British Tennis Round-up: Murray makes final, SkupskI claims back-to-back titles, Rae clinches trophy
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United States
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares enjoyed a successful week at the Cincinnati Masters, finishing runners-up of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event and reaching their 10th tour-level final as a doubles team.
The third seeds sailed through to the semi-finals without dropping a set and a 6-4, 7-5 victory against Lukasz Kubot of Poland and Brazil’s Marcelo Melo edged them into a final against Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. Despite forcing an opening-set tiebreak, the Brit and Brazilian were denied their fourth title of the year following a 7-6(6), 6-4 defeat to the fifth seeds.
Johanna Konta was also on impressive form ahead of the US Open and reached the quarter-finals after a 6-3 6-4 win against Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova. The seventh seed faced Simona Halep in the quarter-finals but narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot following a 6-4, 7-6(1) loss.
Canada
Hot on the heels of winning the Nordic Naturals Challenger last week, Neal Skupski made it back-to-back titles after claiming the Odlum Brown VanOpen title. Partnered with America’s James Cerratini, the pair defeated American duo JC Aragone and Ryan Shane 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals, before triumphing against top seeds Treat Huey of the Philippines and Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt 7-6(6), 6-2.
In the ladies’ doubles, Joss Rae became the second British champion of the weekend after teaming up with Australia’s Jessica Moore to win the $100K ITF trophy. The pair battled past Japanese top seeds Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato 6-7(8), 6-4, [10-8] to set up a final against Desirae Krawczyk of America and Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos, which they went onto win 6-1, 7-5.
Poland
Maia Lumsden reached the doubles final of a $15K tournament in Mragowo with her Ukrainian partner Anastasiya Shoshyna. The second seeds defeated Belarusian pair Yuliya Hatouka and Anna Kubareva 7-6(1), 6-1, but fell 6-4, 6-4 in the final to top seeds Angelica Moratelli of Italy and Jade Suvrijn of France.
Belgium
Two-time Paralympian Louise Hunt claimed her fourth women’s doubles title of the season with victory at the ITF 3 Ath Open in Belgium, partnering Dutchwoman Michaela Spaanstra.
A Brit was guaranteed to lift the doubles title after Lauren Jones teamed up with Germany’s Katharina Kruger to join Hunt and Spaanstra in reaching the final without dropping a set. A competitive decider ended with top seeds Hunt and Spaanstra winning 7-5, 6-3.
Fourth seed Hunt also had success in the singles, finishing runner-up. The Brit overcame second seed Spaanstra 7-6(6), 6-1 in the semi-finals, but fell 6-2, 7-5 to world No.9 and top seed Kruger. Kruger’s path to the final was made much more difficult by Jones in the quarter-finals, who claimed the second set - her first against a top ten player - before falling 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
Great Britain
On home soil, Esther Adeshina and Tom Farquharson captured Premier Tier Aegon British Tour titles in Sutton. Held at Sutton Tennis & Squash Club, the event offers the highest prize money on the whole circuit, supported by financial support from the club and its local sponsors.
15-year-old Adeshina from Southampton became one of the youngest winners of the Sutton title after defeating British compatriots world No.717 Alicia Barnett in the semi-final, and world No.573 Eden Silva in the final to claim her second Aegon British Tour title of the year.
Not only does she win a prize money cheque of £2,000.00, but she also booked her place in the Aegon British Tour Masters in December.
Second seed Tom Farquharson captured the men’s singles title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Matt Short in the final. Short, enjoyed a solid run of his own in Sutton, defeating British top seed Neil Pauffley in the semi-finals.
Aegon British Tour Tournament Director Richard Joyner said:"Sutton Tennis & Squash Club do a fantastic job in staging such a great event. The local sponsorship they generate through Boadicea the Victorious, BSF Construction, Harley Medical, Sports Maintenance & ICB Group helps double the prize money on offer for a Premier Tier event. In addition, the club raised a remarkable £11,000 for the Royal Marsden, during the week."
