28th February, 2022

Murphy and Lukosiute win week 3 of the UK Pro League

Brandon Murphy admits he surprised even himself after becoming just the second man ever to claim back-to-back UK Pro League titles.


The 21-year-old ace beat the experienced Dan Cox in straight sets on Saturday to follow up his Week 2 triumph in style at Welwyn Garden City’s Gosling Tennis Centre.
Last season’s UK Pro League champion Anton Matusevich, the world No.174, racked up two week wins on the spin last year to help navigate his way to Finals Week and Murphy was able to emulate his achievement with an efficient 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Murphy is a relative newcomer to the competitive UK Pro League circuit and after toppling Cox, who reached the first round of Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, says his consecutive 18-point haul is a shock to the system.


He said: “Back-to-back wins is very surprising for me – I won the first one and couldn’t believe it, and I feel exactly the same.
“I don’t understand how I keep winning these matches against these top players. I just feel great – my confidence is really high, I’m very relaxed and because I haven’t played that much recently, I just go out there and play.
“If I lose, I lose and if I win. I win. I thought I played very well today – Dan’s a very good player and I knew that I needed to bring my A-game, keep a clear head and take my chances when needed.
“I’ve never played this many matches in such a short space of time, so to get these matches is exactly what I need right now.”

The premier league of British tennis, the innovative UK Pro League is the only season-long domestic competition for the UK’s top professionals and brings them together for seven weeks of action to qualify for the UK Pro League Finals Week in November.
And in winning two weeks in a row, Murphy not only followed in the footsteps of Matusevich, 20, but also women’s players Sonay Kartal, Emily Appleton and Lauryn John-Baptiste.


Kartal was crowned last season’s UK Pro League champion and with the south coast star not in action for Week 3 of the 2022 edition, it was Andre Lukosiute who reigned supreme in a thrilling women’s final.
Lukosiute, 20, battled back from match point down to win a pulsating tie-break 13-11 and claim a valuable 18 ranking points.
The Lithuanian ace took the first set 7-5 but after losing the second 6-3, held herself together to edge over the line and add to the four points she claimed in Week 2.
Lukosiute has now built major momentum heading into Week 4 at the beginning of April and hopes to carry on where she left off following a resilient display.

She said: “It was a really good, tough and long match.
“I’m happy with my fighting spirit – I was match points down but didn’t get annoyed with myself and pulled through.
“I’m happy at how many matches I got and that I played different sort of players this week.
“The format is really good for all the players – it doesn’t matter how well you do and you always get five matches, which is great for match-play.
“The prize money really helps the players, so I’m really glad I’m able to play and I really appreciate the opportunity.
“I’m hoping to travel for a bit, play in the some Futures events and then hopefully come back to the UK Pro League.”

With nearly half a million pounds of prize money up for grabs across the season, all the thrills and spills are broadcast live on BT Sport, The Tennis Channel and UKproleague.tv. News and updates across the season can be found at ukproleague.com

25th February, 2022

Week 3 | Day 6 Recap: Murphy, Cox, Stresnakova and Lukosiute are the week 3 finalists!

An incredible day of tennis at Gosling Sports Park, started off by winner of week 2 Brandon Murphy securing his back-to-back appearances in a UKPL Final and has now managed to upset the top seeded player in each draw, respectively Billy Harris in week 2 and Charlie Broom this week.

In today’s match the 21-year-old used his serve once again as the main weapon, with 16 aces in the match. Broom, who seemed unstoppable through the week, wasn’t as clinical as during earlier encounters and was not able to convert any of his five break points.
Joining Murphy in the final will be Dan Cox, who came from a set down to win 3-6, 7-6(5), 10-2 against Josh Paris. In a match that saw only one break point throughout the whole duration, the 31-year-old completed a brilliant come back keeping his composure when it mattered and winning the important points.

 

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The final will be played not before 11.45am, exclusive on Tennis Channel and BT Sport Extra.

In the women’s side, Katie Stresnakova will try to secure her first trophy win at the UKPL after showcasing a brilliant tennis masterclass against 19-year-old Marni Banks in today’s semi-final. The 6-2, 6-1 result doesn’t do justice to the contest and the level of tennis that was played, especially in the first set of the match. Banks tried to vary her match to push Stresnakova into making mistakes, but the Loughborough alumni avoided all the traps of the Bolton youngster and converted six break points out of the nine she had available.


In tomorrow’s final, Stresnakova will have the chance to avenge her 6-0, 6-3 loss earlier in the week by Andre Lukosiute, who won the last contest of the day coming out victorious against Lauryn John-Baptiste after 2h25m for 7-5, 6(4)-7, 10-6.  In what was the longest match of the day, the Lithuanian was so clinical throughout and managed to prevent John-Baptiste’s chances of a fight back. The week 3 women’s final will start at 10.30am live on Tennis Channel, BT Sport.
Other winners on the day were Julian Cash, who will now play Alexis Canter for 5th place, with Samm Butler, Nadia Rawson, Dan Little and Hannah Smith all winning their round robin 9th – 12th ties.

Full Day 6 results
Brandon Murphy bt Charles Broom 7-5, 6-4
Samm Butler bt Jack Gibbens 6-1, 6-1
Katie Stresnakova bt Marni Banks 6-2, 6-1
Nadia Rawson bt Issey Purser 6-1, 6-3
Dan Cox bt Josh Paris 3-6, 7-6(5), 10-2
Dan Little bt Tom Hands 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
Andre Lukosiute bt Lauryn John-Baptiste 7-5, 6(4)-7, 10-6
Hannah Smith bt Michelle Dzjchangirova 6-2, 6-4
Julian Cash bt Oscar Weightman 7-5, 6-1

24th February, 2022

Week 3 | Day 5 Recap: Gillan, Canter and Daley through to the 5-6th play-offs

Day 5 saw three of the four 5-8th play-off matches taking place, with solid victories from Gillan, Canter and Daley.

Oxford native Canter clinched an important win over 17-year-old Jansen at the match tie-break, after a very balanced first two sets from both players. Canter’s match experience came out in the decider, and he managed to turn around an early 3-1 break from Jansen to win it 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

After their respective defeats in yesterday’s quarter finals, both Alice Gillan and Danielle Daley bounced back with solid wins in straight sets. The highest ranked women’s player of the week Alice Gillan got a quick win over Soumeya Anane, who joined week 3 of the UKPL as a replacement for injured Holly Hutchinson. Gosling trainee Danielle Daley won 6-4, 6-3 against Maddie Brooks.

Elsewhere, wins for Tom Hands, Nadia Rawson, Issey Purser and Dan Little have put them in a strong position in the play-off battle to decide the 9th to 12th positions for the week.

23rd February, 2022

Week 3 | Day 4: Super Wednesday at the UK Pro League featuring all quarter-finals and 9-12th play-off kicking off

The day kicked off with a fantastic contest between Gillan and Banks over on Court 2, with the 19-year-old Banks clinching her first UKPL semi-finals after a 2 hours three-setter.  The Bolton star showcased a solid game, covering the court very well and alternating backhands down the line with perfectly timed drop shots. After losing the second set with just one break of serve, Banks found another gear and won 7-5, 4-6, 10-2.

Banks will face Katie Stresnakova, who has now reached the semis for the fourth time in eight appearances, advanced to the semis after Bath Alumni Holly Hutchinson had to retire after 3 games due to a back injury.


In the first men’s quarter-final, Josh Paris got it done in straight sets, defeating Julian Cash 6-4, 7-6(3) at their third encounter at the UKPL. Paris upset the highest ranked Brighton player in straight sets with a solid performance, revenging his loss to Cash in the final of week 9 in 2021. The Bisham Abbey player brought out the very best of his service game, with 82% successes in both his first serve and first serve points wins, losing only 10 points on serve in the match.

John-Baptiste came out victorious against Danielle Daley in the Gosling Academy derby, with a solid win in straight sets 6-0, 6-2. John-Baptiste, who has previously won 2 weeks of the 2021 UKPL, broke Daley right away, letting her win only 7 points in the first set.  The 21-year-old tried to make a comeback in the second set, playing her best tennis and breaking at 2-2, but John-Baptiste was just relentless and got her way through to the semi-finals of week 3.

Over on court 2, Brandon Murphy reached the semi-finals after beating Canter in straight sets. The winner of week 2 had to work hard to defeat Canter 6-4, 6-4, who put up a fight and didn’t let the 21-year-old from Sutton win any point easily. Murphy will face in-form Broom who swept pass 17-year-old Jansen in less than an hour.

Cox and Lukosiute were the last two to join the semi-finals line up, with two straight sets win against Weightman and Brooks respectively. 

The 9th-12th round robin stage also kicked off as there were wins for Hands, Purser, Little and Rawson who won all in straight sets.

On Thursday 5th-8th playoffs will start and the 9th-12th round robin continues as the lower half of the final table will start to take shape!
Live from 11am on Tennis Channel, BT Sport and ukpl.tv.

Full Day 4 results

  • Katie Stresnakova bt Holly Hutchinson 1-2(ret)
  • Marni Banks bt Alice Gillan 7-5, 4-6, 10-2
  • Josh Paris bt Julian Cash 6-4, 7-6(3)
  • Brandon Murphy bt Alexis Canter 6-4, 6-4
  • Lauryn John-Baptiste bt Danielle Daley 6-0, 6-2
  • Andre Lukosiute bt Maddie Brooks 6-0, 6-2
  • Charles Broom bt William Jansen 6-3, 6-1
  • Dan Cox bt Oscar Weightman 6-3, 6-3
  • Tom Hands bt Samm Butler 6-4, 6-4
  • Issey Purser bt Hannah Smith 6-3, 6-2
  • Dan Little bt Jack Gibbens 7-6(6), 6-4
  • Nadia Rawson bt Michelle Dzchangirova 6-4, 6-4
22nd February, 2022

Week 3 | Day 3: Pools decided as Banks, Murphy, Stresnakova and Cash win

On a pivotal day 3 in week 3 of the UK Pro League all 8 pools were decided as wins for Marni Banks, Brandon Murphy, Katie Strensakova, Julian Cash and Danielle Daley sealed their quarter final spots for Wednesday’s action.

Banks, who reached a CH Junior ranking of 40 in 2020, clinched her quarter-final spot in her debut week at the UK Pro League by defeating Nadia Rawson 6-2, 6-1. The 19-year-old started off with a wrong foot, was broken straight away in her first service game, but managed to turn it around very quickly and won in straight sets after just one hour.

A wrist injury didn’t stop week 2 winner Brandon Murphy serving 20 aces in his 2 sets victory over Dan Little. In a first set of with no break of serve, the 21-year-old saved 4 set points and shifted the momentum to convert the first and only set point he had. In the second set, he managed to break Little early on and storm through with two out of two wins in the group stage.

Over on court 2, Julian Cash won a monumental two hour and ten-minute battle against William Jansen, coming from a set down and facing set point in the second set tie-break. The Brighton star was rewarded with two points to reach the top spot of pool C and will face Josh Paris tomorrow.

Stresnakova and Daley bounced back from their losses and got two solid wins over teenagers Purser and Smith. There were also wins for Alexis Canter, Charlie Broom, Maddie Brooks and they all progress to the quarter-finals and will face Brandon Murphy, William Jansen and Andre Lukosiute respectively.

All the action on quarter finals day will start from 10am exclusively on the Tennis Channel and BT Sport Extra tomorrow morning.

Day 3 results

  • Charles Broom bt Tom Hands 7-6(5), 6-4
  • Alexis Canter bt Samm Butler 6-2, 7-6(6)
  • Marni Banks bt Nadia Rawson 6-2, 6-1
  • Danielle Daley bt Hannah Smith 6-2, 6-1
  • Brandon Murphy bt Dan Little 7-6(6), 6-3
  • Julian Cash bt William Jansen 6(4)-7, 7-6(6), 10-6
  • Katie Stresnakova bt Issey Purser 6-1, 6-2
  • Maddie Brooks bt Michelle Dzjchangirova 6-4, 6-0
21st February, 2022

Week 3 | Day 2 Recap: Top spots in the women’s draws decided

Monday’s action saw Alice Gillan, Andre Lukosiute, Holly Hutchinson and Lauryn John-Baptiste storm to back-to-back wins in Gosling progressing into the week 3 quarter finals.


In the last match on Court 1, John-Baptiste, who won two weeks in the 2021 UKPL, got her quarter-final spot after a tough battle against 19-year-old UKPL debutante Marni Banks. At the match tie-break, the Gosling athlete manged to turn around what looked like a deadly 4-0 break by Banks, coming through with some priceless shots and get her second win of the week. With the top spots already taken, the race is still on the women’s draw for the remaining places in the week 3 quarter-finals, with Banks, Stresnakova, Daley, Purser, Smith, Rawson, Brooks and Dzjchangirova battling to grab them!

In the men’s draw Dan Cox sealed a second win of the week to progress after being taken to a decider by Alexis Canter before coming through 6(5) 7, 6-1, 10-8 over more than 2 hours. Charlie Boom defeated Joshua Paris 6-1, 6-3 to join him on 3 points at the top of pool A and needs a point from tomorrow’s match to be sure of his last eight place.

Oscar Weightman battled back from defeat yesterday to win 7-6(4), 7-6(4) and go through on 4 points meaning week 2 winner Brandon Murphy will need to win at least one set against Dan Little in the remaining pool D tie to join him. Any win for Julian Cash today was enough to see him through at the first time of asking from pool C and he duly obliged 7-5, 6-2 but top spot in the pool will be up for grabs tomorrow.

All the action in the last day of pool stages will start from 11am exclusively on the Tennis Channel and BT Sport Extra tomorrow morning.

Day 2 results

  • Charles Broom bt Josh Paris 6-1, 6-3
  • Dan Cox bt Alexis Canter 6(5)-7, 6-1, 10-8
  • Andre Lukosiute bt Katie Stresnakova 6-0, 6-3
  • Alice Gillan bt Hannah Smith 6-2, 6-3
  • Oscar Weightman bt Dan Little 7-6(4), 7-6(4)
  • Julian Cash bt Jack Gibbens 7-5, 6-2
  • Lauryn John-Baptiste bt Marni Banks 6-1, 3-6, 10-7
  • Holly Hutchinson bt Maddie Brooks 6-3, 6-0
20th February, 2022

Week 3 | Day 1 Recap: debutante Jansen claims his first UK Pro League victory joined by Cox, Murphy, John-Baptiste and Hutchinson

The opening day’s play in week 3 of the UK Pro League at Gosling saw debutante Will Jansen claim a first victory 6-4, 7-6 and join week 2 winner Brandon Murphy, recent ITF 25k winner Dan Cox and 2021 week 1 winner Josh Paris as pole setters in their groups.

In the women’s draw, dual 2021-week winner Lauryn John Baptiste, top seed Alice Gillan, Andre Lukosiute and Holly Hutchinson all won, to claim early driving seats in their respective pools as well.

Jansen beat regular campaigner Jack Gibbens in straight sets and will now be looking to secure a point to guarantee a quarter final spot in his second match against last season’s table topper Julian Cash. Week 2 winner Brandon Murphy was taken to a decider by Oscar Weightman leaving pool D wide open after 1 match with Dan Little yet to enter the fray. As the highest seed in their pools, Paris and Cox will be looking to progress having set the early pace but with 2021-week 5 winner Charlie Broom and Alexis Canter, they face some tough second match opponents.
Whilst all four winners in the women’s draw were top ranked and took maximum points for a straight sets win, the quick-fire format of the Pro League means there is still all to play for in these round robin matches over the next two days. Slovak ace and UKPL regular Katie Stresnakova, fresh from landing the BUCS championship with Loughborough alongside strong form in recent UK ITFs, will be seeking a first UK Pro League success, meanwhile Marni Banks making her UK Pro League debut will be hoping for a good first showing.

 

11th February, 2022

Elena Malygina wins 6-1, 6-4 and is the winner of Week 2 | UKPL WK2 | Final

Elena Malygina is the winner of Week 2!

She avenges her semi-final defeat last week at the W25K in Loughborough, and gets it done in straight sets against Sofia Samavati. An incredible week toppled by a decisive performance in the final.

11th February, 2022

Brandon Murphy wins 6-4, 7-6(4) and is the winner of Week 2 | UKPL WK2 | Final

Brandon Murphy wins week 2 on his UK Pro League debut!

What an amazing week for the 21-year-old, who has managed to defeat the two highest-ranked players in the draw to win his very first UKPL title.

Throughout the whole week Brandon played a high-level of incredible tennis, finishing with a victory in straight sets against Luke Johnson.

7th February, 2022

Murphy and Malygina win Week 2 of the UK Pro League

Brandon Murphy reckons mental fortitude and an ability to win ugly fired him to a stunning Week 2 victory on his UK Pro League debut.

Murphy, 21, beat experienced Luke Johnson 6-4, 7-6 in Saturday’s men’s final to cap a week to remember. He toppled long-term UK Pro League campaigner Billy Harris in a thrilling quarter-final and after breezing past Ewan Moore on Friday, finished his week in style with another straight sets victory.

And Murphy, who battled back from a break down in the first set against Johnson, 27, at Sheffield’s Graves Tennis Centre, said:

“I didn’t start very well but I thought mentally, I was very good and very strong. I was a break down at the start but I clawed it back – I wasn’t playing the best tennis but mentally, I thought it was one of the best performances I’ve had for a while.

“Mentally I could have let that first set slip away from me, but I just focused on the basics, the bread and butter, clawed it back and got a bit lucky.

“In the second set the momentum was flowing, I took my chances when needed before we played a good tie-break.

“It’s been an unbelievable week for me.”

The premier league of British tennis, the innovative UK Pro League is the only season-long domestic competition for the UK’s top professionals and brings them together for seven weeks of action to qualify for the UK Pro League Finals Week in November.  Murphy racked up five matches in a week at the Yorkshire venue and after a year without playing much tennis, added:

“Even if I didn’t win any matches I’m guaranteed matches here, and that’s the best way of practice.
“Not many places do that – this is the third year [of the UK Pro League] and all the players that play really benefit from it.”


Murphy reigned supreme in the men’s Saturday showpiece while in the women’s event, it was Elena Malygina who was crowned Week 2 winner. The Estonian ace blew away Sofia Samavati 6-1, 6-4 in the final to complete a searing week of tennis.
Malygina, 21, lost just one match all week in Sheffield and dropped a total of just seven games in the process, beating Week 1 winner Arina Vasilescu and Anna Brogan in the quarter and semi-finals.
That teed up a mouth-watering clash against Samavati on Saturday and having met three times already in recent weeks, it was Malygina who grabbed the win to clinch a crucial 18 ranking points in the standings.
The UK Pro League next heads to Welwyn Garden City’s Gosling Tennis Centre and ahead of Week 3 kicking off on February 20, Malygina said:

“I played really good. [Me and Sofia] have played in each recent tournament and I’m leading 3-1 now, so that’s good. I liked my serve, my forehand and I’m happy with everything this week.

“I really like the Pro League format – it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, you play five matches and that’s good for experience and playing different players.
“Every day you have a match – you need to be in shape, which is really good.”