O’Mara rues the missed chances as he just falls short

HOPES of a home winner of the men’s singles at the AEGON Pro Series at Scotstoun this week came to an end yesterday when Jonny O’Mara exited the event at the quarter-final stage.

The 21-year-old from Arbroath had taken a taut first set 7-5 and was playing some inspired tennis to forge a 4-2 lead in the second when Hugo Grenier, the No.6 seed from France, mounted a fight back.

The world No.516 was left to ruing the fine margins as the Frenchman broke back for 4-4, took the set 7-5 then rode his wave of momentum to claim the decider 6-1.

Nonetheless, coach Toby Smith said O’Mara’s week was a good “starting point” for what he hopes to achieve in the next 12 months.

Splitting his time between Arbroath and Stirling after a two-year stint in London, O’Mara also has a promising doubles partnership with Scott Clayton but plans to focus on singles for the next 12 months, first in Futures events then Challengers, in a bid to make his big breakthrough.

“He was two games away from doing the perfect match,” said Smith, the brother of Davis Cup captain Leon.

“He was 4-2 up in the second set and has so many things to look back on. What he will be kicking himself about, when he looks back on it, is not playing the opportunity points well enough.

“But Jonny has a lot to offer. He has pretty much done a couple of years out in the wilderness on his own but now this is a chance to get him back in at Stirling and get some specific gym work done.

“He has done a four-week physical block, which is pretty much the first time he has done that in a while.”

Next up, for both him and 16-year-old Aidan McHugh – another one of Grenier’s victims this week – are two more LTA events, first at Tipton, near Birmingham, and then Shrewsbury.

McHugh has received a wild card into the Tipton event but must temper his schedule this year with his schoolwork as he sits five Highers.

He is likely to play a couple of junior tournaments in Spain in an attempt to build up his ranking ahead of the French Open, which falls just after his last exams.