Bayley keeps singles crown

Tunbridge Wells’ Will Bayley started his Paralympic qualification year in style by retaining his men’s class 7 singles title at the Slovenia Open.

World champion Bayley got the better of Japan’s world No.8 Katsuyoshi Yagi in the Final at Lasko 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.

However hopes of a second gold in the class 14 doubles were dashed at the SemiFinal stage after a 3-2 defeat alongside Martin Perry against France’s World bronze medallists Clement Berthier and Esteban Herrault.

Bayley had won his three previous matches against Yagi, but the last of those was in 2018. He lost the first set, too, conceding a 10-7 lead.

At 6-3 down in the second set the Rio 2016 gold medallist looked in trouble but he worked his way back into the match and after taking the set 11-9 won the third and the fourth for a 3-1 win.

“He’s changed his style since I played him five years ago,” said Bayley. “He’s got antispin on the backhand, which is a style I’ve never played against, and it took me two sets to get used to it.

“He’s also a good player - he’s one of the best players in the world at the moment so I’m just pleased to get the win. He’s a really intense character and I think I am, so it made for a good match.

“I feel that I am improving mentally more than anything. If I played that match five years ago I would maybe have lost 3-0 but I tell myself that I have to respect the opponent.

“He’s a really good player so it’s not so bad that I’m losing; I’ve just got to find a way to try and win.”

Bayley went through last season undefeated in men’s class 7, culminating in a second world title in Spain, and is focused on regaining the European title that he last won in 2011 later this year. “I don’t think about last year,” he said, “It doesn’t count so it is good to start a new year fresh with a win.

“The most important tournament for me this year is the Europeans in Sheffield - it’s home and it’s a major so I want to be really up for that.”