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Glenys Furness
Andy Murray in the first round of the 2023 Rothesay Open in Notingham, UK
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates victory after winning the Men's Singles Round of 32 match against Joris De Loore of Belgium (not pictured) during Day Two of the Rothesay Open Nottingham at Nottingham Tennis Centre on June 13, 2023 in Nottingham, England. | (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | Nottingham Challenger Round Up | Murray, Monday & Fearnley claim titles

Glenys Furness
Tennis

By Glenys Furness

  • Andy Murray wins back to back grass titles
  • Johannus Monday & Jacob Fearnley claim the doubles
NOTTINGHAM, UK – Andy Murray was the top seed in the Nottingham Challenger and was looking to continue his grass form ahead of Wimbledon. The Brit didn’t drop a set to claim the title.

 

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Andy Murray entered the Nottingham Challenger and was hoping to continue his so far successful build up to Queens and Wimbledon. Having won the Surbiton Challenger last week, the Brit wanted another successful week.

In the first round Murray drew Belgian Joris De Loore. The Brit continued where he left off in Surbiton. The top seed had little trouble with De Loore in the first set, breaking early to take the lead. The second set was a little closer as the Beligan played a little better. However, Murray showed his class and experience and broke the Belgian to take the match in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

The second round saw Murray against Frenchman Hugo Grenier. The Brit once again started well, and grabbed the early break of serve to take the lead. The second set was much closer as Grenier started to find his feet. Staying with Murray the Frenchman looked to force a tiebreak, but the top seed was too good and managed to break right when needed and took the match 6-3, 7-5.

In the quarter-final the Brit was against the eighth seed Dominic Stricker. This was the closest match so far, as the Swiss player stayed with the top seed and forced a tiebreak. However, Murray stayed calm and took the breaker and the lead. The second set looked to be heading the same way as Stricker again stayed with the top seed. Murray, though, managed to secure the vital break of serve just when needed and moved into the next round 7-6, 7-5.

The semi-final saw Murray against third seed Nuno Borges. The Portuguese was no match for the Brit who broke early in the first set to take the lead. Borges just couldn’t deal with the grass game of the top seed. The second set saw Murray dominate, breaking easily, whilst the Portuguese struggled to stay with him. The Brit moved into the next round 6-3, 6-2.

In the final, the top seed was against qualifier Arthur Cazaux. The Frenchman had proved dangerous as qualifiers tend to do. Making it all the way to the final, this was not going to be easy. Cazaux proved this by staying with Murray in the first set. Eventually, the Brit was able to break serve to take the lead. The second set followed more of the same, with the qualifier trying to stay with Murray. The top seed did again break serve and took the title, his second grass court title back to back in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

 

Doubles

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Jacob Fearnley & Johannus Monday were awarded a wildcard into the event. Their reward was a match against the top seeds Andre Goransson & Ben McLachlan. The Swede/Japanese pair stayed with the Brits in the first set, before the wildcard pair secured the break of serve to take the lead. The second set was even closer. Goransson & McLachlan stayed with Fearnley & Monday to force a tiebreak. The Brits managed to get the win and move into the next round 6-4, 7-6.

In the quarter-final the Brits were against the Indian pair of N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth & Anirudh Chandrasekar. The first set was very close as the Brits & Indians fought hard. Eventually, a tiebreak ensued. Once again Fearnley & Monday managed to claim the tiebreak and take the lead. The second set was a little easier for the Brits as they broke serve early and moved into the next round 7-6, 6-3.

The semi-final pitched the Brits against the third seeds John-Patrick Smith & Robert Galloway. The seeds dominated the first set as Fearnley & Monday struggled to hold serve. However, the second set saw the Brit re-group and play better. Eventually, they broke the serve of the seeds to level the match. In the ensuing match tiebreak the Brits edged through to take the win 2-6, 6-4, 10-8.

The final was an all British affair. Fearnley & Monday were against Surbiton doubles winners Liam Broady & Jonny O’Mara. Fearnley & Monday broke early in the first set to take the lead. However, last weeks challenger winners fought back in the second set. Broady & O’Mara held firm to force a tiebreak, which the won to level up the match. In the winner takes all champions tiebreak, it was the wildcard pairing that edged through to take the title 6-3, 6-7, 10-7.

 

 

Nottingham Round Up

Jan Choinski was defeated by Hugo Grenier in the first round 6-4, 6-4.

Ryan Peniston was defeated by Dominic Stricker in the second round 6-4, 6-2.

Liam Broady was defeated by Sho Shimabukuro in the second round 7-6, 6-4.

Arthur Fery was defeated by Dominik Koepfer in the second round 6-4, 6-2.

George Loffhagen was defeated by Dominik Koepfer in the quarter-final 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Luke Johnson & Julian Cash were defeated by Connor Thomson & Toby Samuel in the quarter-final 6-3, 6-7, 10-8.

Connor Thomson & Toby Samuel were defeated by Liam Broady & Jonny O’Mara in the semi-final 6-7, 7-5, 10-3.

Next Week Brits play in London, Ilkley, Israel, USA, Dominican Republic, Tunisia, Birmingham, Italy & Spain.