UK Pro League Finals Week no. 4 has been packed full of fantastic tennis. The stakes are high and players are giving it everything until the very last point. Now 5 days in, it’s time for the semi-finals. Let’s take a look at the 8 players left in the running for the golden pineapple.
ELENA MALYGINA and ANDRE LUKOSIUTE
Elena Malygina
In the women’s competition, all eyes are on 2022 Champion Elena Malygina, back to defend her title. She has dealt with the pressure well, and is still in the running to become the first 2-time UKPL Champion. Her Finals Week has so far mirrored her dream run at the 2022 Finals Week; she’s yet to drop a set and has only lost 9 games across 3 matches. Whilst she’s certainly on a roll this week, she’s not the only one- her semi-final opponent Andre Lukosiute has also not dropped a set all week.
Andre Lukosiute
Could Lukosiute, who has already defeated another semi-finalist, Stresnakova, in the pool stages, triumph over Malygina to reach her first Final? The two women play today at 11am on Court 1- tune in at www.ukproleague.tv to find out!
ALICE GILLAN and KATARINA STRESNAKOVA
Alice Gillan
The other Women’s semi-final takes place on Court 2 not before 2pm. Alice Gillan faces Katie Stresnakova. Gillan came second in her pool behind Malygina, who she lost to in straight sets, but her impressive win in her quarter-final match against Eliz Maloney, some 350 places her senior in WTA ranks, demonstrated she’s back on track to fight for the golden pineapple (6-4, 3-6, 10-3). Katie Stresnakova is not an easy opponent, however. Similar to Gillan, she also took a loss in the pool stages to a fellow semi-finalist – losing 6-3, 7-6(0) to Lukosiute. However, she still progressed through to the quarter-finals, where she beat Danielle Daley in a dominant 6-1, 6-3.
Katarina Stresnakova
GILES HUSSEY and HARRY WENDELKEN
Harry Wendelken
Over in the Men’s competition, Giles Hussey vs Harry Wendelken will not be a match you want to miss (Court 1, nb12:30). Giles Hussey is having a stellar week- also yet to drop a set and Wendelken too remains unbeaten, fighting through a three-set-thriller quarter-final match against Hamish Stewart yesterday, winning 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-7. Both Hussey and Wendelken enjoyed success on the ITF tour last month- Hussey picked up an M15 win in Budapest and Wendelken won the M25 Sintra and the doubles title at the M25 in Idanha-a-Nova. It’s going to be a good match!
Giles Hussey
PATRICK BRADY and OSCAR WEIGHTMAN
Patrick Brady
18-year-old Patrick Brady and 21-year-old Oscar Weightman play in the other men’s semi-final straight after. It is only Brady’s second-ever UKPL Week after winning the UKPL’s first-ever grass competition in June, and his success has continued on the indoor court; he is yet to lose a game this week. After topping his pool, he soared through the quarters with a 6-2, 6-3 defeat over Ivan Denisov. Weightman lost in the pool stages to Giles Hussey but won a tough match against Josh Goodger in the quarters- which treated us to another thrilling tiebreak set (5-7, 6-4, 10-7).
Oscar Weightman
Watch all matches live and on-demand at www.ukproleague.tv