The first semi-final of week 5 has Julian Cash face up against Max Basing for a place in the final! Both players came through their quarter-finals in straight sets, Cash beating Jack Gibbens and Basing beating Sean Hodkin. Julian Cash is the highest ranked player in the men’s draw and will want to confirm his place in the final today!
11:14 Max Basing breaks serve 0-1
Basing breaks in the first game of the match. Julian Cash’s massive serve doesn’t intimidate Basing as his return on break point can only be put back into the net! A great start to this semi-final for Basing
11:33 Basing holds serve 1-3
A big game! Cash has three break points in it but can’t convert any of them! Great work from Basing to keep his lead in the first set intact.
11:37 Basing breaks again! 1-4
Cash hasn’t been able to get his serve started in the match and can’t get any progress here as he loses another service game. One of his biggest weapons normally, his forehand, is put into the net to give Basing a double break!
12:00 Cash breaks back 3-5
A really hard fought game for Cash to stay in the set here. He refuses to lie down and crunches a forehand winner on set point. On his seventh break point in this set he hits an outrageous passing shot to break back. He still has a chance in this opening set!
12:10 Cash is back level! 5-5
Four games in a row! Basing had a set point, but a double break back means this one is level. The momentum will be with Cash now!
12:23 Cash wins the first set 7-6 (7-1)
What a comeback from Cash! He dominates the tiebreak after being 5-1 down! His forehand has really started to get going too! Basing will be gutted, the 18-year-old had a set point chance on his serve but couldn’t take his chance when it really mattered!
12:35 Cash breaks in the second set 7-6 (7-1), 5-3
Julian Cash looks like he will get to the final of week 5. A great break of serve that gives him the lead in this second set! He just has too much power for Basing who gets to the net but can’t produce the volley as he puts it into the net. He consolidates the break to put him one game away from the final!
13:13 Cash wins the match! 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
Cash gets to 0-30 to put himself in a great position to finish this one off with a break of serve. A missed forehand is a shame, it would have given him three match points! A double fault from Max Basing gives Cash the match point. Over two hours of tennis results in a Cash win in two sets! He was 5-1 down in the opening set but he comes back to get into the final!
Julian Cash after the match:
How would you asses your match performance today?
I had a slow start today, but did well to dig in and find a few scrappy points. I got a long break at 5-2 down to stay in it and my level got slightly better. I managed to finish on a positive note at the end
How has the week gone so far?
Generally good, first match i started well.I wasn’t playing too well on the indoor courts but match by match I have got better and improved on the things I wanted too. Overall, it’s been positive.
What can you take away from this week?
4 wins! It’s always good to get some wins especially being at home, so take a little bit of confidence to use on the road.
Anything to work on for tomorrow?
My forehand let me down a little bit so I will get onto the practice courts today and fine tune that ready for tomorrow
How confident are you for tomorrow?
I’m going to say very confident.