A tremendous day of tennis at the Graves Health and Sport Centre here in Sheffield, with important wins from Brogan, Jones, Samavati and Vasilescu.
The day started with a rollercoaster of a match, with wildcard Adam Jones getting a brilliant win over the first seed Billy Harris, 5-7, 7-6(4), 11-9.
Jones, coming in from a tough loss yesterday against Hodkin, seemed reinvigorated and really put to use his forehands and drop shots to come back after being a set down and push the game to the decider. In a very levelled match tie-break, Jones had an early break 4-0, but could only find and convert his first match point at 10-9. Another tricky start of the week for the Isle of Man star, who is yet to find his prime form at the UKPL this year, but still has a chance to access the quarter-finals by winning tomorrow against Hodkin.
Woman’s Pool A saw Anna Brogan triumph in a very tight match against UKPL debutant Elena Malagina, currently sitting 500 places above her in the WTA rankings. The 24-year-old Scottish player had a shaky start, losing her first serve game, but managed to recover with an aggressive and incredibly precise game to overcome the Estonian 7-5, 6-3 in just over 90 minutes. Brogan took her chances and alternating a great variety of shots she booked her spot in the quarter-finals for the second time at the UKPL.
A different fate for another women’s debutant, Sofia Samavati who won comfortably 6-1, 6-1 against Soumeya Anane and took a provisional top spot in Pool D. The 21-year-old Dutchwoman is definitely one to watch this week, as she comes in favourite after winning her maiden W25 title in Loughborough on Sunday.
Nadia Rawson missed out on her back-to-back pools wins after losing 6-1, 6-3 to Week 1 winner Arina Vasilescu, who has picked up her second UKPL venture with a solid win in straight sets.
In the men’s pools, Luke Johnson and Tom Hands both won in straight sets against Jack Gibbens and David Fox respectively to reserve their place in the quarter-finals.
Last pool’s matches are on tomorrow from 11am on the Tennis Channel, BT Sport Extra and UKPL.tv.
Full Day 2 results:
- Adam Jones bt Billy Harris 5-7, 7-6(4), 11-9
- Luke Johnson bt Jack Gibbens 6-2, 6-4
- Anna Brogan bt Elena Malygina 7-5, 6-3
- Alice Gillan bt Adeola Greatorex 6-4, 6-4
- Harry Wendelken bt Sahej Maker, 6-3, 6-2
- Tom Hands bt David Fox 6-3, 6-0
- Arina Vasilescu bt Nadia Rawson 6-1, 6-3
- Sofia Samavati bt Soumeya Anane 6-1, 6-1