£18.00

Collapse AllChristchurch Park, Ipswich Singles - Round 34 | Thursday 9 January 2020 to Wednesday 4 March 2020 (Midpoint: Wednesday 5 February 2020)

A good round in Ipswich with a very impressive three quarters of all possible matches played - and that's despite some tennis unfriendly weather! Many thanks for all the efforts in getting these matches played and here's hoping for sun next round!

Group Summary:

A brilliantly competitive group, played in great spirits with a close contest between Marcus and Matthew, great returning from Xin, Stuart putting up fantastic defensive and Avery and Daniel tying on points at the top of the group! That means it all came down to the head to head with Avery emerging as group champ this time. Very well played all.

Final Rankings:

Pos. Name Played P Won W Lost L Bonus BNS Total PTS Form
1 Avery Jackson 5 4 1 2 10 WWLW
2 Daniel Peck 5 4 1 2 10 WWWL
3 Marcus Sheaff 4 3 1 0 6 WLWW
4 Matthew Last 4 1 3 0 4 LWLL
5 Stuart Horrex 5 1 4 0 3 LWLL
6 Xin Chen 3 0 3 0 0 LLL

Match Results:

Reveal CommentAvery Jackson bt Xin Chen (Mar 1) 6-2, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "A beautiful day for tennis and both players played few extra sets to make the most of it. Hats off to Xin who battled well despite an earlier injury. With Xin’s double fault count increasing in the swirling winds in the first set Avery took the opportunity to Remain consistent and close out the first set. The second was a closer encounter with both players serves improving and the rallies getting longer with each points. Another enjoyable match played in good spirit."  -- Avery
Reveal CommentDaniel Peck bt Stuart Horrex (Feb 29) 6-0, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "Considering the very windy conditions with the ball flying in all directions we managed to have quite a few good long rallies. Daniel started the more consistent in the first set but Stuart really picked his game up in the 2nd taking a 1-0 then 2-1 lead. Daniel then won a few games on the bounce to lead 4-2 only for Stuart to make it a close end to the set winning the next. Daniel saw through the last 2 close games to take the win in a more competitive match than scores suggest. "  -- Daniel
Reveal CommentMarcus Sheaff bt Matthew Last (Feb 24) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "Without stuffing painkillers or anything else or much icing, I recovered from real injuries carried into my last match from my match with avery to keep my arrangement with matt. As in my last match of identical duration, this was our fifth meeting. Like the previous four, this was closely contested and played at a high level from start to finish. Each of us played slightly better in streaks with Matt getting out of the traps like a March hare, getting to 4-0 and it looked like set 1 was in his bag. I had to execute difficult winners close to to lines with precision which is what was required to break through Matt's dogged defence. The momentum swung back Matt's way in set 2. Set 3 was even at 3-3 but the tortoise finished ahead of the hare."  -- Marcus
Reveal CommentStuart Horrex bt Xin Chen (Feb 21) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "Decided best place to play was CCP with the weather a bit iffy, this was a good move as it gave us good shelter from the wind. 1st set was a very competitive long one with both players hitting good shots and trading games/breaks of serves, many games going all the way, Stuart played an aggressive goof tie break to command it and take the set. 2nd set Stuart continued with his good form moving Xin around the court and importantly returning serve very well which was probably the telling factor in the result. Great game played in good spirit, thanks. "  -- Stuart
Reveal CommentMatthew Last bt Stuart Horrex (Feb 18) 6-4, 7-5

Player Comments:

  • "Great couple of sets played in a great spirit. Most of the match followed the bizarre pattern of each player winning two games in a row which saw me see out a tight first set 6v4. Second set followed the same format until I til ruined it by winning three in a row only for Stuart to dig deep and string together a series of impressive games to level the set at 5v5. 11th game of the set finally saw me get a passing shot passed Stuart who had been a brick wall all game at the net bouncing back all volleys with interest. This plus abit of help from another lucky net cord (only the five in total!!!) set up the chance for me to serve out the set and win 7v5"  -- Matthew
Reveal CommentDaniel Peck bt Marcus Sheaff (Feb 14) 6-2, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "Both players started very well and half an hour had passed with the score only 2-2 following multiple deuces in every game. This pattern continued throughout the match and it's amazing the scoreline did not read closer by the end. Marcus served very well throughout and there were many well played aggressive points and long tactical rallies helped by playing under the floodlit dome at Stowmarket. The 2nd set could have gone either way after Marcus almost came back from 1-4 down to trail 3-5 before Daniel edged another very close game to finish what was a fiery but fair and physically exhausting match in just over 2 hours. "  -- Daniel
Reveal CommentAvery Jackson bt Stuart Horrex (Feb 8) 6-0, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "Both players struggled in the first set but Avery managed to play well on the important points to close out the first. The second was more competitive as Stuart regain his form and the match could have gone to a third set with Avery running out of steam but managing to hang on to close out the second set......"  -- Avery
Reveal CommentDaniel Peck bt Xin Chen (Feb 2) 6-2, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "The windy conditions made things difficult for us but there many good rallies despite this. Xin got off to a great start breaking serve and holding to take a 2-0 lead. I recovered and managed to win the next 7 games in a row with Xin 30-0 and 40-0 in several of these games. I certainly had the luck of the net cord in my favour this afternoon. The 2nd set was another close one but I was able to get a vital bit of breathing space to go 4-2 and then 5-2 up with plenty of deuce games played. I then served out to complete the win on the 3rd match point. "  -- Daniel
Reveal CommentMarcus Sheaff bt Avery Jackson (Feb 2) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "Neither of us could hold serve for much of this match. At 4-5 on my serve I stood on the edge of the precipice at 0-40. I hit my second serve onto the outside edge of the service box for an ace which avery called out at first but then showed great sportsmanship and gave me two serves after a review when he said he wasn't sure it was out and I was sure it was in. I went on to take the game to draw level at 5-5. Avery was 6-5 and I had to stand firm again to take it to an inevitable tie-break to separate us. We were nip and tuck upto 5-5 when I perfectly judged a drop shot that just cleared the net and at last stole the set from Averys grasp. I had the momentum after this 90 minute toe-to toe battle of tennis and nerve which decided the match"  -- Marcus

Match of the Group:

Reveal CommentAvery Jackson bt Matthew Last (Jan 26) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

Player Comments:

  • "Another great game of tennis with both players serving and covering the court well in the opening set. Avery managed to stay focused to close out the first set. The second set was one way traffic with Matt playing consistently throughout with excellent serves and shorter rallies closing out the set in 20 minutes. The third set saw both players struggling and failing to hold serves as the wind picked up in a bright and quiet day at Christchurch Park. At 3-3 in the third set Avery managed to break serve and close out the set. A very close match with both players winning 13 games each out of the 26 games played. Thoroughly enjoyable match...," -- Avery
Reveal CommentAvery Jackson bt Daniel Peck (Jan 18) 6-3, 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "A tough match to start the new year. Daniel was in great form so I knew I had to start well. At 3-3 in the first Daniel serves dipped and Avery managed to break his serves and hold out to win the set. The second set was a bit of the same. An enjoyable game of tennis played in good spirit."  -- Avery
Reveal CommentDaniel Peck bt Matthew Last (Jan 12) 6-1, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "This was as much of a battle against the elements as much as each other! Wind, rain and a blinding sunshine at one end made conditions difficult for both throughout. I started off serving very well and led 3-0 before Matt pulled a game back. A consistent first set saw me through 6-1 with few unforced errors which I knew was vital to have any chance. Matt got off to a great start in the 2nd taking a 3-0 lead before I used the sun to my advantage with some high deep balls to recover and lead 4-3. At 4-4 the match was anyone's but I managed to sneak over the line before Matt could push it to a decider. Some very good points despite the conditions. "  -- Daniel
Marcus Sheaff bt Stuart Horrex (Jan 10) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)

Group Summary:

No bonus points here and a small group but very well done to every one for playing every possible match after Chris withdrew. And what great matches they were! An epic between Zelma and David, very competitive sets between Pradeep and David and Zelma making Pradeep really earn his win. In the end, this was Philippa's round, finishing at the top just one point ahead of Pradeep, though as she says "Overall standings are 1-1 in matches and 2-2 in sets, couldn't be closer!" Well done all!

Final Rankings:

Pos. Name Played P Won W Lost L Bonus BNS Total PTS Form
1 Philippa Cowie 3 2 1 0 5 WWL
2 Pradeep Rajakumar 3 2 1 0 4 WLW
3 Zelma Green 3 1 2 0 3 WLL
4 David Sendall 4 1 3 0 3 LLWL
5 Chris Smith 1 1 0 0 2 W

Match Results:

Reveal CommentZelma Green bt David Sendall (Feb 19) 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "At over three hours this was something of an epic. Last time I played David I think I commented he had said he'd had a gap and was coming back and it was evident he would improve... he now really has! The low sun affected both players at times and David took the first after set points on my part. I fought back to claim the second on another tight tie break. In the third I started to fear the worst as David clawed it back when I was 5-1 up. Just managed to hold it at the end though! A great match Thanks David! "  -- Zelma
Reveal CommentPradeep Rajakumar bt David Sendall (Feb 8) 6-2, 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "Very competitive sets. The scores don't really do justice to the level of games we played. A lot of deuce games and I was a bit cheeky to get quite a few net shots falling in David's court. Good conditions for this season and a great way to start the day."  -- Pradeep
Reveal CommentPhilippa Cowie bt Pradeep Rajakumar (Feb 7) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "An extended warm up ensured that the glorious sunshine melted the remaining ice that greeted us on court. Match started in a familiar pattern from the last meet with breaks of serve from both players. Pradeep warmed up quickly hitting winner after winner to build a 3-1 lead. Pip fought back to level the score and the breaks kept coming on serve to bring this set to a tiebreak finale: a very competitive start to the match. Second set started no different, with Pip able to build the lead this time with winners of her own and errors creeping in on Pradeep's side. Service games were held by Pip to see the match out. Overall standings are 1-1 in matches and 2-2 in sets, couldn't be closer! Thanks, Pradeep (maybe play a decider before you go?)"  -- Philippa
Philippa Cowie bt Zelma Green (Jan 29) 6-2, 6-0
Reveal CommentPradeep Rajakumar bt Zelma Green (Jan 26) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "Great first game of round 34 on a decent Sunday evening, not too cold, just about right conditions for this season. Both of us fought hard for our points. It could have gone either way."  -- Pradeep

Match of the Group:

Reveal CommentDavid Sendall bt Philippa Cowie (Jan 26) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4

Player Comments:

  • "This was a fantastic match. Some really good tennis and ridiculous retrievals on both sides. Philippa is quick around the court, so hitting clean winners is tricky. Despite me taking the first game, Philippa pretty much walked the first set. The were flashes from me, but nothing sustained. The second set scoreline is probably unjust and doesn't tell the story of a number of deuces and no love games. The third set seemed to be heading Philippa's way as she raced into a 4-1 lead. I managed to take 5 games in a row to complete an unlikely comeback. All the games in the third set were tight, with yet more deuce games with some games having at least 5 deuces in them. Great match. Well played Philippa."  -- David
Reveal CommentChris Smith bt David Sendall (Jan 11) 6-0, 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "David played some good shots, hes very quick across the court."  -- Chris

Group Summary:

Well done to Peter who played and won three matches. With a walkover as well, his position at the top become unassailable, though good to see he had a very close tie break first set in his match v Ryan who was runner up. A slightly quiet group overall but here's to better weather and more matches next time.

Final Rankings:

Pos. Name Played P Won W Lost L Bonus BNS Total PTS Form
1 Peter Haystead 4 4 0 0 8 WWWW
2 Ryan Squirrell 3 2 1 0 4 WWL
3 John Barrett 1 0 1 0 0 L
4 Allan Santos 2 0 2 0 0 LL
5 Ashley Miller 2 0 2 0 0 LL

Match Results:

Peter Haystead bt John Barrett (Feb 21) Walkover
Peter Haystead bt Allan Santos (Feb 13) 6-2, 6-2
Reveal CommentRyan Squirrell bt Allan Santos (Feb 8) 6-1, 6-0

Player Comments:

  • "A very enjoyable match with some long rallies and lots of deuce points. Many thanks for the game Alan"  -- Ryan
Reveal CommentRyan Squirrell bt Ashley Miller (Feb 3) 6-4, 6-2

Player Comments:

  • "A really enjoyable match with the first set being around 45 mins and very close at time - thanks Ashley"  -- Ryan

Match of the Group:

Peter Haystead bt Ryan Squirrell (Jan 20) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
Peter Haystead bt Ashley Miller (Jan 19) 6-1, 6-4