Duncan and Chidekh champions in Glasgow, Collins reaches back-to-back finals, Scots impress on pro tour

Duncan and Willis earn second ATP Challenger title 

Scott Duncan and Marcus Willis claimed their second ATP Challenger title at the Lexus Glasgow Challenger. 

The top seeds started their campaign with a straight sets win over Harry Wendleken and David Poljak 6-4 6-2.  

Duncan, on home soil in Scotland, and Willis cruised past Elmar Ejupovic and Andrea Guerrieri 6-0 6-1 to progress to the semi-final.  

The pair faced American Hunter Reese and Aussie Thomas Fancutt in a clash that went the distance. Duncan and Willis prevailed after almost two-and-a-half hours 7-6(7) 6-7(5) 10-7 to book their spot in the final. 

Saturday’s final saw the pair take on wildcard entry Kyle Edmund and Henry Searle, who had bested Hamish Stewart and James Davis in a match tie-break in the previous round. 

Duncan and Willis kept their momentum and posted a 6-3 6-2 win to take home the title in front of a delighted home crowd. 

Reflecting on winning a Challenger title on home turf, Duncan said: “We’re delighted to win our second Challenger title. We won the first in November and then had an unfortunate first round last week [in Nottingham], but it’s great to win another title. It makes it all the sweeter being back home in Scotland. 

“It makes a massive difference playing in Scotland, being on the centre court, knowing the venue, knowing the environment and having the home crowd was awesome.”

Clement Chidekh claims maiden ATP Challenger title. 

Clement Chidekh won his first ATP Challenger title on Sunday at Scotstoun. The Frenchman entered the tournament unseeded with an ATP ranking of 563 but rose to the occasion before a huge crowd in Glasgow. 

Chidekh started strongly with a 7-5 6-2 win over Kacper Zuk before beating Spain’s Carlos Taberner 6-4 6-2 to progress to the quarter-finals.  

There he took on in-form home favourite Hamish Stewart, who had already upset top seed Calvin Hemery en route to his second consecutive Challenger quarter-final.  

In an entertaining encounter, Chidekh was able to recover from a set down against the Scot and pull through 4-6 6-4 6-4. 

He then took on countryman, and fourth seed, Manuel Guinard in the semi-final, who he was able to best 6-3 6-4 to book his place in the final. 

He faced Paul Jubb, who had come through qualifying and knocked out third seed Francesco Maestrelli, 17-year-old Scot Charlie Robertson and Henry Searle before besting Elmar Ejupovic in the last four.  

Jubb was first to strike in the final, taking the opening set 6-0, but Chidekh found a way to turn the tie around and took the second 6-4 before closing out the title 6-1 in the final set. 

Reflecting on his week at the Lexus Glasgow Challenger, Chidekh said: “It’s my first Challenger win so it’s great, a milestone I wanted to meet. This was my first time in Scotland and I loved it. Every day I’ve been saying to my coach ‘it’s a great tournament, great place, great people, so we have to do our best to stay one more day’. 

“The result is over my expectations, but I’ve been working hard recently. I started the year with not a lot of wins, but the work has paid off this week and I’m really happy. 

“I loved the bagpies at the end of the match. I’ve always been intrigued by the culture here and that was a nice moment for me, I couldn’t stop smiling. It’s nice that the tournament brings its own culture.”

Robertson makes his mark 

The Lexus Challenger Glasgow was an exciting week for Scots as Charlie Robertson took full advantage of his qualifying wildcard.  

The teenager bested Giles Hussey in round one before beating Martyn Pawelski 6-7 6-4 6-2 to book a place in the main draw.

In his first ever Challenger event, Robertson played Tibo Coulson, who he previously lost to in his last pro outing at the M25 Glasgow last year. This time, however, it was Robertson who came out victorious, winning 6-4 7-6 to move into the round of 16. 

It was not to be in the second round as Charlie fell to eventual finalist Jubb 2-6 2-6. 

Hamish Stewart also impressed in front of a home crowd, providing the upset of the tournament by beating top seed Calvin Hemery 6-4 6-4 before moving past Robert Strombachs 1-6 7-5 6-1 to reach his second quarter-final at his second Challenger event. 

His run ended in the last eight when he was bested by eventual champion Chidekh 6-4 4-6 4-6. 

Back-to-back finals for Collins 

Ali Collins reached a second consecutive ITF final at the W50 Roehampton.  

She partnered with Elena Malygina of Estonia, the pair finding their feet in the first round as they recovered from a set down to Hannah Klugman and Alicia Barnett, edging through 3-6 6-3 10-8. 

After their tight first round, Collins and Malygina cruised past Bronte Murgett and Emma Wilson 6-2 6-0 to reach the semi-finals. 

The pair kept up their dominance against Talia Gibson of Australia and Justina Mikulskyte of Lithuania, winning 6-3 6-1 to move on to the final.  

In the final, Collins faced a familiar opponent in Freya Christie, who was partnering Samantha Murray Sharan. It was not to be in the end as Christie and Murray Sharan edged the first set in a tie-break before securing the title 7-6 6-3.

Aidan Moody wins in Leeds 

Aidan Moody was back in action following his return from the Australian Open. He captured the Leeds Learning Disability Tennis Competition title last week. 

Moody was dominant in singles as he bested Luke Turnbull 6-4 in the singles final. He also teamed up with Max Mundy to put on a flawless display in the doubles round robin as the pair won three from three to win the doubles title. 

Junior Scots succeed in National Tour events

Scottish juniors were competing south of border last week with at the 11U National Tour in Corby and 10U National Tour in Sheffield.

Fraser Newcombe, James Mills and Matilda Kasselstrand reached the quater-finals of the Corby event with Cameron Rae going on to finish runner up. Rae also reached the semi-final of the 12U event earlier in the week.

Meanwhile in Sheffield, Louis Taylor put together an impressive week of matches, pulling through in multiple match tie-breaks to reach the final of the Grade 1 event before faling in the final.