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Alfie Hewett at The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, 2017
Alfie Hewett at The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, 2017 | (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for The Tennis Foundation)

Tennis | Wheelchair Tennis Round Up | Penney & Hewett claim both titles in Bulle & Rome

Glenys Furness
Tennis

By Glenys Furness

  • Andrew Penney defends singles & doubles in Switzerland
  • Alfie Hewett claims singles & doubles in Rome
BULLE, SWITZERLAND – Andrew Penney was the top seed and defending champion. The Brit retained both title. Alfie Hewett did the double in Rome.

 

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Andrew Penney entered the event in Switzerland and was the top seed. The Brit was defending champion in both singles and doubles. In the first round of the singles Penney took on Canadian Thomas Venos. The Canadian stayed toe to toe with the Brit. Eventually, Penney broke serve and took the lead. The second set saw the top seed break early and ease into the second round 6-4, 6-3.

In the quarter-final Penney was against Jakub Bukala. The Pole found the top seed too strong in the first set, as Penney dominated and took the lead. The second set was a little closer as Bukala managed to hold serve. Eventually, though, the Brit broke serve and moved into the next round 6-0, 6-3.

The semi-final saw Penney against fourth seed Lhaj Boukartacha. The Moroccan stayed with the Brit in the first set, before the top seed broke serve to take the lead. The second set saw Penney dominate Boukartacha and ease through into the final 6-4, 6-1.

In the final Penney was against third seed Josef Riegler. The Austrian stayed with the Brit and forced a tiebreak in the first set. Riegler edged through the breaker and took the first set. The second set saw Penney re-group and dominate to level up the match. The final set once again saw the Brit dominate. Penney lifted the trophy in three sets 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-2.

In the doubles Penney teamed up with Venos and they were the second seeds. In their first match the Brit/Canadian were against Boukartacha & Giorgos Lazaridis. The seeds dominated the first set and eased into the lead. The second set was closer, as the Moroccan/Greek held serve. Eventually, the Brit/Canadian broke serve and moved into the next round 6-0, 6-4.

The semi-final saw the seeds against Garreth Greene & Ivan Kindt. The Irish/Belgian pair were no match for Penney & Venos who dominated from the outset. The Brit/Canadian eased through each set with the loss of only one game. The seeds eased through 6-1, 6-1.

In the final the second seeds were against top seeds Bukala & Kamil Fabisiak. The Poles stayed with the Brit/Canadian until right towards the end of the set, when Penney & Venos broke serve to take the lead. At that point Bukala & Fabisiak were unable to continue and handed the match to the second seeds 7-5 (RET).

 

 

Rome

Over in Rome Alfie Hewett was top seed and received a bye in the first round. The quarter-final saw the Brit against Ruben Spaargaren. The Brit dominated the first set to take the lead. The second set was a little closer as the Dutchman tried to fight back. However, Hewett held his nerve and broke serve to move on 6-1, 6-4.

In the semi-final Hewett was against his doubles partner Gordon Reid. The Brits both fought hard, trying to break serve. Eventually, the top seed broke the fourth seed to take the lead. The second set was more of the same. The result was also the same as Hewett moved into the final 6-4, 6-4.

The final saw the Brit against second seed Gustavo Fernandez. The Argentine found the Brit far too good. Hewett dominated from the outset. The top seed lost only two games as he lifted the title 6-1, 6-1.

In the doubles Hewett & Reid were top seeds and again received a bye. The quarter-final saw them against Dutch pair Tom Egberink & Maikel Scheffers. The Brits dominated the match from the start. Ebgerink & Scheffers were unable to hold serve and lost the first set quickly. The second was a little closer, however, the Brits broke serve to take the match 6-0, 6-4.

The final saw the Brits against second seeds Martin De la Puente & Joachim Gerard. The Spaniard/Belgian could not keep pace with the top seeds in the first set, as Hewett & Reid eased into the lead. The second set was a little closer. However, De la Puente & Gerard could not prevent the top seeds from breaking and taking the win 6-1, 6-4.