CricketWeb Tennis - Season I

[Mister Wright]

Don't panic.

SBI's done far too much to let this slide away now. I'm sure it will return soon. We've been blessed so far.

 

[David]

Hoping to see Drake/Korps back in action soon.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

PTT Thailand Open
Bangkok, Thailand (Indoor Hard)

Men's Singles (Seeds - Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's Doubles (Draw)

American Rick Henson will move back in sight of the world's top 15 after claiming the final of the PTT Thailand Open in Bangkok. The fourth seed showed signs of full fitness in an impressive display which say him beat Great Britain's Henry Charles in straight sets in the final. Charles started well against the American, but failed to make the most of his opportunities in the first set as Henson took it in the tiebreaker. From there, Charles struggled badly on service and, lacking power, failed to push Henson back as the American secured a 7-6(5), 6-2 win. Henson's win was his third title of the season, but he will struggle to qualify for the end of the year Masters after missing the clay season.

The big story of the week was the form of Argentine qualifier Miguel Bertolotto and local wildcard Adul Doungtong as the pair took at the top two seeds respectively. Bertolotto did not drop a set coming into the semifinals which included an amazing 6-3, 6-4 win over world No. 5 Darcy Cowan in the second round. Cowan looked out of sorts in the match, but took nothing away from the Argentine who stands to gain more than fifty places in the rankings. Doungtong stunned second seed Rasmus Olesen in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory, and found himself up a set against Charles in the semifinals. He was unable to capitalise though, with Charles romping home to a 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-2 win.

For CWLand, Jojo Mustard failed to capitalise on his winning record over Henry Charles in a horrific third set in the quarterfinals. The British third seed got his revenge for a loss in Los Angeles to pick up a 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 win. Mustard failed to convert break points in the first set, and frustratingly saw his serve percentage fall below forty in the third set as Charles romped home. Wildcard Randy Banks was unable to pass the first round as he was beaten in straight sets by Brazil's Roberto Santos. Banks impressed at times, but couldn't make a huge impact on Santos' game as he succumbed to a 5-7, 3-6 defeat despite being broken just three times. Roy Daniels, meanwhile, fell in the qualifying round to Bertolotto 4-6, 4-6.

In the doubles, Banks and partner Oliver Engel managed to edge past Faizal Al-Quireshi & Sunil Colaco in the first round before succumbing to eventual champions Gai Kai & Lu Xun in the quarterfinals. It was a successful week for Gai and Lu who capitalised on a soft draw to smash David Champion & Oscar Highsmith in the final.

Champions
Singles

Rick Henson def.

Henry Charles, 7-6(5), 6-2

Doubles

Gai Kai /

Lu Xun def.

David Champion /

Oscar Highsmith, 6-1, 6-2
​

ATP Challenger Trophy I
Trnava, Slovakia (Indoor Hard)

Men's Singles (Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's Doubles (Draw)

In Slovakia, Finland's Lari Färkkilä did not drop a set all week and completed a dominant tournament with a 6-1, 7-5 thrashing of Czech Republic's Václav Zeman in the final. Färkkilä was dealt a tough draw, but comfortably beat the likes of Bertran Renard, local youngster Mario Timko and Petr Brožik to secure his maiden career title at Challenger level.

From CWLand, Rob Bowenburg was seeded one but failed to capitalise on early momentum as he fell in straight sets to Zeman in the semifinals. Bowenburg was broken on two occasions and did not convert any of his seven break points as the Czech player calmly slotted home a victory. Bowenburg had a previous scare in the second round against Chile's Alex Rojas, but looked in largely good form for the week. Suryakant Singh may have fallen in the first round of the singles to American Justin Williamson, but he and partner Gurpreet Rao made the final of the doubles draw only to lose to Czech pair Petr Brožik & Václav Zeman. It was a consolation for Zeman who dropped the singles final as he and his compatriot saved two match points in the second set to clinch a 2-6, 7-6(4), 11-9 win.

---

OK, here is where we stand. My aim is to complete the first season because it would be disappointing not to. The future of this is in doubt, though, because I had got a bit burnt out from it and lost interest. I get the feeling that I will get the itch back eventually, but updates will be a lot more sporadic than they were.

If this continues into a second season which I would like, there will be restructuring to make the seasons a lot shorter. I think that will work out the best in the long run for everyone. The first aim is to get to the end of this season (we've only got a few weeks left) and see how we go from there.
​

 

[Mister Wright]

Good to see it back, disappointed however to see Mustard fall!

 

[David]

Great to see some games SBI =)

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

(y)

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

The future of this is in doubt, though, because I had got a bit burnt out from it and lost interest. I get the feeling that I will get the itch back eventually, but updates will be a lot more sporadic than they were

Oh dear. Its been a bad week for entertainment on CW. First WCC goes under, and now doubts are cast over the future of CricketWeb Tennis.

Hopefully this will make a resounding comeback. We're all behind you SBI!

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Kind of expected an announcement like this.

Thanks for all the work you've put in so far, though.

 

[Jamee999]

It's back!

 

[Simon]

Now that I wont be dedicating 20 hours a week to WCC if you need any help SBI I can throw a bit of support your way if needed.
Good to see we will be finishing the first season at least.

 

[NUFAN]

Typical BS from Bowenburg.

Good to be back though.

 

[ripper868]

Head up Lob, things will improve, good to see it back SBI, super stuff

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Daneu's ATP Finals and Davis Cup hopes hamstrung

World No. 4 Radivoj Daneu has been rocked by news that he will miss at least a month of tennis after being diagnosed with a mid-grade tear of his left hamstring. The Miami and Indian Wells champion is certain to miss Masters Series events in Shanghai and Paris, and is in serious doubt to appear at the Year End finals at Flushing Meadows starting November 22. "This injury is very disappointing for me as I wanted to make up for my poor performance in Nixonstown," a distraught Daneu told media. "I have played a lot of tennis this year and maybe this has contributed to my injuries."

The Serbian denied, however, that he was in doubt for Serbia's Davis Cup final against Russia starting December 4. "All things look good for me playing in the Serbian team for the final. I will do everything in my power to be fit."

Meanwhile, CW Open runner-up Oneil Stewart has withdrawn from next week's ATP Masters Series tournament in Shanghai after suffering with a groin strain.

---

No rankings updates this week as very little changed. Rick Henson has moved up to 15 in the world with his title win, whilst Henry Charles also moves up to No. 13 despite losing to the American. Jojo Mustard leapfrogs Jamee Hancianu into world No. 31, whilst Rob Bowenburg enters the world's top 60 for the first time at No. 58.

---

The Japan Open is stacked full of CWLand players with six of sixteen seeded players coming from the newly formed nation (Oxenstierna, Drake, Hancianu, Mustard, David and Maxum). Top seed Sven Oxenstierna looks set for a quarterfinal showdown with either Heath Davis or Jamee Hancianu, whilst second seed Jefferson Drake could face sixteenth Jarkko Maxum in the third round and either Jojo Mustard or Wayne Boyd in the quarterfinals. Of the non-seeds, Rob Bowenburg faces Norway's Tom Vollan first up; Spas Delev has promising Spaniard Marc Carretero; and Martti Korpinen will participate in qualification.

In Beijing, Roy Daniels faces Hugh James for a shot at top seed József Boros in the first round, whilst Randy Banks & Matt Bre will sweat out qualification. In the clay court Challenger in Tarragona, Scotland Rivers is seeded three and will face a qualifier first. A potential semifinal with Aksu Emrem awaits for the CW Open surprise packet.
​

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Japan Open
1st Round - Tokyo (Japan) - Indoor Hard

Men's singles (Finals - Seeds - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)
Men's doubles (Drawhttp://Draw)

• It will be a showdown between two champion doubles players in the second round of the Japan Open after Martti Korpinen set up a match with Jefferson Drake. The CWLander secured qualification with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over Waylon Jones, and took advantage of a soft first round clash as he eased past Argentine Emelio Cobos in three sets. As is so often the case, the match-fit Korpinen took advantage of a lazy Cobos in the first set to take it in 23 minutes, before the Argentine No. 3 hit back in the second. But two breaks of service in the decider proved too much for world No. 114 as he ran away with a confident win. Korpinen and Drake start the doubles draw off in tough fashion with underachieving American pair Wayne Boyd & Morgan Carter their opponents. (Korpinen def. Cobos, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4)
• Also successful was Rob Bowenburg who overcame a dangerous Tom Vollan to advance to the second round. After a semifinal appearance in Trnava last week put him inside the top fifty, Bowenburg took confidence into his match with the big Norwegian. Whilst Vollan fired down nineteen aces over the three sets, he was outmatched in the rallies as Bowenburg cut down on the unforced errors that often plague him to set up a second round clash with Montréal conqueror Morgan Carter. (Bowenburg d. Vollan, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2)
• The only failure came from an uninspired Spas Delev whose lacklustre performance saw him fail to back up a tournament win in Mons a fortnight ago. Pitted against highly rated Spaniard Marc Carretero, Delev would have never-the-less expected victory against a youngster with little experience on hard courts. But he was shocked in a frustrating match which saw him miss easy shots as Carretero eased through the first set. The second was closer, but Delev continued to miss opportunities on his own service and was unable to come back from a break down for a third time as Carretero advanced to the second round. (Carretero def. Delev, 6-0, 7-5)

• Seeded players out: None.

 

[Johnners]

****

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Bring it on, Korps!

 

[David]

Worst draw....

Just.. No..

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Japan Open
2nd Round - Tokyo (Japan) - Indoor Hard

Men's singles (Finals - Seeds - Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• It was second round action in Tokyo, and leading the charge was an all-CWLand clash between Jefferson Drake and Martti Korpinen. The doubles duo met for the first time at the Ariake Coliseum, but it didn't take long for Drake to show why he is ranked No. 12 in the world as he crushed Korpinen in straight sets. Korpinen was barely able to get going as Drake showed there was no room for sentiment; racing home in just over an hour to a 6-2, 6-1 win.
• Drake looked set for a second round showdown with sixteenth seed Jarkko Maxum in another CWLand showdown, but Japanese veteran Ninteh Doh spoiled that in a dominant display. Maxum had replaced Doh as Rob Bowenburg's regular doubles partner, but was unable to translate his recent rise up the rankings to the hard courts as he was comprehensively outplayed by the aggressive Japanese veteran who prevailed 6-2, 6-1.
• At the top of the draw, top seed Sven Oxenstierna overcame a slow start to produce a tight win over American qualifier Jimmy Holland. Despite holding a 131-place ranking advantage over Holland, Oxenstierna continued to show his inconsistency as Holland took a one-set to love lead against the French Open finalist. However, Oxenstierna managed to fight back and steal the win in a deciding tiebreaker to escape with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) victory. He now faces fourteenth seed Ross Onwye who looked sharp in his 6-2, 6-1 win over Murphy S'ua.
• The other third round clash in the first section pits Heath Davis and Jamee Hancianu together in a rematch of their opening round clash at the CW Open. There, Davis came back from a set down to pick up a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win to continue his awesome run of form, but faces a much more confident Hancianu on the back of a Bucharest final here in Tokyo. Hancianu was impressive in his 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Peru's José Navarro, whilst Davis was taken to three sets by qualifier Niko Ulemek. Davis found his best form in the decider, though, and came home with an expected 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win.
• Eighth seed Jojo Mustard will look this week to improve on his quarterfinal last week in Bangkok, and started promisingly in the Land of the Rising Sun with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Korea's Lee Inmin. Mustard didn't drop service in his eighty minute clinic against the Korean as he played confident and, more importantly, error-free tennis to set up a third round clash with Austria's Zbiginiew Boniek. Boniek picked up an upset win over eleventh seed Wayne Boyd earlier in the day.
• Rob Bowenburg was unable to improve his record against Morgan Carter despite bagelling him in the second set. A nervous start from The Lob saw him broken in his opening service game, but he confidently came back against the mentally-questionable Carter to claim the second set 6-0 in just 22 minutes. But Bowenburg failed to continue his momentum into the decider, and dropped serve twice as Carter recovered to take a 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 win.
• In the day's biggest upset, Johan Ortiz showed he's ready to make a charge back to the top twenty in season II after a 6-4, 7-6(4) upset of Indian Wells finalist and fifth seed Almen Benaglio. Also falling was third seed Dwayne Murdoch whose indifferent "small tournament" form continued as he was stunned in three sets by highly talented Spaniard Marc Carretero.

• Seeded players out: Almen Benaglio; Wayne Boyd; Jean-Alain Depuis; Jarkko Maxum; Dwayne Murdoch.

China Open
1st Round - Beijing (China) - Indoor Hard

Men's singles (Finals - Seeds - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• Matt Bre has managed to produce a second ATP level victory by ousting Chinese Taipei's Tu Haifeng in straight sets. Bre never looked dominant against the Taiwanese player, but did just enough to grind out a hard-fought victory deep inside both set. The 7-5, 7-6(5) win earns him a second round clash with world No. 40 Dmitry Orlov.
• Feeble performances at important times continue to dog CWLand's Randy Banks as he again fell short of victory, this time against China's Fok Zhenyu. Banks played competitive tennis in both sets, but failed to make the most of his opportunities as he fell to a 4-6, 5-7 defeat. Bank had nine break points, but managed to convert just the one as Fok pulled away late to set up a second round clash with countryman Li Wang.
• Roy Daniels might as well have had stayed at home as he was smashed by doubles star Hugh James in straight sets. Daniels' serving was average and his returning was awful as James' consistent tennis proved enough to pick up a 6-2, 6-3 win. James faces top seed József Boros in the second round.

• Seeded players out: None.

Open Tarragona Costa Daurada
1st Round - Tarragona (Spain) - Clay

Men's singles (Finals - Seeds - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• CWLand third seed Scotland Rivers had no difficulties in his first round showing on the Spanish red clay as he easily accounted for Aussie qualifier Rod Bosnar. The Australian veteran looked uninspired as the highly talented Rivers proved his versatility to run away with a 6-1, 6-2 win. He now faces the Czech Republic's Michal Simr in the second round.

• Seeded players out: Gocha Berianidze; Anothy Ficher; Domingo Gutiérrez Gómez.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Ouch for Korpsy. Will have your tab for the rest of the tournament.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

at losing 1-6 2-6 to Doh.

Bit rusty still.