the third seed in the previous round, so was riding on a high. The Brit dominated the first set and Fatic was unable to keep pace with the seed. Clarke broke at will and had the lead. The second set was more of the same, as Fatic tried to stay with the Brit but was unable to. Clarke moved into the final in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
In the final Clarke was against the top seed Gianluca Mager. The Italian was the favourite on paper and obviously with the crowd. The Brit and the top seed stayed close at the start, before Clarke managed to engineer a break and hold on to take the lead. After the first set, it was clear Mager could not continue. The Italian shook hands and gave the win to Clarke 6-3.
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Challenger & ITF Round Up
Billy Harris was defeated by Mackenzie McDonald in the second round in Hangzhou 6-0, 6-1.
Jan Choinski was defeated by Daniel Galan in the quarter-final in Valencia 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Cameron Norrie was defeated by Luca Van Assche in the quarter-final in Roanne 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Jack Pinnington-Jones was defeated by Max Basing in the first round in Fairfield 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
Max Basing was defeated by Bernard Tomic in the second round in Fairfield 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-1.
Emma Wilson was defeated by Amandine Monnot in the first round in Quinta do Lago 6-3, 6-4.
Hephzibah Oluwadare was defeated by Justina Mikulskyte in the second round in Quinta do Lago 6-2, 6-3.
Peter Alam was defeated by Egor Agafonov in the first round in Sharm-El-Sheikh 6-4, 6-4.
Kyle Rae was defeated by Robert Strombachs in the first round in Sharm-El-Sheikh 6-0, 6-3.
Henry Searle was defeated by Deney Wassermann in the quarter-final in Grodzisk Mazowiecki 7-6(7), 6-4.
Isabelle Lacy was defeated by Anja Wildgruber in the first round in Monastir 6-1, 7-5.
Ewen Lumsden was defeated by Chris Rodesch in the second round in Monastir 6-4, 6-3.
Mark Whitehouse was defeated by Ivan Marrero Curbelo in the first round in Pontevedra 7-5, 7-6(3).
Emile Hudd was defeated by Matthew Dellavedova in the quarter-final in Pontevedra 6-3, 6-1.
Sonay Kartal was defeated by Marina Bassols Ribera in the first round in Cornella de Llobregat 7-6(0), 6-4.
Sarah Tatu was defeated by Sinja Kraus in the second round in Seville 6-4, 6-2.
Amarni Banks was defeated by Antonia Ruzic in the second round in Bratislava 6-4, 0-6, 6-1.
Next Week Brits play in Stockholm, Almaty, Olbia, Shenzhen, Saint Brieuc, Calgary, Edgbaston, Egypt, Italy, USA, Turkey, Tunisia, Spain, Ningbo, Osaka & Shrewsbury.
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