By Glenys Furness
- Harriet Dart claimed the doubles title
- Brit was top seed with Australian Olivia Gadecki
- Amarni Banks runner up in singles
SHREWSBURY, UK – Harriet Dart & Australian Olivia Gadecki were the top seeds in the doubles. The pair claimed the title. Amarni Banks was runner up in the singles.
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Harriet Dart teamed up with Olivia Gadecki and were the top seeds. The Brit/Australian drew Yuriko Lily Miyazaki & Mariam Bolkvadze in the first round. The top seeds dominated the first set and took the lead. Miyazaki & Bolkvadze re-grouped in the second set and levelled up the match. The ensuing match tiebreak saw the Brit/Georgian stay with the top seeds. Eventually, Dart & Gadecki broke through and edged the match 6-1, 3-6, 10-6.
In the quarter-final the top seeds were against Suzan Lamens & Marina Melnikova. The unseeded pair got the jump on the top seeds and broke serve. The second set saw both pairs fighting hard and it looked to be heading to a tiebreak. However, Dart & Gadecki secured the vital break of serve and levelled up the match. The match tiebreak was very close, with neither pair wanting to lose. The top seeds finally secured the break and edged through 3-6, 7-5, 10-8.
The semi-final saw the top seeds against the all British pairing of Holly Hutchinson & Madeleine Brooks. Dart & Gadecki dominated the first set and didn’t lose a game. The second was slightly closer, as Huchinson & Brooks tried to fight back. However, it was the top seeds that secured the vital break of serve to move into the final in straight sets 6-0, 6-3.
In the final Dart & Gadecki were against fourth seeds Barbora Palicova & Elena Malygina. The Brit/Australian dominated from the outset. The top seeds didn’t drop a game in the first set to take the lead. The second set was just a little bit closer as Palicova & Malygina managed to hold serve. However, the top seeds broke through early and quickly to lift the title in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.
Singles
Amarni Banks received a wildcard and in the first round faced fellow wildcard Katy Dunne. Fittingly this battle of the British wildcards was a tough battle. Banks struck first and broke serve to take the lead. Dunne re-grouped and forced a tiebreak in the second set, which Dunne dominated to level the score. The final set was close as both pairs fought hard. Eventually, Banks broke serve and moved into the next round 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4.
The second round saw Banks against fourth seed Dart. The first set saw both stay toe to toe and force a tiebreak. The breaker saw Banks again dominate to take the lead. The second set saw Dart stay with the wildcard at the start, eventually, though, Banks was able to secure the vital break of serve and move into the next round 7-6(3), 6-4.
In the quarter-final Banks was against Swiss eighth seed Simona Waltert. The seed dominated the first set and took the lead. Banks though, re-grouped in the second set to break Waltert serve and level up the match. The final set was dominated by Banks who had the measure of the Swiss by now and dominated to book a spot in the next round 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The semi-final saw the Brit wildcard against second seed Oceane Dodin. The first set was a battle of attrition as neither wanted to give the set up and it went to a tiebreak. The tiebreak was very very close, with Banks eventually edging through to get the lead. The second set saw Banks secure a break of serve on Dodin and move into the final in straight sets 7-6(8), 6-4.
In the final Banks was against Swiss top seed Viktorija Golubic. Unfortunately, the top seed was too strong for Banks and Golubic dominated from the outset. Although the Brit was unable to get a game on the board, a lot of the games were very close and could have gone either way. Golubic lifted the title in straight sets 6-0, 6-0.
The event was also a major breakthrough for 14-year-old Hannah Klugman. The junior US Open quarter-finalist became the youngest player to qualify for an ITF W100 level event since Coco Gauff, who qualified for W100 Charleston at the age of 15 years, one month and 22 days. Klugman now holds the record at 14 years, eight months and 1 day.
She had claimed a win over British No. 5 Lily Miyazaki on the way to the quarter-finals and took second seed Dodin to three sets before her incredible run came to an end.
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Shrewsbury Round Up
Emily Webley-Smith with Katarina Stresnakova were defeated by Samantha Murray-Sharan & Amarni Banks in the first round 6-4, 6-0.
Eliz Maloney with Andre Lukosuite were defeated by Barbora Palicova & Elena Malygina in the first round 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.
Isabelle Lacy was defeated by Vikorija Golubic in the first round 6-4, 6-1.
Emily Appleton was defeated by Yuriko Lily Miyazaki in the first round 6-3, 6-2.
Anna Brogan was defeated by Marina Melnikova in the first round 6-3, 6-4.
Alisha Reayer & Orla Cooper were defeated by Holly Hutchinson & Madeline Brooks in the quarter-final 6-3, 6-1.
Samantha Murray-Sharan & Amarni Banks were defeated by Barbora Palicova & Elena Malygina in the quarter-final 6-4, 6-2.
Francesca Jones was defeated by Vikorija Golubic in the quarter-final 4-3 (RET).
Hannah Klugman was defeated by Oceane Dodin in the quarter-final 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.
Emily Appleton with Isabelle Haverlag were defeated by Barbora Palicova & Elena Malygina in the semi-final 6-3, 6-7(0), 10-6.
Next Week Brits play in Vienna, Basel, Brest, Ortesi, Glasgow, Italy, Canada, USA, Egypt, Kuwait, Greece, Tampico, Spain, France & Portugal.
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