By Glenys Furness
- Abbie Breakwell claimed doubles title
- Runner up in Singles
BRESCIA, ITALY – Abbie Breakwell claimed the doubles title and was runner up in the singles. Andrew Penney was runner up in doubles, and a semi-finalist in the singles.
[table “ADPDAll” not found /]
Abbie Breakwell entered the event in Brescia Italy and was the top seed. Breakwell received a bye into the quarter-final. in the quarter-final the Brit was against Vanessa Ricci. The Italian was dominated from start to finish by Breakwell, who broke more or less at will. The top seed eased through into the semi-final in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.
The semi-final saw Breakwell against Marianna Lauro. The Brit dominated the first set, as Lauro struggled on serve. Breakwell took the set and was ahead. However, the Italian regrouped in the second set and dominated the Brit. Breakwell was unable to hold serve, and the match was level. In the final set, the Brit fought hard and managed to dominate again to book a spot in the final 6-2, 0-6, 6-2.
In the final the Brit was against her doubles partner Angela Grosswiler. The Swiss was the second seed. The first set was toe to toe, as both players wouldn’t give an inch. Eventually a tiebreak ensued. Grosswiler eased through the breaker to take the lead. The second set saw Breakwell broken by the second seed. No matter what she tried the Brit could not get back on serve and the Swiss took the title 7-6(3), 6-3.
Men’s Event
Andrew Penney entered Brescia and was unseeded. In the first round the Brit was against Yuri Sabatelli. The Italian was no match for the Brit who dominated from the outset. Penney took the win in straight sets to move into the second round 6-1, 6-0.
In the second round the Brit was against sixth seed Edgar Andres Scalvini Lozano. Penney got the first break of serve and took the first set. The seed however, regrouped in the second set and levelled up the match breaking the Brit serve. The final set saw Penney once again break the serve of the Italian and move into the quarter-final 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
The quarter-final saw Penney against the fourth seed Herbert Keller. The Swiss was the favourite on paper, however the Brit dominated from the outset. No matter what Keller tried, he could not get into the game of the Brit. Penney moved into the semi-final in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.
In the semi-final Penney was against the top seed Martin Legner. The Austrian secured an early break of serve in the first sett to take the lead. The Brit however, stayed with Legner in the second set. With the match going toe to toe, it looked like a tiebreak was on the cards. Unfortunately, the Austrian managed to break serve late in the set and took the match 6-3, 7-5.
Doubles
In the doubles, Breakwell & Grosswiler teamed up and were the top seeds. As a result, they had a bye into the semi-final. Their opponents were Ellie Robertson & Elizabeth Williams. The Brit/American got the better of the top seeds in the first set, breaking to take the lead. However, the Brit/Swiss regrouped and broke in the second to level up the match. The final set was a match tiebreak which the top seeds edged through to book a spot in the final 3-6, 6-4, 14-12.
The final saw the top seeds against the second seeds Silvia Morotti & Vanessa Ricci. The Brit/Swiss broke early in the first set, and the Italians could not get the break back so the set was gone. The second set was even better for Breakwell & Grosswiler as they dominated the Italians to lift the trophy in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
In the men’s doubles Penney teamed up with Kevin Simpson, the Brits were unseeded. In the first round the pair were against Roberto Baroni & Marco Colombo. Penney & Simpson dominated the first set, with the Italians struggling to get into the match. The second set was much closer, but the Brits eventually secured the break of serve needed and moved on 6-1, 6-3.
The quarter-final saw the Brits against the fourth seeds, Keller & Raphael Gremion. The Swiss pair found the Penney & Simpson too good in the first set, as the Brits dominated. The second set was a little closer, as Keller & Gremion managed to hold serve more. Eventually, the Brits broke through and booked a spot in the semi-final 6-1, 6-3.
In the semi-final the Brits were against second seeds Marco Pincella & Giovanni Zeni. Penney & Simpson broke early in the first set and took the lead. The second set was very different. Neither pair wanted to give an inch and so they stayed toe to toe. Eventually, it was the Brits who secured a break and moved into the final 6-3, 7-5.
The final saw the Brits against the top seeds. Legner & Tadeusz Kruszelnicki. The Austrian/Polish pair totally dominated the first set. Penney & Simpson were unable to hold serve. However, the second set was closer. The Brits managed to hold serve and stay with the top seeds. Unfortunately, the Austrian/Pole eventually broke serve and took the match 6-0, 7-5.
Brescia Round Up
Kevin Simpson was defeated by Atilla Farkas in the first round 7-6(9), 6-2.
Ellie Robertson was defeated by Angela Grosswiler in the quarter-final 6-1, 6-3.
French Riviera Open
Andy Lapthorne and David Wagner were the second seeds at the French Riviera Open. In the first round the Brit/American were drawn against Pierlin Angeli & Kevin Girard. The Brits dominated from the outset, as the French pair struggled with the pace. Lapthorne & Wagner moved easily into the next round 6-0, 6-0.
The semi-final saw the Brit/American pair against Brazilian pairing Leandro Pena & Ymanitu Silva. The Brazilians struggled to stay with Lapthorne & Wagner, who dominated the first set. The second set saw the Brazilians step up, and stay toe to toe with the second seeds. Pena & Silva managed to break serve and draw the match level. In the ensuing match tiebreak, Lapthorne & Wagner edged through to book a spot in the final 6-2, 5-7, 10-7.
In the final the Brit/American pair were against the top seeds and Paralympic Champions Sam Schroder & Niels Vink. The Dutch pair managed to break serve in both sets, and although Lapthorne & Wagner tried, they just could not break back. Schroder & Vink took the title 6-3, 6-3.
Lapthorne also entered the singles, and as the third seed had a first round bye. The second round match saw the Brit against Angeli. The Brit dominated both sets, and didn’t drop a game. The Frenchman was unable to keep with Lapthorne, who eased into the quarter-final 6-0, 6-0.
The quarter-final saw Lapthorne against Australian Heath Davidson. The Aussie managed to break the serve of Lapthorne in the first set and took the lead. Unfortunately, Davidson then dominated the second set and took the win in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
Men’s singles
Gordon Reid was the third seed at the same event. In the first round the Brit was against Nico Langmann. The Austrian was no match for Reid who dominated both sets. Reid moved into the next round in straight sets, for the loss of only three games 6-1, 6-2.
In the second round the Brit was against Ruben Spaargaren. The Dutch player was struggling with the game of Reid, who was dominating the set. Unfortunately, Reid struggled with an injury and had to retire from the match, handing the win to Spaargaren 4-1 (RET).
Women’s singles
Lucy Shuker was in the women’s event. As the fifth seed, the Brit had a bye in the first round. The second round saw Shuker against Viktorila Lvova. The Russian stayed with Shuker in the first set, before Lvova broke towards the end of the set to take the lead. Shuker re-grouped in the second set and dominated to level up the match. The final set saw the Russian dominate Shuker to move into the next round 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.
Cornelia Oosthuizen was unseeded and so had a first round opponent. Laurence Maisonnave was no match for the Brit. Oosthuizen dominated both sets to take the match in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. The second round opponent was the second seed Yui Kamiji. The Japanese player dominated the Brit from the outset, despite the effort of Oosthuizen it was Kamiji that moved into the next round 6-0, 6-1.
 |
|---|
| Follow Britwatch - Sport in General, Brits in Particular! | |
|---|---|
| Soundcloud | |
| YouTube | |
| We may receive compensation for products purchased via affiliate links on this website | |