British Tennis - Lawn Tennis Association

Day 1 of the main draw of the AEGON GB Pro-Series Newcastle saw a number of British player’s involved in epic three set encounters.

First of the three setters to finish was a 2 hour 25 minute match between Toby Martin and Daniel McGrath, who had both won through qualifying.

McGrath, on a rich run of form having won the previous week’s AEGON British Tour in Newcastle, won the first set 6-3, before Martin who is based at Bath, recover to win the final two sets 6-2, 6-4.

There was nearly an early upset when Olly Hudson won the first set 7-5 against fifth seeded Richard Bloomfield. The Norwich player then levelled the match at a set all, to set up an intriguing final set which nearly lasted two hours.

At one stage Hudson lead 5-3, and held match points at 5-3 and 5-4. The match then went into a dramatic final set tie-break, with both players holding match points, before 27 year old Bloomfield snatched victory 11-9.

Seventh seeded Josh Goodall came from a set down to beat Italian player Giulio Torrini 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 in 2 hours 30 minutes. Whilst sixth seeded Morgan Phillips recovered from losing the first set 6-1, before levelling his match with Sean Thornley by taking the second set 6-2. The two Brits then found themselves in a final set tie-break which Phillips won 7-2.

Christophe Rochus rolled back the years partnering his pupil Arthur De Greef when beating British teenagers Liam Broady & Oliver Golding 6-1 6-1, whilst in the final match of the day Scott Clayton & Richard Gabb recorded an excellent doubles victory over the Italian pairing of Capone & Torroni 5-7 7-5 [10-8], recovering from 5-1 in the match tie-break.