Shaw win sets up chance of revenge
BRITON SET TO FACE AMERICAN BARTEN IN LAST FOUR OF COUNTY EVENT
JAMES Shaw ensured an early local victory on the opening day of the Loughborough Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament yesterday when the 25-year-old beat fellow Brit Richard Green to reach the semi-finals of the quad singles, writes Marshall Thomas.
As the first LTA international competition staged in Britain in almost 12 months got under way, Shaw edged Green 6-4 7-5 at Loughborough University Tennis Centre, the world No.18’s home training base.
“It was the ideal first match, really, because going into it there were a few nerves after not competing for a while and Richard was playing some of the best tennis I’ve seen from him,” said Shaw, after setting up a last four meeting with American top seed Bryan Barten.
“But I was able to maintain focus and play what I’ve been working on in training over the past few months.”
Shaw’s last international match before lockdown restrictions were imposed last March was also against Barten, the American edging their semi-final at the Arizona Open 7-6 6-4.
However, Shaw is hopeful of reversing the result this time.
“I don’t think a lot needs to be changed. I think the way I was playing today will do me well going into the semi,” he said.
“Obviously it’s a different competitor, but now I’ve got the first match in I feel quite comfortable.
“Getting so close to Bryan last March, it gives me confidence, especially having had such a big training block.
I’m excited to showcase my skills and see where it takes me.”
Elsewhere in the quad singles, 18-year-old Briton Greg Slade claimed his biggest victory in international competition after battling back to defeat Israel’s Yosi Saadon 3-6 6-1 7-5. Slade plays fellow Brit and second seed Antony Cotterill for a place in the final.
The opening exchanges in the men’s singles saw world No.1 junior Ben Bartram progress to a second round meeting with Dutch fifth seed Maikel Scheffers after beating Manoj Somasundaram 6-0 6-2.
But fellow British junior Dahnon Ward bowed out to Slovakia’s Marek Gergely 6-2 7-6.
With the men’s top seeds all having first round byes, top seed Alfie Hewett will play Spain’s Daniel Caverzaschi for a place in the quarter-finals, while second seed Gordon Reid will face the USA’s Casey Ratzlaff.
Cornelia Oozthuizen added to the British success on the opening day, the former Invictus Games medallist beating Israel’s Mayaan Zikri 6-1 6-3 in the first women’s singles match.