By Glenys Furness & Ros Satar
- Emily Appleton & Ali Collins claimed the title in France
- Brits didn’t drop a set until the final
LYON & JOUE LES TOURS, FRANCE – Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls reached the WTA Lyon final in just their first WTA level tournament, and Emily Appleton & Ali Collins claimed the ITF title dropping only one set.
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Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls reached their first final in only their first WTA event last week, finishing as runners-up at the WTA Lyon.
Barnett and Nicholls came through three tough challenges in the early rounds, upsetting third seeds Irina Bara and Ekaterine Gorgodze and making a stunning comeback from 0-6, 0-4 down to beat and fellow Brit Sam Murray Sharan and Ulrikke Eikeri 0-6, 7-6(5), 10-3.
Their dream WTA level debut came to an end in the final, where they lost to Laura Siegemund and Vera Znonareva, 7-5, 6-1.
Emily Appleton & Ali Collins entered the ITF event in France and were not seeded. However, they received a first round bye. In the quarter-final the Brits were against the third seeds Tayisiya Morderger & Yana Morderger. The Germans were no match for the Brits in the first set. Appleton & Collins dominated the set and took the lead dropping only one game. The second set was closer, as the Germans fought back. However, the Brits were too strong and broke the Germans to take the match in straight sets 6-1, 7-5.
The semi-final pitched the Brits against the second seeds Magali Kempen & Justina Mikulskyte. The Belgian/Lithuanian stayed close to Appleton & Collins in the first set. However, the Brits managed to get the break of serve and take the lead. The second set was closer as Kempen & Mikulskyte tried to fight back. The seeds stayed with the Brits and looked to be forcing a tiebreak. Ultimately, the Brits managed to get the break of serve and move into the final 6-4, 7-5.
In the final the Brits were against Mona Barthel & Yanina Wickmayer. The German/Belgian pair dominated the first set, breaking at will and took the lead. Appleton & Collins fought back in the second, and secured a break of serve to level up the match. In the ensuing match tie break the Brits edged ahead and took the title 2-6, 6-4, 10-6.
Doubles Round Up
Heather Watson with Mayar Sherif were defeated by Catherine Harrison & Sabrina Santamaria in the quarter-final in Monterrey 4-6, 6-2, 10-6.
Samantha Murray Sharan with Ulrikke Eikeri were defeated by Alicia Barnett & Olivia Nicholls in the semi-final in Lyon 0-6, 7-6(5), 10-3.
Alicia Barnett & Olivia Nicholls were defeated by Laura Siegemund & Vera Zvonareva in the final in Lyon 4-6, 7-5, 12-10.
Henry Patten & Mark Whitehouse defeated Colin Markes & Keegan Smith in the final in Santo Domingo 6-4, 6-4.
Scott Duncan with Dominik Kellovsky were defeated by Theo Arribage & Luca Sanchez in Torello 7-5, 5-7, 10-8.
Felix Gill with Roman Andres Burrachaga defeated Sarp Agabigun & Admir Kalender in the final in Antalya 6-4, 6-3.
Emilie Lindh with Kathleen Kanev were defeated by Diana Chehoudi & Nicole Gadient in the first round in Monastir 7-6(4), 6-4.
Luc Koenig with Youssef Labbene were defeated by Omni Kumar & Ryuki Matsuda in the quarter-final in Monastir 6-0, 4-6, 10-5.
Tara Moore with Emina Bektas were defeated by Harriet Dart & Giuliana Olmos in the semi-final in Arcadia, California 6-7(5), 6-1, 10-6.
Harriet Dart with Giuliana Olmos were defeated by Ashlyn Kruger & Robin Montgomery in the final in Arcadia, California 0-0 (RET).
Naiktha Bains with Erica Sema were defeated by Jaimee Fourlis & Ellen Perez in the quarter-final in Bendigo 6-3, 6-2.
Next Week Brits play in Indian Wells, Monterrey, Santiago, Portugal, Turkey, France, India, Tunisia, Egypt, Mexico & Australia.
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