Daniel Evans: British 'Bad Boy' On Road To Recovery

Twelve months ago, Daniel Evans was hot property in the tennis world. On the cusp of conquering the top 100 ranking barrier and with a run to the third round of the US Open in his back pocket, Evans' reputation was on the rise. British fans were particularly excited by a player arguably boasting the most natural ability since a certain Andrew Murray burst onto the scene.

Fast forward eleven months to the start of this year's Wimbledon and you would have found the Birmingham-born Brit languishing at #752 in the World having played the main draw of just four....

Find the rest of the article at http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/07/29/daniel-evans-british-bad-boy-on-road-to-recovery/.

Tennis Brit Watch Week 18

ATP
Singles

Ostrava Challenger - Dan Evans (Withdrew 1st Round - Illness)

Tallahassee Challenger - James Ward (Lost Quarter-Final - Robby Ginepri 3-6 6-3 2-6)
                              - David Rice (Lost 1st Round - Antonio Veic (3)6-7 1-6)
                              - Sean Thornley (Lost 1st Qualifying Round - Andrew Carter 6-4 2-6 3-6)

An-Ning Challenger - Dan Cox (Lost 2nd Round - Nikola Mektic 3-6 4-6)
                            - Oliver Golding (Lost 1st Round - Borna Coric 2-6 3-6)


Seoul Futures - Edward Corrie (Lost Quarter-Final - Dane Propoggia 6-2 3-6 4-6)
                  - Richard Gabb (Lost 2nd Round - Marcus Daniell Retired)
                  - George Coupland (Lost 1st Round - Gengo Kikuchi 5-7 2-6)

Mostoles Futures - Josh Milton (Lost 2nd Round - Laurent Rochette 6-3 4-6 6-3)
                        - James Marsalek (Lost 1st Round - Jaime Pulgar-Garcia 1-6 6-2 6-4)
                        - Matthew Short (Lost 1st Round - Samuel Ribiero Navarrete 6-4 7-6)

Antalya Futures - Alex Jhun (Lost 1st Round - Peter Heller 3-6 2-6)

Edinburgh Futures - Toby Martin (Lost 2nd Round - Ashley Hewitt 2-6 6-3 2-6)
                        - Robert Carter (Lost 2nd Round - Liam Broady 6-3 1-6 1-6)
                        - Jonny O'Mara (Lost 1st Round - Jonny O'Mara 3-6 7-6 6-7)
                        - Marcus Willis (CHAMPION)
                        - Ashley Hewitt (Lost Semi-Final - Neil Pauffley 6-2 6-4)
                        - Brydan Klein (Lost Quarter Final - Neil Pauffley Walkover)
                        - Liam Broady (Lost Semi-Final - Marcus Willis 6-4 4-6 3-6)
                        - Neil Pauffley (RUNNER UP)
                        - Luke Bambridge (Lost 1st Round - Gavin Van Peperzeel 2-6 6-4 4-6)
                        - Adam Glynn (Lost 1st Round - Jathan Malik 4-6 3-6)
                        - Adam Thornton-Brown (Lost 1st Round - Matteo Marrai 2-6 3-6)
                        - Ryan Peniston (Lost 1st Round - Sander Gille 6-3 3-6 5-7)
                        - David Porter (Lost 1st Round - Toby Martin 0-6 3-6)
                        - Keelan Oakley (Lost 2nd Round - Marcus Willis 0-6 2-6)
                        - Tom Allen (Lost 1st Round - Keelan Oakley 3-6 3-6)
                        - Myles Orton (Lost 1st Round -  Marcus Willis 1-6 0-6)
                        - Imran Aswat (Lost 2nd Round - Neil Pauffley 3-6 3-6)
                        - Bruce Strachan (Lost 2nd Round - Gavin Van Peperzeel 2-6 4-6)

Vero Beach Futures - Alex Sendegeya (Lost 1st Round - Francis Tiafoe 3-6 3-6)
 

Doubles

Munich - Jamie Murray (partnering John Peers) (CHAMPIONS)
            - Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins (RUNNERS-UP)

Taipei City Challenger - Jamie Delgado (partnering Gilles Muller) (Lost to Krajicek/Smith 4-6 6-7)

An-Ning Challenger - Oliver Golding (partnering Borna Coric) (Lost 1st Round - Grigelis/Mektic 3-6 (0)6-7)
                               - Dan Cox (partnering Mao-Xin Gong) (Runners-Up)

Tallahassee Challenger - Darren Walsh (partnering Adham el-Effendi) (Lost Semi-Final - Fratangelo/Krueger - 4-6 3-6)
                                     - David Rice and Sean Thornley (Lost 1st Round - Kokkinakis/Kubler 6-1 7-5)

Seoul Futures - Edward Corrie (partnering Maximilian Neuchrist) (Lost Quarter-Final - Chung/Nam 6-3 5-7 5-10)
                     - Richard Gabb (partnering Marcus Daniell) (Lost Quarter-Final - Nagau/Oku Walkover)

Sharm el Sheikh Futures - Jack Oswald (partnering Andrea Camurri) (Lost Quarter-Final Mauricio Alvarez-Guzman 0-6 1-6)

Edinburgh Futures - Luke Bambridge/Liam Broady (Lost Semi-Final - Van Peperzeel/Banes 7-6 6-1)

                              - Myles Orton (partnering Daniel Glancy (Lost Quarter-Final - Bambridge/Broady 4-6 4-6)
                              - Jonny O'Mara/Marcus Willis (CHAMPIONS)
                              - Brydan Klein (partnering Jake Eames) (Lost Quarter-Final - O'Mara/Willis 6-7 2-3 retired)
                              - Robert Carter/Ryan Peniston (Lost Quarter-Final - Griekspoor/Griekspoor 5-7 4-6)

Mostoles Futures - James Marsalek (partnering Juan Sebastian Gomez) (Lost Quarter-Final Pulgar-Garcia/Arauzo-Martinez 4-6 6-7)
                           - Matthew Short (partnering Jan Blecha) (Lost Pulgar-Garcia/Arauzo-Martinez 6-7 retired)

Antalya Futures - Alexander Jhun (partnering Yusuki Watanuki (Lost Quarter-Final Ramanathan/Ciumac 4-6 3-6)

Vero Beach Futures - Thomas Knights/James Turbervill (Lost 1st Round - Tucker/Vorster 4-6 7-6 3-10)


WTA
Singles

Gifu 75k - Naomi Broady (Lost 2nd Round - Misa Eguchi 7-6 6-7 4-6)
            - Samantha Murray (Lost 1st Round - Qiang Wang 2-6 6-7)
            - Tara Moore (Lost 1st Round - Tammi Patterson 4-6 4-6)
            - Jade Windley (Lost 1st Qualifying Round - Akiko Yonemura 6-7 6-4 2-6)
            - Emily Webley-Smith (Lost 1st Qualifying Round - Miki Miyamura 6-7 6-4 4-6)
            - Anna Smith (Lost 1st Qualifying Round -  Yuka Higuchi 2-6 2-6)

Wiesbaden 25k - Johanna Konta (Withdrew)

Sharm el Sheikh 10k - Katy Dunne (Lost Semi-Final - 6-7 4-6)
                           - Katie Boulter (RUNNER-UP)
                           - Danielle Konotoptseva (Lost 1st Round - Katy Dunne 2-6 0-6)
                           - Harriet Dart (Lost Quarter-Final - Katy Dunne 3-6 6-1 6-7)
                           - Eden Silva (Lost Quarter-Final - Katie Boulter 5-7 3-6)
                           - Francesca Stephenson (Lost 1st Round - Ola Abou Zekry 4-6 0-6)
                           - Sabrina Bamburac (Lost 2nd Round - Pia Konig 2-6 0-6)
                           - Dominique Covington (Lost Final Qualifying Round - Milica Novakovic 3-6 4-6)
                           - Savannah Sills (Lost Final Qualifying Round - Ola Abou Zekry 4-6 3-6)
                           - Aimee Gibson (Lost Final Qualifying Round - Nevena Selakovic 1-6 1-6)

Antalya 10k - Eleanor Dean (Lost Quarter-Final - Olga Doroshina 3-6 5-7)
                 - Mollie Crouch (Lost 1st Round - Oceane Dodin 1-6 4-6)

Doubles

Gifu 75k - Jade Windley/Samantha Murray (Lost 1st Round - Rika Fujikawa/Tamarine Tanasugarn 1-6 3-6)
              - Emily Webley-Smith (partnering Ekaterina Bychkova) (Lost 1st Round - Naomi Broady/Tara Moore 6-7 7-5 10-5)
              - Naomi Broady/Tara Moore (Lost Quarter-Final - Rodionova/Gajdosova 2-6 5-7)
              - Jocelyn Rae/Anna Smith (Lost Semi-Final - Hsieh/Doi 4-6 2-6)

Sharm el Sheikh 10k - Katie Boulter (partnering Nina Stojanovic) (CHAMPIONS)
                                 - Eden Silva (partnering Elena Van Der Sypt) (Lost Semi-Final - Boulter/Stojanovic 3-0 retirement)
                                 - Savannah Sills (partnering Tereza Melicharkova) (Lost Quarter-Final Dunne/Dart 2-6 0-6)
                                 - Dominique Covington/Aimee Gibson (Lost 1st Round - Harriet Dart/Katy Dunne 2-6 3-6)
                                 - Harriet Dart/Katy Dunne (Lost Semi-Final - Dong/Konig 3-6 1-6)
                                 - Sabrina Bamburac (partnering Nevena Selakovic) (Lost 1st Round - Dong/Konig 6-4 5-7 6-10)

Antalya 10k - Eleanor Dean (partnering Saray Sterenbach) (Lost Semi-Final - Lee/Fomina 3-6 1-6)
                   - Mollie Crouch (partnering Mariana Mayer Humberg) (Lost 1st Round - Dean/Sterenbach 2-6 1-6)

Sunday 4th May
Katie Boulter lost to Nina Stojanovic 6-3 4-6 3-6 (Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Jamie Murray/John Peers beat Colin Fleming/Ross Hutchins (Final - Munich)

Saturday 3rd May
Darren Walsh/Adham El-Effendi lost to Fratangelo/Krueger 4-6 3-6 (Semi-Final - Tallahassee)
Anna Smith/Jocelyn Rae lost to Hsieh/Doi 4-6 2-6 (Semi-Final -  Gifu)
Katie Boulter beat Katy Dunne 7-6 6-4 (Semi-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Marcus Willis beat Neil Pauffley 6-1 6-3 (Final - Edinburgh)
Katie Boulter/Nina Stojanovic beat Dong/Konig 6-4 6-2 (Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Colin Fleming/Ross Hutchins beat Brown/Knowle 6-3 6-2 (Semi-Final - Munich)

Friday 2nd May
Darren Walsh/Adham El-Effendi beat Skugor/Veic 6-4 2-6 10-7 (Quarter-Final - Tallahassee)
Ed Corrie lost to Dane Propoggia 6-2 3-6 4-6 (Quarter-Final - Seoul)
Dan Cox/Mao-Xin Gong beat Meffert/Puetz 6-1 6-1 (Semi-Final - An Ning)
Anna Smith/Jocelyn Rae beat Imanishi/Inoue 7-5 6-2 (Quarter-Final - Gifu)
Katie Boulter beat Eden Silva 7-5 6-3 (Quarter-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Neil Pauffley beat Brydan Klein by withdrawal (Quarter-Final - Edinburgh)
Liam Broady beat Julien Cagnina 6-1 2-0 retirement (Quarter-Final - Edinburgh)
Katy Dunne beat Harriet Dart 6-3 1-6 7-6 (Quarter-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Ashley Hewitt beat Maverick Banes 4-6 6-2 6-3 (Quarter-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Dan Cox/Mao-Xin Gong lost to Bolt/Whittinggton 4-6 3-6 (Final - An Ning)
Marcus Willis beat Gavin Van Peperzeel 7-6 6-4 (Quarter-Final - Edinburgh)
Katie Boulter/Nina Stojanovic beat Silva/Van Der Sypt 3-0 retirement (Semi-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Katy Dunne/Harriet Dart lost to Dong/Konig 3-6 1-6 (Semi-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Jamie Murray/John Peers beat Butorac/Klaasen 7-6 6-2 (Semi-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Neil Pauffley beat Ashley Hewitt 6-2 6-4 (Semi-Final - Edinburgh)
Marcus Willis beat Liam Broady 4-6 6-4 6-3 (Semi-Final - Edinburgh)
James Ward lost to Robby Ginepri 3-6 6-3 2-6 (Quarter-Final - Tallahassee)

Thursday 1st May
David Rice/Sean Thornley lost to Kokkinakis/Kubler 1-6 5-7 (1st Round - Tallahassee)
Richard Gabb lost to Marcus Daniell 5-7 retired (2nd Round - Seoul)
Edward Corrie beat Gengo Kikuchi 6-2 6-4 (2nd Round - Soul)
Naomi Broady lost to Misa Eguchi 7-6 6-7 4-6 (2nd Round - Gifu)
Richard Gabb/Marcus Daniell withdrew against NagaoOku (Quarter-Final - Seoul)
Dan Cox/Mao-Xin Gong beat Baluda/Kravchuk 6-3 6-3 (Quarter-Final - An Ning)
Tara Moore/Naomi Broady lost to Rodionova/Gajdosova 2-6 5-7 (Quarter-Final - Gifu)
Katy Dunne beat Emma Laine 6-2 6-1 (2nd Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Harriet Dart beat Csilla Argyelan 6-0 6-0 (2nd Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Eden Silva beat Elena Van Der Sypt 7-6 7-5 (2nd Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Katie Boulter beat Sri Vaishinavi Peddi Reddy 7-6 6-3 (2nd Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Sabrina Bamburac lost to Pia Konig 2-6 0-6 (2nd Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Edward Corrie/Maximilian Neuchrist lost to Chung/Nam (Quarter Final - Seoul)
Eleanor Dean lost to Olga Doroshina 3-6 5-7 (2nd Round - Antalya)
Jamie Delgado/Gilles Muller lost to Krajicek/Smith 4-6 6-7 (Quarter-Final - Taipei City)
Marcus Willis/Jonny O'Mara beat Liam Broady and Luke Bambridge 6-1 6-4 (Semi-Final - Edinburgh)
Jamie Murray/John Peers beat Dlouhy/Pavic 4-6 7-6 10-6 (Quarter-Final - Munich)
James Marsalek/Juan Sebastian Gomez lost to Pulgar-Garcia/Arauzo-Martinez 4-6 6-7 (Quarter-Final - Mostoles)
Eleanor Dean/Saray Sterenbach lost to Lee/Fomina 3-6 1-6 (Quarter-Final - Antalya)
Katy Dunne/Harriet Dart beat Sills/Melicharkova 6-2 6-0 (Quarter-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Marcus Willis/Jonny O'Mara beat Van Peperzeel/Banes 7-6 6-1 (Final - Edinburgh)
Alexander Jhun/Yusuke Watanuki lost to Ramanathan/Ciumac (Quarter-Final - Antalya)
Jack Oswald/Andrea Camurri lost to Maamoun/Alvarez-Guzman 1-6 0-6 (Quarter-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Eden Silva/Elena Van Der Sypt beat Bogoslavets/Peddi Reddy 6-0 6-4 (Quarter-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
James Ward beat Jason Kubler 2-0 retired (2nd Round - Tallahassee)
Katie Boulter/Nina Stojanovic beat Morgina/Laine 6-2 6-7 10-5 (Quarter-Final - Sharm el Sheikh)
Matt Short/Jan Blecha lost to Pulgar-Garcia/Arenas-Gualda 6-7 retired (Semi-Final - Mostoles)
Joshua Milton lost to Laurent Rochette 6-3 4-6 6-3 (2nd Round - Mostoles)
Darren Walsh/Abham El-Effendi beat Altamirano/Rybakov 6-4 7-6 (1st Round - Tallahassee)

Wednesday 30th April
Tom Knights/James Turbervill lost to Tucker/Vorster 4-6 7-6 3-10 (1st Round - Vero Beach)
Naomi Broady beat Eri Hozumi 6-3 6-4 (1st Round - Gifu)
Tara Moore lost to Tammi Patterson 4-6 4-6 (1st Round - Gifu)
Samantha Murray lost to Qiang Wang 2-6 6-7 (1st Round - Gifu)
Tara Moore/Naomi Broady beat Emily Webley-Smith/Ekaterina Bychkova 6-7 7-5 10-5 (1st Round - Gifu)
Anna Smith/Jocelyn Rae beat Sema/Sema 6-0 6-2 (1st Round - Gifu)
Edward Corrie beat Soong Jae Cho 6-4 4-6 6-3 (1st Round - Seoul)
Richard Gabb/Marcus Daniell beat Bodhidatta/Wachiramanowong 7-6 7-5 (1st Round - Seoul)
Eden Silva beat Disha Satish Agarwal 6-0 6-1 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Jamie Delgado/Gilles Muller beat Chuang/Yu 6-1 6-4 (1st Round - Taipei City)
Marcus Willis beat Keelan Oakley 6-0 6-2 (2nd Round - Edinburgh)
Eleanor Dean beat Kimberley Zimmermann 6-2 6-3 (1st Round - Antalya)
Alexander Jhun lost to Peter Heller 3-6 2-6 (1st Round - Antalya)
Bruce Strachan lost to Gavin Van Peperzeel 2-6 4-6 (2nd Round - Edinburgh)
Neil Pauffley beat Imran Asway 6-3 6-3 (2nd Round - Edinburgh)
Jack Oswald lost to Mauricio Alvarez-Guzman 0-6 1-6 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Liam Broady beat Robert Carter 3-6 6-1 6-1 (2nd Round - Edinburgh)
Colin Fleming/Ross Hutchins beat Cabal/Farah 6-1 6-4 (Quarter-Final - Munich)
Mollie Crouch lost to Oceane Dodin 1-6 4-6 (1st Round - Antalya)
Ashley Hewitt beat Toby Martin 6-2 3-6 6-2 (2nd Round - Edinburgh)
Matt Short lost to Samuel Ribeiro Navarrete 4-6 2-6 (2nd Round - Mostoles)
Dan Cox lost to Nikola Mektic 3-6 4-6 (2nd Round - An Ning)
Katie Boulter beat Alija Merdeeva 6-0 6-1 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Liam Broady/Luke Bambridge beat Myles Orton/Daniel Glancy 6-4 6-4 (Quarter-Final - Edinburgh)
Robert Carter/Ryan Peniston lost to Scott Griekspoor/Kevin Griekspoor (Quarter-Final - Edinburgh)
Francesca Stephenson lost to Ola Abou Zekry 4-6 0-6 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Harriet Dart beat Anna Bogoslavets 6-2 6-0 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Eleanor Dean/Sarah Sterenbach beat Afanasyeva/Kazimova 6-3 6-3 (Quarter-Final - Antalya)
Brydan Klein beat Jathan Malik 1-6 6-3 6-4 (2nd Round - Edinburgh)
Alexander Sendegeya lost to Ty Trombetta 4-6 3-6 (2nd Round - Vero Beach)
Jamie Murray/John Peers beat Satschko/Struff 64 6-3 (1st Round - Munich)
Matt Short/Jan Blecha beat Villacorta-Alonso/Ruano 6-1 6-2 (1st Round - Mostoles)
Myles Orton/Daniel Glancy beat Sille/Cagnina 7-5 7-5 (Quarter-Final - Edinburgh)
Marcus Willis/Jonny O'Mara beat Brydan Klein/Jake Eames 7-6 3-2 retired (Quarter-Final - Edinburgh)

Tuesday 29th April
Jade Windley/Samantha Murray lost to Rika Fujiwara/Tamarine Tanasugarn 1-6 3-6 (1st Round - Gifu)
George Coupland lost to Gengo Kikuchi 5-7 2-6 (1st Round  - Seoul)
Oliver Golding lost to Borna Coric 2-6 3-6 (1st Round - An Ning
Edward Corrie/Maximilian Neuchrist beat Soon Woo Kwon/Duck Hee Lee 6-2 6-0 (1st Round - Seoul)
Dan Cox beat Hyeon Chung 4-6 6-3 6-3 (1st Round - An Ning)
Richard Gabb beat Sun-Yong Kim Jr. 3-6 6-3 6-4 (1st Round - Seoul)
Katy Dunne beat Danielle Konotoptseva (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Jack Oswald/Andrea Camurri beat Petersen/Morozov by walkover (Sharm el Sheikh - 1st Round)

Daniel Cox/Mao-Xin Gong beat Buchanan/Storck 7-5 6-1 (1st Round - AnNing)
Sabrina Bamburac beat Alexandra Riley 6-3 7-5 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Ashley Hewitt beat Daniel Glancy 6-4 6-2 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Eden Silva/Elena Van Der Sypt beat Tsyganova/Kadagidze 6-2 6-0 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Joshua Milton beat Michael Bois 7-5 7-6 (1st Round - Mostoles)
Neil Pauffley beat N. Vijay Sundar Prashanth 6-3 6-4 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Savannah Sills/Tereza Melicharkova beat Alfredsson/Sablijarevic 6-1 6-2 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Imran Asway beat Constantin Belot 6-3 3-6 6-2 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Marcus Willis beat Myles Orton 6-1 6-0 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Brydan Klein beat Jonny O'Mara 6-3 6-7 7-6 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Robert Carter beat Nicolas Rosenzweig 6-1 6-1 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Toby Martin beat David Porter 6-0 6-3 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Alexander Jhun/Yusuke Watanuki beat Muradashvili/Vartanian 6-2 6-2 (1st Round - Antalya)
Eleanor Dean/Saray Sterenbach beat Crouch/Mayer 6-2 6-1 (1st Round - Antalya)
Katy Dunne/Harriet Dart beat Dominique Covington/Aimee Gibson 6-2 6-3 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Katie Boulter/Nina Stojanovic beat Riley/Rigozzi 7-5 6-2 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Sabrina Bamburac/Nevena Selakovic lost to Dong/Konig 6-4 5-7 6-10 (1st Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Ryan Peniston lost to Sander Gille 6-3 3-6 5-7 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Bruce Strachan beat Simon Ede 7-6 4-6 6-4 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Luke Bambridge lost to Gavin Van Peperzeel 2-6 6-4 4-6 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
James Marsalek lost to Jamie Pulgar-Garcia 1-6 6-2 4-6 (1st Round - Mostoles)
Adam Thornton-Brown lost to Matteo Marrai 2-6 3-6 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Keelan Oakley beat Tom Allen 6-3 6-3 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Matt Short beat Juan-Samuel Arauzo-Martinez 6-4 7-6 (1st Round - Mostoles)
Jathan Malik beat Adam Glynn 6-4 6-3 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Robert Carter/Ryan Peniston beat Belot/Ducourau 2-6 6-4 10-3 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Liam Broady beat Scott Griekspoor 6-7 6-2 6-0 (1st Round - Edinburgh)
Brydan Klein/Jake Eames beat Liniger/Prashanth 6-3 6-7 10-6 (1st Round - Edinburgh)

Monday 28th April
Emily Webley Smith/Ekaterina Bychkova beat Mahiro Date/Yuki Ukai 6-1 6-1 (Final Qualifying Round - Gifu)
Oliver Golding/Borna Coric lost to Grigelis/Mektic 3-6 (0)6-7 (1st Round - An Ning)
Eden Silva beat Disha Satish Agarwal 6-0 6-0 (Final Qualifying Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Savannah Sills lost to Ola Abou Zakry 4-6 3-6 (2nd Qualifying Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Aimee Gibson lost to Nevena Selakovic 1-6 1-6 (2nd Qualifying Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Dominique Covington lost to Milica Novakovic 3-6 4-6 (2nd Qualifying Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
Sabrina Bamburac beat Anastasia Tsyganova 6-2 6-3 (2nd Qualifying Round - Sharm el Sheikh)
James Marsalek/Juan Sebastian Gomez beat Alberto Santos Bravo/Rafael Mazon-Hernandez 7-6 3-6 10-1 (1st Round - Mostoles)
Colin Fleming/Ross Hutchins beat Bracciali/Seppi 6-3 7-5 (1st Round - Munich)
Matt Short/Jan Blecha beat Carl Stefan Privee Boudeguer/Jamie Fermosell 6-3 6-2 (1st Round - Mostoles)
James Ward beat Dennis Nevolo 6-1 6-1 (1st Round - Tallahassee)
David Rice lost to Antonio Veic (3)6-7 1-6 (1st Round - Tallahassee)

Sunday 27th April
Jade Windley lost to Akiko Yonemura 6-7 6-4 2-6 (1st Qualifying Round - Gifu)
Emily Webley-Smith lost to Miki Miyamura 6-7 6-4 4-6 (1st Qualifying Round - Gifu)
Anna Smith lost to Yuka Higuchi 2-6 2-6 (!st Qualifying Round - Gifu)  

Saturday 26th April
Sean Thornley lost to Andrew Carter 6-4 2-6 3-5 (1st Qualifying Round - Tallahassee) 

GB Davis Cup Squad Announced

Leon Smith has announced his GB Team to face Italy in Naples on the 4-6 April.

After victory against America in the opening round of the World Cup Group stage, Smith's team take part in the quarter-finals of the highest stage of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1986.

The team chose to travel to Naples are Andy Murray, Dan Evans, James Ward and Colin Fleming, with Ross Hutchins also travelling as the reserve player.

Evans returns to the squad in place of Kyle Edmund after last competing against Croatia in September 2013 whilst Hutchins also rejoins in place of Dominic Inglot after his comeback from Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Captain Leon Smith told the LTA, "We have selected our top three singles players for the squad who between them have the most Davis Cup experience which is what we need for this tie. Obviously we are delighted that Andy is playing, and both Dan and James have enjoyed impressive Davis Cup wins over the last few years."

"We also have strong options in doubles. Andy and Colin have enjoyed success together before, having reached the final in Montreal last August and also winning their last Davis Cup doubles rudder against Croatia in September. Ross Hutchins could be brought into the final four depending on what options we feel are best for the tie. Both Colin and Ross also have a lot of Davis Cup experience between them."
The team will compete on clay courts at the Tennis Club Napoli over the course of next weekend as they seek to defeat Italy and claim a spot in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

Published on SEaT Capital.

Sports Ladder (4th - 10th February)

UP - Jenny Jones - This week Jenny Jones became the first Briton in Winter Olympic history to win a medal on snow and only the 23rd ever to win a medal full stop. In fact, she won a medal quicker at the Winter Olympics than Team GB managed at the Summer Olympics two years ago. Her bronze came in the Olympics sexy new sport, Snowboard Slopestyle, in which Britain have actually turned out to be surprisingly good!


UP - Dan Evans - British tennis has been dominated in recent years by Andy Murray as well as the rise of Laura Robson and Heather Watson. But could there be a new kid on the block? At only 22, Evans has time on his side and this week rose to his highest career ranking of 123rd in the World. After upsetting Philipp Kohlschreiber and pushing Tommy Haas to three sets the Birmingham born star will be looking to push into the top 100 to cement a regular place at Grand Slams.

UP - Yulia Lipnitskaya - Sometimes sport just makes me sit and wonder what i've done with my life. Watching 15 year old Yulia Lipnitskaya produce two stunning figure skating routines was certainly one of those moments. The young Russian oozed class and maturity as she glided elegantly across the ice. Her two displays helped Russia win the team figure skating event, becoming the youngest Russian gold medalist in the history of the games in the process.

UP - Katarina Johnson-Thompson - In amongst all the Sochi madness, a new British star emerged on the athletics circuit. Johnson-Thompson made a name for herself after an enigmatic display at London 2012, finishing 15th in the Heptathlon at just 19 years of age. This week she took the British Indoor Championships by storm, collecting Gold in both the long jump and the high jump. More impressively, she broke the British high jump record, held by Debbie Marti since 1997. The next Jessica Ennis?

UP - Dama Schmieg - Now i'm sure a lot of you, like me, have got swept up by the Winter Olympic excitement. Now I doubt any of you have got quite as swept up as Dama Schmieg though. Schmieg has created an 150 yard luge course in his own back garden, which takes 45 seconds to get from start to finish. He has certainly become the coolest man in his neighbourhood after his creation, as many have flocked to have a go at the course.


DOWN - Johnny Quinn - They say lightning doesn't strike twice. Quinn would probably dispute that saying after a seriously unlucky opening few days in Sochi. First, Quinn got stuck in one of the toilets without a phone or any way of getting out. So naturally the American bobsled participant smashed his way out, breaking a hole through the door. But it gets worse, as today Quinn and his teammates got stuck in an elevator and had to be rescued. Is Sochi trying to tell him something?


DOWN - Joe Kinnear - The least surprising news in football occurred this week when Jo(k)e Kinnear left Newcastle at the start of last week. Asking people to judge him on his signings and then making not a single permanent signing wasn't a great start. Failing to pronounce the players names didn't help either. Attempting to sign one of his own players who was out on loan also wasn't a bright moment. The list of stupidity goes on. Newcastle fans will be counting their lucky stars that he is anywhere but at St James' Park.


DOWN - Anna Gasser - Poor Anna Gasser. The final woman left to run in the final of the Snowboard Slopestyle final. The only woman left who could get in the medals. Yet she managed to take all the tension out of the occasion with a seemingly unheard of false start. Tumbling down the hill before she was meant to, before comically failing to get back up it. Then when she did get going she crashed out. It just wasn't her day.


DOWN - David Moyes - Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. The pressure is building on the United manager as they conceded a last gasp equaliser to bottom-of-the-league Fulham at the weekend. The signing of Mata looked to be the rejuvenation  that Moyes needed but it has not had the desired impact and the strange tactic of sending in cross-after-cross was extremely unsuccessful. Moyes needs time, there is no doubt about that, but regardless, beating the bottom side in the League is pretty much a must for the new United boss.


DOWN - Kevin Pietersen - The curtain closes on a wonderful England career but not how anyone would have wanted. Pietersen was told by the ECB that he is no longer wanted in the team as his teammates do not trust him. He was also criticised for some of his dismissals during the recent Ashes tour, despite being the highest run scorer in the squad. It is a shame his England career has ended in such controversy as he had the potential to go down as one of the all time greats. Hopefully he still will.

Evans Defeated in Zagreb

Dan Evans fell at the final hurdle on his quest for a maiden ATP Tour final as he lost in three sets to World number 12, Tommy Haas.

Having already upset Philipp Kohlschreiber and Jan Hajek on route, the British number two was aiming to add Haas to his list of scalps.

After claiming the first set 7-5, it looked like Evans had a real chance of advancing to the final in Zagreb. However experience ultimately conquered, the veteran German winning the next two sets 6-4 6-3 to progress.

Nevertheless, Evans will be extremely pleased with his performance in Croatia, which will see him rise around 20 places in the rankings to 124 after becoming the first British man in three years, aside from Andy Murray, to advance to the semi-finals of an ATP Tour tournament.

His upwards movement in the rankings comes just a week after James Ward also increased 19 places to 156th.

In the final Haas will meet Marin CIlic after the Croatian overcame qualifier Bjorn Phau 6-3 6-4 to reach his fourth final in Zagreb.

Published on SEaT Capital.

Evans Advances to Semi-Final

British number two Dan Evans battled through a three set match with German Philipp Kohlschreiber to cement his place in his maiden ATP Tour semi-final.

After being dropped from last week's Davis Cup, Evans was eager to prove himself and has taken full advantage of his lucky loser spot at this weeks Zagreb Indoors.

After losing in the final round of qualifying to Bjorn Phau, Evans was reinstated into the tournament after Radek Stepanek withdrew from injury.

Evans made the most of his lucky break, defeating Jan Hajek in his first round match before overcoming Michael Berrer in a third set tie-break in the next.

His quarter-final upset of Philipp Kohlschreiber is one of the finest results in his career so far and sets him up on a semi-final date with the 35-year-old veteran, Tommy Haas.

Evans successfully overcame Kohlschreiber in three sets, winning 6-4 2-6 6-4 and the victory will see him rise as high as 124th in the rankings.

In the other semi-final Marin Cilic will take on qualifier Bjorn Phau as both completed easy two set victories to progress.

Published on SEaT Capital.

Sports Ladder (26th August - 1st September)

UP - Dan Evans - It finally looks like Evans might be maturing into a top 100 tennis player. After a third round run at the US Open which included knocking out Kei Nishikori and Bernard Tomic, both established top 100 players, Evans will be looking to push on. After his controversial past he will have gained a lot of fans this week.

UP - Women's Ashes Team - Following on from the success of the men's team a few weeks ago, the women stepped up and matched them, with a 12-4 points victory over Australia. With English Cricket on a high at the moment we all look forward to the third Ashes event of the year during Christmas as the men take on the Aussies down under.

UP - Men's Eight (Rowing) - For the first time in the history of the World Rowing Championships, England walked away with gold in the Men's Eight category to top off a great week for British Rowing. This victory took us to third in the overall medal table with three golds and five bronze medals.

UP - Chris Mitchell - A record breaking week for Chris Mitchell who became the first one-armed man to complete a race around the TT track on the Isle of Man. It is an extraordinary story for the man who lost the use of his arm during a motorcycle accident in 2001, as he finished in 11th place in the 20-strong field.

UP - Papiss Cisse - After his bizarre summer sponsorship incident, Cisse has certainly boosted support amongst Toon supporters after hosting a BBQ for young fans. The youngsters were treated to a tour of his house, some home-cooked food, FIFA Tournaments and games of pool. That is certainly one way to win back your fans.

DOWN - Romelu Lukaku - Poor Romelu Lukaku. After a fantastic season last year he has to suffer with being behind Fernando Torres in Chelsea's pecking order. As if to further his misery, this week he missed the vital penalty in the European Super Cup meaning that meant Chelsea missed out on their first potential silverware of the season.

DOWN - Venus Williams - For so long it was the 'Williams Sisters', now it looks more likely to be Serena and 'the other one'. Venus has not won a Grand Slam in 5 years whilst Serena has won seven in that time and will certainly be a contender for a fair few to come. After her third consecutive US Open second round exit, Venus' time could soon be up.

DOWN - US Open - Once again the US Open has come under scheduling criticism, this year from our very own Andy Murray, who had to wait until the night session on the third day of the tournament to play his first match. It seems to happen every year and something really should be done as some women had played two rounds of tennis before Murray had played one. Blushing Meadows!

DOWN - Gareth Bale - So as I write this, history's most inevitable event has finally occurred as Bale leaves for Madrid but it has not been a good week for the Welshman. His unprofessional approach to this transfer led to him nearly getting fined for failing to show up to training. What's the best way to get transferred away from a club? Annoy the people stopping you from leaving obviously. At least the saga is finally over.

DOWN - David Moyes - Oh dear David. Still no summer signings of note (sorry Varela), a 1-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool and #MoyesOut sprawled all over twitter. Moyes needs an expensive day of shopping tomorrow to ease the mindset of many United supporters. Look on the bright side though, at least he doesn't have the World's fastest man out to get him...