By Glenys Furness
- Kyle Edmund & Sonay Kartal claim singles titles
- Charles Broom, George Houghton & Ella McDonald claim doubles titles
LOUGHBOROUGH, UK – Kyle Edmund and Sonay Kartal both claimed the singles titles at the ITF event. George Houghton, Charles Broom & Ella McDonald all took doubles titles.
Kyle Edmund was unseeded at the ITF event at the start of his comeback. Having ended 2023 early due to a wrist injury the Brit dropped down the rankings. Entering ITF events was the obvious step on the return. In the first round Edmund was against six seed Jay Clarke. Edmund started well and broke Clarke early to take the lead. The second set saw Clarke fight back and re-group. Although looking like going to a tiebreak the higher ranked Brit broke right at the end to level up the match. The final set was very even, as both players tried to break through. Eventually, it was Edmund that got the break of serve to take the win 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
The second round saw Edmund against Estonian Danill Glinka. The Brit stayed with Glinka at the start but the Estonian managed to break serve and take the lead. The second set saw Edmund re-group and work out the game of Glinka. Edmund broke serve and levelled up the match. The final set saw the Brit dominate and move into the next round 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
In the quarter-final the Brit was against Italian Fausto Tabacco. Edmund dominated from the start and barely put a foot wrong. The Brit broke at will in the first set, losing only one game. The second set was more of the same as the Brit continued to ease beyond Tabacco. Edmunds moved into the next round in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
The semi-final saw Edmund against top seed and fellow Brit Charles Broom. The first set was a very tense affair. Both players were unable to get the vital break of serve and a tiebreak ensued. The tiebreak was close as neither could get ahead to start with. Eventually, after a long tiebreak Broom moved ahead. The second set, though, saw Edmunds re-group and secure a break of serve to level up the match. The final set saw Edmunds break early and moved into the final 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3.
The final saw Edmund against Martyn Pawelski. The Pole stayed close to the Brit in both sets. The Brit, though, managed to break serve in the first set and take the lead. The second set was more of the same with Pawelski trying hard to break serve. However, it was the Brit that secured the vital break and took the title 6-4, 6-4.
Ladies Singles
Sonay Kartal was the top seed and drew qualifier Bronte Murgett. The top seed dominated the first set, as the qualifier struggled to hold serve. Kartal eased into the lead. The second set was a little closer as Murgett found some form. However, the top seed managed to break serve and take the win 6-1, 6-3.
In the second round the Brit was against German Julia Middendorf. Kartal dominated the first set again as the German couldn’t stop the top seed from breaking serve. The second set was closer as Middendorf held serve. However, eventually, Kartal broke through and took the win 6-2, 6-4.
The quarter-final saw the Brit against seventh seed Barbora Palicova. The Czech was no match for the top seed who dominated from the outset. Kartal barely put a foot wrong during the whole match and eased through with a straight sets win 6-1, 6-2.
In the semi-final Kartal was against fellow Brit Ranah Stoiber. The top seed dominated the qualifier in the first set as Stoiber couldn’t hold serve. However, the second set saw the qualifier re-group and dominate the top seed to level up the match. The final set saw Kartal break early and Stoiber couldn’t get back on terms. The top seed moved through 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.
The final saw Kartal against unseeded Manon Leonard. The first set was close as the Frenchwoman managed to stay with the Brit. Eventually, Kartal broke serve and moved into the lead. The second set saw the top seed dominate as Leonard struggled to hold. The Brit lifted the title 6-4, 6-1.
Men’s Doubles
Charles Broom & George Houghton were the second seeds. The Brits were against Adam Jones & Henry Searle in the first round. The second seeds broke early in the first set and took the lead. The second set saw Jones & Searle re-group and force a tiebreak, which they edged through. The final match tiebreak saw the seeds ease through and book a spot in the next round 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-4.
In the quarter-finals the seeds were against Finn Bass & Harry Wendelken. Broom & Houghton dominated the first set and took the lead. The second set saw Bass & Wendelken re-group and break serve to level up the match. The final match tiebreak set was very close, with the seeds eventually edging through 6-2, 3-6, 10-7.
The semi-final saw the seeds against French pair Clement Chidekh & Luca Sanchez. This match was much easier for the Brits as the French pair couldn’t stop Broom & Houghton breaking serve. The Brits only needed one break of serve per set and eased into the final 6-4, 6-4.
In the final Broom & Houghton were against third seeds Jay Clarke & Millen Hurrion. The first set was very close, and the second seeds broke right at the end to avoid a tiebreak. The second set was a little easier, as Broom & Houghton broke early and lifted the title 7-5, 6-3.
Ladies Doubles
Ella McDonald teamed up with Liv Hovde and were unseeded. In the first round the Brit/American pair were against Amelie Brooks & Lucia Cassidy. The Brits stayed with McDonald/Hovde at first, before the Brit/American pair broke serve to take the lead. The second set was dominated by McDonald & Hovde who eased into the next round 6-4, 6-0.
The quarter-final saw the Brit/American against the top seeds Emily Appleton & Freya Christie. The top seeds dominated the first set as McDonald & Hovde struggled to stay with them. The second set saw the Brit/American re-group and break serve to level up the match. In the ensuing match tiebreak McDonald & Hovde eased through and took the win 2-6, 6-3, 10-5.
In the semi-final the Brit/American were against the third seeds Jenny Duerst & Jasmijn Gimbrere. McDonald & Hovde dominated the first set as the seeds struggled to get into the match. The second set was a little closer, as the Swiss/Dutch managed to hold serve. Eventually, the Brit/American broke serve to move into the final 6-1, 6-4.
The final saw the Brit/American against the second seeds Alicia Barnett & Sarah Beth Grey. The second seeds were better in the first set, breaking McDonald & Hovde to take the lead. The second set saw the Brit/American dominate and level up the match. The ensuing match tiebreak saw the Brit/American edged through and lifted the title 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.
Loughborough Round Up
Hamish Stewart was defeated by Charles Broom in the first round 7-5, 6-4.
Patrick Brady was defeated by Viktor Durasovic in the first round 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3.
Toby Samuel was defeated by Fausto Tabacco in the first round 7-5, 1-6, 6-2.
Daniel Cox was defeated by Anton Matusevich in the first round 7-5, 7-5.
Ben Jones was defeated by Jonas Forejtek in the first round 7-5, 7-6(2).
Marcus Walters was defeated by Henry Searle in the first round 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-1.
Michael Shaw was defeated by George Loffhagen in the first round 6-4, 6-3.
Emma Wilson was defeated by Julia Middendorf in the first round 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.
Eliz Maloney was defeated by Ella McDonald in the first round 6-4, 7-6(3).
Freya Christie was defeated by Laura Hietaranta in the first round 7-6(5), 6-4.
Anna Brogan was defeated by Hanne Vandewinkel in the first round 6-3, 6-4.
Allegra Korpanec Davies was defeated by Urszula Radwanska in the first round 6-4, 6-4.
Ewan Moore & Michael Shaw were defeated by Viktor Durasovic & Jonas Forejtek in the first round 6-2, 6-4.
James Davis & Hamish Stewart were defeated by Jay Clarke & Millen Hurrion in the first round 1-6, 6-3, 16-14.
Sean Hodkin & David Quayle were defeated by Garrett Johns & Slim Troost in the first round 6-2, 7-5.
Ryan Golesworthy & James MacKinley were defeated by Finn Bass & Harry Wendelken in the first round 6-4, 6-3.
Ranah Stoiber with Hina Inoue were defeated by Jenny Duerst & Jasmijn Gimbrere in the first round 7-5, 6-4.
Bronte Murgett & Summer Yardley were defeated by Conny Perrin & Valentina Ryser in the first round 6-1, 6-3.
Aryana Bartlett & Katie Dyson were defeated by Abigail Amos & Emma Wilson in the first round 6-3, 6-0.
Madeleine Brooks & Nell Miller were defeated by Eliz Maloney & Oleksandra Oliymykova in the first round 6-3, 0-6, 10-8.
Alastair Gray was defeated by Charles Broom in the second round 0-0 (RET).
Millen Hurrion was defeated by Viktor Durasovic in the second round 6-3, 6-4.
Jacob Fearnley was defeated by Anton Matusevich in the second round 0-0 (RET).
George Loffhagen was defeated by Henry Searle in the second round 3-4 (RET).
Emily Appleton was defeated by Barbora Palicova in the second round 6-4, 6-3.
Ella McDonald was defeated by Ranah Stoiber in the second round 6-3, 6-3.
Sarah Beth Grey was defeated by Natasja Schunk in the second round 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
Alice Gillan was defeated by Liv Horde in the second round 6-2, 6-2.
Henry Searle was defeated by Cannon Kingsley in the quarter-final 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Anton Matusevich was defeated by Martyn Pawelski in the quarter-final 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2.
Liam Hignett & Ewen Lumsden were defeated by Clement Chidekh & Luca Sanchez in the quarter-final 7-5, 6-2.
Abigail Amos & Emma Wilson were defeated by Elena Malygina & Barbora Palicova in the quarter-final 6-4, 6-4.
Eliz Maloney with Oleksandra Oliymykova were defeated by Alicia Barnett & Sarah Beth Grey in the quarter-final 7-6(6), 6-2.
Ben Jones & Mark Whitehouse were defeated by Jay Clarke & Millen Hurrion in the semi-final 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.
Next Week Brits play in Australian Open, Nonthaburi, Tenerife, Indian Wells, Buenos Aires, Sunderland, India, Qatar, Spain & Tunisia.
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