27th September, 2021

2020 UK Pro League winner Liam Broady wins his first ATP Challenger event

Liam Broady has won his first ATP Challenger event after losing out in 7 previous finals at the level. The victory in Switzerland further improves Broady’s stellar year that has seen him rise to 126 in the ATP rankings, the highest of his career.

 

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Last year he was the champion of the inaugural UK Pro League after 42 days of elite British tennis. It showcases the value of the innovative new format of the UK Pro League in developing British talent. Alongside Emma Raducanu, who shocked the world with her stunning victory at the US Open, Broady is just one of multiple British talents who have developed their careers at the UK Pro League.

Week 8 of this years competition is underway at the Aldershot Tennis Centre with players competing for valuable ranking points for the upcoming finals week.

Follow all the action live from 10.30 a.m. on our brand new platform: UKPL.tv as well as BT Sport Extra and Tennis Channel.

27th September, 2021

Week 8 Kicks off! Appleton, Rawson, Paris and Dunne all feature in Aldershot

Bath University hosted yet another fantastic week of UK Pro League action as Sonay Kartal and Giles Hussey (Below) were crowned winners.

Just a week later and the UK Pro League is back with Emily AppletonKaty Dunne (Pictured Below)Nadia RawsonJosh ParisDan Cox and Tiffany William in action at Aldershot Tennis Centre. Week 8 features a boosted men’s draw with 16 players featuring. All 28 players are competing for valuable ranking points in the race to qualify for the lucrative Finals Week.

Week 8 of the UKPL continues with the same format in the women’s draw, with players still playing 5 matches in 7 days in 4 pools of 3 players each. This week the men’s format continues in its expanded version, bringing more edge of your seat action for UK Pro League fans to enjoy. 16 of the very best British men’s players will compete, split up into 4 pools of 4 players.

The 1st placed qualifier in each men’s group will progress straight to the semi-finals. The 2nd placed qualifier will move to a 5th-8th play-off. The 3rd and 4th placed players will move to a 9th-12th play-off and 13th-16th play-off respectively. With 4 extra men’s players this week it promises to be the most action packed week of the UK Pro League so far.

Day 1 is full of high class matchups with Emily Appleton vs Nadia Rawson and Katy Dunne vs Lauryn John-Baptiste just some of the highlights.

Follow all the action live from 10.30 a.m. on our brand new platform: UKPL.tv as well as BT Sport Extra and Tennis Channel.

23rd September, 2021

Kartal and Hussey win week 7

A dominant showing from Sonay Kartal saw her power past Emma Wilson en route to a UK Pro League hat-trick as she won the women’s final for the third Week in a row.

Heading into the final, 19-year-old south coast star Kartal had won the previous two UK Pro League events, tasting success during Weeks 5 and 6 at Aldershot and Chelsea respectively. And she managed to make it three from three with a convincing 6-0, 6-3 straight-sets win over Wilson at the University of Bath.

 

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Kartal said: I think I kept my form up from yesterday [the semi-finals].
“I didn’t really give her [Wilson] many opportunities to get a head start in the match which was positive.
“I kept my unforced error count pretty low and was just dominating really with my forehand on the court.”

 

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Kartal, who competed at Finals Week of last season’s UK Pro Series in Weybridge, added: “For me, the Pro League has been really beneficial.
“I’ve used it as match play to put my body under the stress of going abroad and playing tournaments, to make sure when I play them I’m fully fit.
“They’re good, guaranteed matches. It’s unique and it’s definitely helped me a lot.”

Meanwhile, in the men’s final, Giles Hussey came through in straight sets to defeat Billy Harris 6-3 6-4 and Hussey, who trains in Bath, admitted familiar surroundings contributed towards his Pro League success.

Hussey said: “I thought the match today was really good. I thought I executed my game plan and served really well and I got off to a good start in both sets and I held onto my serve – I was very happy with it.
“I thought it was a good week, and a good debut. Overall I’ve just really enjoyed the event – It’s quite good just being at Bath because it’s my home centre and it’s where I train.
“So I’m very used to the courts and the facility and I really enjoyed the event.”

 

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And next up for Hussey is a trip to Mexico, where the 24-year-old hopes to continue his recent fine form following his UK Pro League win. Hussey added: “I’ve got a couple of days off and then I fly to Cancun on Wednesday! “Hopefully I’ll carry on my good form into that and pick up some points.”

Elsewhere, Alice Gillan beat Emily Appleton 6-4, 6-1 in the women’s 3rd-4th match, while in the men’s equivalent, Sean Hodkin edged Dan Cox 6-4, 7-5.

22nd September, 2021

Week 7 Recap: A hat-trick for Sonay Kartal and debut win for Giles Hussey

Week 7 of the UK Pro League which featured and extended men’s draw finished with Sonay Kartal and Giles Hussey crowned winners. It makes it three weeks of the UK Pro League in a row for the 19-year-0ld Sonay Kartal.

 

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Backing up her wins in weeks 5 and 6, Kartal played some scintillating tennis throughout the week, but the win was not without close moments, including defending a match point in her quarter-final against Freya Christie. In the final she ran out winner against Emma Wilson, who was playing her first UK Pro League final. Her most impressive win of the week came in the dismantling of league-leader Emily Appleton in the semi-finals. The 6-0, 6-1 shocked Appleton who has won three weeks of this years competition and before this week had never failed to make the final. After the semi-final Kartal said”

“I’m just going to look to keep on doing what I’m doing, playing an aggressive game style and using my forehand.
“I think I kept my consistency up and played well in the big points under pressure. I didn’t really give her much to work with and my unforced error count was pretty low.

“This week I’m just happy with the consecutive wins I’m getting – I’m coming up against some good players and being able to keep my form and concentration is the main thing.

In the men’s draw debutant Giles Hussey went unbeaten all week to kick start his UK Pro League career in the perfect way. The silky left hander defeated the in-form Week 6 winner Billy Harris in the final 6-3, 6-4. He had to come through a tense semi-final match against Sean Hodkin, which went to a match tiebreak, finishing 6-2, 3-6, 11-9.

With only two more weeks of regulation action before the lucrative finals week kicks off, there was added pressure for players to grab ranking points.  The women’s league leader Emily Appleton failed to reach the final for the first time in 5 attempts, albeit losing out to the incredible Sonay Kartal in the semi-finals.

There was also a standout performance for Sean Hodkin who achieved his best finish at the UK Pro League this year finishing 3rd. He defeated the experienced Dan Cox in the semi-final. Hodkin moves up to 7th position in the league rankings, and with the season drawing to a conclusion every ranking point is more vital than ever.

Week 8 of the UK Pro League kicks off on 27th September, with the UK Pro League returning to the Aldershot Tennis Centre once more.

19th September, 2021

UK Pro League Week 7 Men’s Finals – Highlights

Week 7✅

Another great week of matches with Giles Hussey having the best in the Sunday’s showdown against winner of week 6 Billy Harris.

Re-live some of the best moments of the final.

19th September, 2021

Best Shots of the Week / Week 7 – Fuelled by Veloforte

Watch the best shots of the 7th week of the UK Pro League!

Including amazing tricks by Ben Jones, Sonay Kartal, Alice Gillan, Giles Hussey, Ewan Moore, Freya Christie, Emma Wilson and Sean Hodkin.

All the players are fuelled by Veloforte, the official nutrition partner of the UK Pro League.

19th September, 2021

Kartal keeps her hopes for UK Pro League hat-trick

Super Sonay Kartal says her power-packed game plan and aggressive forehand can propel her to a UK Pro League hat-trick.
South coast star Kartal, 19, kept her hopes of a third consecutive triumph alive as she swatted aside Emily Appleton in rapid time in Saturday’s second semi-final. Kartal is the two-time defending week champion in the competition and after roaring to Week 5 and 6 glory in Aldershot and Chelsea, continued where she left off at the University of Bath.

She breezed past Appleton 6-0, 6-1 and confident Kartal, who will now meet Emma Wilson in Sunday’s final, said:  “I’m just going to look to keep on doing what I’m doing, playing an aggressive game style and using my forehand.
“I think I kept my consistency up and played well in the big points under pressure. I didn’t really give her much to work with and my unforced error count was pretty low.

“This week I’m just happy with the consecutive wins I’m getting – I’m coming up against some good players and being able to keep my form and concentration is the main thing.

“I’ve never played Emma – I think I played her two years ago or something. It’s going to be nice to play someone different.”

 

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Kartal, who competed at Finals Weeks of last season’s UK Pro Series in Weybridge, topped Pool C of Week 7 with an unblemished record before battling past Freya Christie in a champion tie-break in the quarter-finals. She made considerably lighter work of Appleton – a three-time week winner – 24 hours later, however, dropping just a single game to romp into Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated showpiece.

There she will meet hotshot Wilson, who toppled Alice Gillan in a deciding tie-break to keep her hopes of West Country glory alive.
Wilson, 24, finished top of her group with Nadia Rawson and Tiffany William and after beating Danielle Daley on Thursday, now has a golden chance of racking up her maiden UK Pro League title.

She said: “I think the match was a bit up and down to begin with but by the time I got to the second set, I was able to be aggressive after my serve and get on her shots.
“Because I was winning my service games fairly easily I was able to be a bit more relaxed on my return games.

“I’m most happy this week with able to being able to fight back – I’ve won a couple of third-set tie-breaks and in the past, I’ve maybe not won as many.
“I’m looking forward to the final – I just need to keep being aggressive on my serve and hopefully find my A-game.
“But if can’t, I just need to find a way to keep fighting back like I have done in my other matches.”

 

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Kartal will take on Wilson bidding to add to her 46-point haul on Sunday while in the men’s competition, Isle of Man ace Billy Harris will duel it out with Giles Hussey after the pair won their semi-finals on Friday.

18th September, 2021

Billy Harris will meet Giles Hussey in the UK Pro League Week 7 final

Red-hot Billy Harris will meet Giles Hussey in the UK Pro League Week 7 final as he looks to rack up consecutive tournament victories in the prestigious domestic showpiece.

Having finished runner-up in Week 1, Harris defeated Week 5 winner Charles Broom to secure victory at the Harbour Club in Chelsea two weeks ago.  And the Isle of Man ace now has a golden chance to clinch back-to-back crowns after reaching a second straight final at the University of Bath. Harris, 26, beat the experienced Dan Cox in a convincing 6-4, 6-4 victory to set up a Saturday showdown against Hussey.

 

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And the in-form star, who went down against Ben Jones in his first pool match of the week in the West Country, said: “You have to stay on top of Dan, otherwise he can run away with it pretty easily, but I thought I started well and I came out serving well.

“After the first match this week where I lost, I’ve come back well and I’m playing slightly better in each match.

“The first serve percentage could have been a bit better. Giles likes long rallies so I’ll look to get forward a bit more and finish points off at the net.”

The first semi-final of the day saw Hussey, 24, edge past Sean Hodkin in a thrilling clash to reach the Week 7 final on his 2021 debut. After winning the opening set he was dragged into a deciding set tiebreak – but ultimately prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 11-9. 

 

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And the Swindon ace, who previously played college tennis in Tennessee, insists he’s buzzing with how he’s hitting the ball ahead of his meeting with Harris this weekend.

He said: “I’m happy about the way I’ve served and my mentality. I think I’ve only been broken twice all week so far and have really been disciplined, hitting my spots well on my serve and being quite focused. 

“The match went well. I started very well and got out to a quick 4-0 lead. Then I think I got a little bit passive and got broken at the start of the second set. I just got a little bit defensive, but ended up bringing it home in a close tiebreaker.

“I’m looking forward to the final. I think I’m just going to have to be brave, go for my shots and see how it goes.”

The women’s semi-finals take place tomorrow, with Sonay Kartal doing battle with Emily Appleton and Alice Gillan facing Emma Wilson.

Kartal and Appleton are two of the form players of 2021. Appleton was Week 1, 3 and 4 winner, whilst Kartal triumphed in both Week 5 and Week 6.

And having lost to Kartal in the Week 5 final, Surrey star Appleton will be gunning for revenge this time. The 22-year-old league leader beat Jizel Fernandes and Danielle Daley in her group, before not dropping a single game in a dominant 6-0, 6-0 quarter-final victory over Nadia Rawson.

Kartal is also unbeaten, with the south coast player comfortably beating Maddie Brooks and Gillan in her pool before a nail-biting 6-4, 2-6, 11-9 win over Freya Christie in her last eight encounter. 

Despite her group stage defeat to Kartal, a victory over Brooks was enough to see Gillan reach the last eight.  And there she impressively toppled Week 6 runner-up Katarina Stresnakova 7-5, 6-2 to set up tomorrow’s last four clash against Wilson.

Wilson started her week with group stage victories over Tiffany William and Rawson, before edging past Daley 6-4, 5-7, 10-5 to reach the semi-final stage. 

17th September, 2021

Hussey vs Hodkin; Harris vs Cox and Women’s 5-8th | Week 7 | Day 5 Highlights

Watch all the best shots from the five day of the 7th week of the UK Pro League, hosted at the University of Bath.

  • Match 1: Katie Stresnakova vs Danielle Daley, 6-4, 6-0
  • Match 2: Giles Hussey vs Sean Hodkin, 6-2, 3-6, 11-9
  • Match 3: Freya Christie vs Nadia Rawson, 6-4, 6-2
  • Match 4: Billy Harris vs Dan Cox, 6-4, 6-4
15th September, 2021

Hignett, Stresnakova, Harris, Kartal and Cox win day 3

Watch all the best shots from the third day of the 7th week of the UK Pro League, hosted at the University of Bath.

  • Match 1: Liam Hignett vs George Houghton, 6-4, 7-6(4)
  • Match 2: Katie Stresnakova vs Emilia Banos-Gregorians, 6-1, 6-1
  • Match 3: Billy Harris vs Miles Groom, 6-4, 6-2
  • Match 4: Sonay Kartal vs Alice Gillan, 6-1, 6-0 Match 5: Dan Cox vs Ewan Moore, 6-0, 6-4