Team Bath MCTA’s Richard Gabb is one win away from reaching the Aegon GB Pro-Series men’s singles final after serving up another treat for home fans at the University of Bath on Thursday.
The 23-year-old overcame Ireland’s Sam Barry 6-4 2-6 7-5 in front of an appreciative crowd at the Sports Training Village on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the $15k tournament.
Standing between him and Saturday’s final is Germany’s Mat Moraing, who beat number one seed Tom Kocevar-Desman of Slovenia 6-4 6-1.
Friday’s other semi-final will be between the number two and three seeds, Belgium’s Joris De Loore and Canada’s Filip Peliwo respectively.
De Loore overcame compatriot Michael Geerts 6-2 6-3, while Peliwo – a former Wimbledon and US Open junior champion – came from behind to beat Britain’s Luke Bambridge 1-6 7-5 6-3.
Peliwo, partnered by Sam Barry, was victorious against Bambridge again in the men’s doubles semi-final, beating him and Jonny O’Mara 7-5 6-4.
There was disappointment for Gabb and partner Scott Clayton in the other semi as they went down 6-4 6-1 to fellow Brits Lloyd Glasspool and Joshua Warb-Hibbert.
The final will take place on Court 1 on Friday afternoon, after the conclusion of the two men’s semi-finals.
There is still plenty of home interest in the women’s doubles after Team Bath MCTA’s Lisa Whybourn and partner Freya Christie beat Dutch duo Indy De Vroome and Arantxa Rus 6-3 0-6 10-6 in a rollercoaster quarter-final.
Team Bath Tennis player Sarah Beth Askew and partner Olivia Nicholls are also through to Friday’s semi-finals after their 6-2 7-5 win over fellow Brits Emily Arbuthnott and Ema Lazic.
Whybourn’s progress in the doubles provided some consolation for her earlier 6-3 6-3 defeat to Georgia’s Mariam Bolkvadze in the last 16 of the $25k women’s singles.
That means Christie, her doubles partner, is the only remaining Brit in the competition after her 6-4 7-5 win over Italian number eight seed Alice Matteucci.
With only three seeds left in the draw, Friday’s quarter-finals promise to deliver more exciting and intriguing matches.
The action gets under way at 11am and entry to spectators is free once again.
All the results from Thursday:
Men’s Quarterfinal
Mats Moraing (GER) [8] 6-4 6-1 Tom Kocevar-Desman (SLO) [1]
Richard Gabb (GBR) [4] 6-4 2-6 7-5 Sam Barry (IRL) [6]
Filip Peliwo (CAN) [3] 1-6 7-5 6-3 Luke Bambridge (GBR)
Joris De Loore (BEL) [2] 6-2 6-3 Michael Geerts (BEL) [7]
Men’s Doubles Semi-final
Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) / Joshua Ward-Hibbert (GBR) [4] 6-4 6-1 Scott Clayton (GBR) / Richard Gabb (GBR) [1]
Sam Barry (IRL) / Filip Peliwo (CAN) [2] 7-5 6-4 Luke Bambridge (GBR) / Jonny O’Mara (GBR) [3]
Women’s 2nd Round
Ana Bogdan (ROU) [1] 6-2 6-4 Greet Minnen (BEL)
Pemra Ozgen (TUR) [7] 7-5 6-2 Diana Marcinkevica (LAT)
Gioia Barbieri (ITA) 6-2 6-2 Marie Benoit (BEL) [4]
Freya Christie (GBR) 6-4 7-5 Alice Matteucci (ITA) [6]
Conny Perrin (SUI) 2-6 6-0 6-0 Arantxa Rus (NED) [5]
Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 6-4 6-2 Indy De Vroome (NED) [3]
Mariam Bolkvadze (GEO) 6-3 6-3 Lisa Whybourn (GBR)
Ana Vrljic (CRO) [2] 6-2 4-6 6-1 Elyne Boeykens (BEL)
Schedule for Friday 13 November
Court 1
1 Starting at 11:00 – MS – SF – Filip Peliwo [3] v Joris De Loore [2]
2 Followed By – MS – SF – Mats Moraing [8] v Richard Gabb [4]
3 Not Before 13:30 – MD – F – Lloyd Glasspool / Joshua Ward-Hibbert [4] v Sam Barry / Filip Peliwo [2]
Court 3
1 Starting at 11:00 – WS – QF – Gioia Barbieri v Freya Christie
2 Followed By – WS – QF – Ana Bogdan [1] v Pemra Ozgen [7]
3 Not Before 13:30 – WD – SF – Freya Christie / Lisa Whybourn v Valentini Grammatikopoulou / Diana Marcinkevica [2]
Court 4
1 Starting at 11:00 – WS – QF – Mariam Bolkvadze v Ana Vrljic [2]
2 Followed By – WS – QF – Conny Perrin v Jasmine Paolini
3 Not Before 13:30 – WD – SF – Sarah Beth Askew / Olivia Nicholls v Gioia Barbieri / Cristiana Ferrando
Report courtesy of the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd
