Nottingham Evening Post
Thursday 18th December 2014
The City of Nottingham Presents: The British Tour Masters 2014
• The Final show down of the year saw 32 Men and 32 Women battle it out on the courts of Nottingham for the crown of British Tour Master 2014. Page 1
Thursday 18th December 2014
Nottingham Evening Post
The quest to become the British Tennis Master is an invitation not to be turned down in 2014
N
By Kate Skillen ottingham hosted the end of year show down of the Aegon British Tour Masters, which saw Freya Christie take the Women’s crown and Neil Pauffley take the Men’s. The four-day event in December consisted of 32 men and 32 women, who were invited based on their results on the tour throughout the year. The finals saw number two seed Freya Christie beat number one seed Mariam Bolkvadze 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. In the Men’s number three seed Neil Pauffley beat last year’s champion, Joshua Goodall in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
final place. Number four seed Joshua Goodall was next on court against Harry Skinner. Goodall was well on form to win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Tom Hands continued his good run, high on confidence after beating number one seed Hewitt on day one. Hands beat Peter Ashley 6-3, 6-3 to secure his quarter final place. Neil Pauffley had a tough battle on his hands against Clay Crawford. In the longest match of the tournament, Pauffley had to break serve to avoid a tie break and take the set. The second set followed along the same lines of the first. Almost every game went to a gruelling deuce and the set was decided by even more taxing tie break. Pauffley kept composed and won the match 7-5, 7-6. It was a good day in the Women’s tournament. First on court was number four seed Lucy Brown from Oxfordshire, who defeated Nicole Peterson 6-3, 7-5, to be the first of the women to secure her quarter final place. Georgian player, Mariam Bolkvadze was next up and beat Lily Ghodrati from Surrey in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Beth Askew had a more than comfortable win against Louise Holtum. Askew didn’t drop a game to win 6-0, 6-0. Freya Christie, took advantage of being on home turf and also had an easy win against Dominique Covington, 6-1, 6-3.
Quarter Finals
Freya Christie looking to defend her title
Day One
First on court was number one seed Ashley Hewitt, who suffered a shock defeat to by unseeded Tom Hands. Hewitt got knocked out 6-1, 7-6, his comeback in the second set was close, but not close enough. The seeded players in the Men’s tournaments were dropping like flies. 5th seed Keelen Oakly was forced to retire in his match against un-seeded Matthew Porter. Norfolk’s Richard Bloomfield, a regular in the end of year finals, beat Omar Alawadhi in straight sets, 6-1,6-2. It was all going to plan in the Women’s tournament. Number one seed and ranked number 704 in the world, Mariam Bolkvadze swiftly saw off her opponent Amelia Stuart 6-4, 6-1. Freya Christie came up against Yasmin El Sayed in her first round match. It was a short lived match as El Sayed had to retire after just the first game due to injury. Earlier on in the day Beth Askew began her bid to win her fifth Aegon British Tour event of the year. She beat Yorkshire’s Serena Nash in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. After day one the 32 was whittled down to 16. Day two would see the competition get tougher as the battle continues.
Joshua Goodall on the practise courts
Day Two
Richard Bloomfield kicked off day two against Marshall Tutu. Bloomfield had to break serve and come back from three games down, but came back to win a massive six consecutive games to take the first set. The fight continued into the second set. Tutu didn’t want to give in and took the set to a tie break. In the end it was Bloomfield who was victorious, winning 6-3, 7-6 to give him his quarter
Ashley Hewitt number one seed at the finals.
Third seed Pauffley was first on court in his quarter final match against Suffolk’s Matthew Hough. Pauffly who is returning from an injury, that saw him out of action for two months, promptly beat Hough 6-1, 6-1. Richard Bloomfield caused upset against number two seed George Coupland, gaining his semi final spot after a 7-6, 6-3 win. Number four seed Joshua Goodall had a nervy quarter final match against David Porter. Goodall had a comfortable start taking the first set 6-2. Porter took Goodall by surprise and began an impressive counter attacking set, equalising the standings at 6-1. Goodall pulled it out of the bag in the third set and took control to win the match, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Mariam Bolkvadze also had a hard time on court in her quarter final match against Olivia Nicholls. Bolkvadze had to overcome a strenuous tie break to take the first set 7-6, but Olivia continued to fight and put the match on equal terms taking the second set 7-5. Nicholls couldn’t match the stamina and power of Bolkvadze who took the third and final set 6-1, to obtain her semi final place, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1. Both Beth Askew and Freya Christie had speedy quarter final matches. Freya Christie beat Aimmee Gibson 6-0, 6-2, and Beth Askew
British Masters Champion Neil Pauffley
Page 2
Nottingham Evening Post
Thursday 18th December 2014
beat Natasha Hilyer 6-1,6-0.
Semi - Finals
The semi finals took place on the same day as the quarter finals. The stamina from the athletes was immense, and the fight for the final places on the Sunday was the toughest tennis of their careers. Neil Pauffley was up first against Richard Bloomfield. After being 3-0 down Bloomfield waved the white flag and retired from the match. Soon after Joshua Goodall secured his place in the grand final. Goodall hit three consecutive aces in the first game, as a warning to opponent Jake Munn’s that this final place had his name on it. In straight sets Goodall became triumphant, Freya Christie defends her title in Nottingham beating Munn 6-3, 6-4. Mariam Bolkvadze was first up in the Womin Pauffley’s favour. en’s semi final matches against Kasia Pitak. It was evident that Goodall was giving the Pitak took the first game on Bolkvadze’s serve. match his absolute all. She continued to make the Georgian player Pauffley gave the final blow with a faultless work around the court, creating long and excitball down the line to take the match and the title ing rallies. in staight sets, 6-4, 6-3. It was clear in the final set Pitak couldn’t keep “This victory really helps me for the start of up with Bolkvadze’s energy on court. nest year.” Pauffley said. Bolkvadze was the stronger player and was “I played really well in the matches here. In able to put away the ball and finish the long the end overall good performance and a good points. week.” In straight sets she took the match, defeating After being out prior the event for two Pitak 6-4, 6-1. months, due to a groin injury, Pauffley played Director’s comment Nottingham’s very own incredible tennis over the Freya Chrsitie had a far four days. from easy semi final match 2015 is sure to be an even LTA Tournament director Richard more successful year for Neil against third seed Beth Joyner said: Askew. and hopefully injury free. Neither players could In the women’s finals Freya break the other’s serve to “We’re delighted to be returning to Chrsitie defended her title take the lead in the set. that she had won last year. Nottingham. Consequently the first set 2013 was my first year as Tourna- The battle was rife from the went to an exhausting tie very first point. ment director. break. Both players battled Christie took the first set I have always been impressed it out, but Christie was 6-4, with a huge never ending with the warm welcome of the decuce in the fifth set. victorious and took the set 7-6. Bolkvadze responded club, together with the people of It was clear that Askew Nottinghamshire coming along to dominantly in the second was feeling the physical set to make the final match a support. toughness of the day and true battle between the two I would like to thank everyone began to make costly misplayers. at the club, our drivers, ball crew, The number one seed takes in the second set. Christie did the home tournament team, Nottinghamshire dropped only one game to the crowd proud and won the LTA, our title sponsors Aegon and Chrsitie serve, 6-1, to equalise match 7-6, 6-2, to be a step everyone involved for their support the standings. closer to winning the title. in putting this years event together. Chrsitie wasn’t going to let go of her title so easy. It is a great opportunity to see some She took an attacking role The Final of the stars of the future in action. , which caught Bolkvadze off Sunday 7th December close up in the City of Nottingham. her guard on several acwas finals day. The day the Nottingham is very popular with counts. champions of the Aegon It was clear Christie was British Tour Master would the players on the ITF Circuit and over the years the event has attract- determined to come out of be crowned. the match with only one The men’s match was ed a high calibre of player of whom result. first on court. have gone on to do bigger and The home crowd was Both players looked better things on the ATP and WTA behind her all the way on her strong and composed, journey to victory. Tour” ready to inflict damage on With a final serve and the other. volley Freya Chrsitie had Goodall gave the first defended her title as Aegon blow and was on good form to take the first set British Tour Master. after being 4-1 up. No one was going to take away her title and Pauffley knew what he needed to do and she had made it a clear message from the start of reacted, with his huge serve and knew exactly the tournament. where to place the ball in court. Bolkvadze was a worthy opponent, but the Winning five consecutive sets Pauffley set a title was always going to be Christie’s on home high standard, but Goodall had fought excepsoil. tionally hard to save three break points in the After the match she said: “It was great to set. win the title for the second time, and the prize The second set went increasingly more
Neil Pauffley newly crowned Men’s Champion
Beth Askew number three seed and finalist
money will really fund some travel to pro events abroad.” With the LTA cutting funds to aspiring stars, such as Freya and Neil, the importance of winning tournaments like these, become of increasing importance to the players as they aim to survive on the tennis circuit. The LTA will only now fund players competing against the world’s best, so the yearning to win matches and tournaments especially in Britain, is greater than it ever has been. But this could also mean that players on the British Tour are the next bundle of British champions to become household names, after Andy Murray and Heather Watson. There’s certainly no shortage of British tennis talent. Times are tougher in the world of tennis but the hunger to be the best is stronger than ever. Page 3
Nottingham Evening Post
Thursday 18th December 2014
2014 has been a year of triumph on the Aegon British Tour. With Joshua Goodall, Richard Bloomfield, Beth Askew and Freya Christie excelling this year, 2015 looks more exciting.
T
he British Tour of 2014 has seen a number of aspiring British stars rise through the rankings in their bid to join the world’s best. The Tour started in Billesley in January with British number eight Daniel Smethurst winning the men’s tournament and Amy Bowtell winning the Women’s title. In February in Corby, Joshua Goodall won his first title of the tour, and went on to win three more at Bolton, Fitnton and West Worthing. Richard Blomfield, Nottingham Masters semi finalist, also had a successful year winning three British Tour titles including on turf in Norwich, then at Edgemaston and Graves. British number ten, Dan Cox from Lancashire added two British Tour titles to his name. In November he won firstly at Hull, beating David Porter in straight sets 6-0, 6-2. He then went on to Loughborough to take the title there, beating Masters Champion Neil Pauffley from a set down, 1-6, 7-5, 6-2. Cox didn’t play in the end of years Masters event in Nottingham to play in an ITF event in Qatar, which he won. Nottingham’s Luke Bambridge had success in the doubles with Toby Martin in the Aegon GB Pro series but managed to win one British Tour event in Bournemouth in the Men’s Singles tournament. After disappointments in Shrewsbury and Tipton, Joshua Milton won his first British Tour title in May at the Oxford event. He beat George Coupland in the final 6-3, 7-5. In Nottingham at the end of season Masters tournament, Richard Bloomfield was presented the Bonus Pool winner after finishing top of the table. After all 40 Aegon British Tour tournaments have been staged the player at the top of the leader board win’s £1000.
On the Women’s Tour, Beth Askew had a most notable season winning three consecutive titles in May at Sutton, Hatfield and Connaught. In September she won the event in Wrexham, beating Danielle Konotoptseva, 6-3, 6-2. She then reached the final of the Masters event in Nottingham but was defeated by Freya Christie. Masters Champion, Freya Christie won her first event of the tour on the grass courts at Nottingham in June. She then went on to win down the in Loughborough in November, showing that having a home crowd behind you can make all the difference. British number four Tara Moore also made an impression on the Tour,
Men’s Tour Leaderboard 2014 1. Richard Bloomfield - 7731 2. Neil Pauffley - 6250 3. Harry Skinner - 5430 4. Clay Crawford - 4980 5. Peter Ashley - 4786 6. Joshua Goodall - 4050 7. David Porter - 3245 8. Adam Skalsky - 3117 9. Joe Woolley - 3034 10. Keelan Oakley - 2992
Women’s Tour Leaderboard 2014 1. Mollie Crouch - 8078 2. Beth Askew - 7431 3. Aimee Gibson - 6701 4. Nicole Peterson - 6080 5. Grace Dixon - 5422 6. Nicola Geoge - 5161 7. Charlotte Pearce - 5082 8. Jasmine Asghar - 4350 9. Lisa Phillips - 4212 10. Lucy Brown - 3853
British Tour January/February2015 • • • • • • •
Graves Club - 30th December - 4th January 2015 Billesley - 4th January - 10th January 2015 Loughborough - 12- 17th January 2015 Bath - 19th - 24th January 2015 Stirling - 26th - 31st January 2015 Sutton -9th-14th February 2015 Corby - 16th - 21st February 2015
winning the event in Sutton. In straight sets she executed a comfortable win against Francesca Stephenson, 6-1, 6-1. The winner of the women’s Bonus Pool was Hertfordshire’s Mollie Crouch who finished with 8078 points, after playing a total of 21 events. In 2015 a new Premier Tier will be introduced to the tour. This will be incorporated into the professional international tour. Players who reach last four of the main draw at a Premier Tier event, will receive enhanced points for the Aegon British Tour leader board. 2015 will encourage an even stronger and competitive Tour and will sure to bring in larger crowds of support to experience the spectacular of British Tennis.
Page 4