CricSim Tennis: Hamburg [Cl] and Rosmalen [G]

Also, in doubles qualifying in 's-Hertogenbosch, Nigel Scott and Alistair Son beat Marquis Deane and Andrew James, 3-6, 6-2, [11-9], while Ritwik Chowdhuri and Aby Dforum (!!) beat Hilary Bots and James Torres, 6-3, 6-4.

 

Got smashed by Howe.

 

Happens to the best of us.

 

HAMBURG - MATCH OF THE DAY
Youngster Reframe takes all-English affair

Teenage prodigy Paulson Reframe has pulled off a tremendous upset on the German clay, with a razor-thin victory over Monte Carlo semi-finalist Ezequiel Ames.

Coming in as a massive underdog against the in-form Ames, Reframe quickly showed that he was no pushover as he went a break ahead in the first set. While Ames clawed back to take the set to a tiebreaker, Reframe had signalled his intentions early, and took the first 9-7 in the breaker.

Ames tried to bully the youngster early in the second with some heavy hitting and well-timed approach shots, but Reframe was largely not having any of it. His fitness levels appeared to be above what one would expect from a 17-year old, but he did falter late in the set to send the match to a decider.

Again, though, he played the clay court well against his talented opponent, and sent the match to a deciding tiebreaker. Despite failing to convert three match points, the English youngster finally prevailed thanks to a backhand error from Ames, as he won 7-6(7), 5-7, 7-6(7).

BITS AND BOBS

• While the second seed Ames was out on his rear, fourth seed Alex O'Driscoll had no such troubles in an hour long mauling of Shane Masters. Masters, lacking the fight of his matches in Monte Carlo, barely offered a whimper as he was bounced out 6-2, 6-0.

• The disappointment of his Monte Carlo exit in the back of his mind, Jono Chewie came from a set down this time to beat the impressive Clay Evans in three. Evans, a semifinalist in Monte Carlo, took the first set 6-4, but struggled from then on as Chewie cruised to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.

• In what seems to be becoming a recurring them, Siege Morgan was involved in a tight tussle in his first round contest with qualifier Samuel Yates. This time, though, Morgan did enough to pick up the victory 6-4, 7-5.

 

In Hamburg doubles qualifying, Regan Hutchinson and Ether Starris won their ticket into the main draw, with a 7-6(5), 7-5 win over Matt James and Shane Masters, while Joshua Ritchie and Lucas Schaw advanced 7-5, 7-5 against Kiwi opponents Heath Davis and Oscar Wood.

 

Rosmalen - Singles first round

• In the first of the day's matches, there was a massive boilover on court number two as fourth seed Bruce Force was stunned in the most shocking manner, with a straight sets thrashing at the hands of Eddie Morris. Force, who made the second round of the tournament in Monte Carlo, was surprisingly handed the fourth seeding in 's-Hertogenbosch. Morris, overlooked for that seeding, made his displeasure clear, in a 47-minute shellacking of his compatriot as he romped into the second round 6-0, 6-1.

• Morris will play New Zealand's Jonty Rhodes next, after the Kiwi came from a set down to beat Ginger Furball of Scotland. Rhodes, who experienced doubles success in Monte Carlo, grew in confidence as the match went on, despite dropping the first set to the 26-year old Scot. Furball held a break lead in the third, but was chased down by Rhodes who took the match 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

• Top seed James McDougal avoided the collapse of seeds that has plagued the draw so far, as he won his opening match 6-0, 6-2. Gareth Weaver, Rhodes' doubles partner, looked overwhelmed by McDougal's easy power and constant stream of winners, as the Celtic Provinces player looks to atone for his implosion in last week's final.

• In the final match of the day, qualifier Chad Ochocinco secured a spot in the second round with a convincing straight sets win over England's Jordan Logan. Logan was competitive, but failed at the crucial moments, with a 4-6, 2-6 defeat.