CricSim Tennis: Hamburg [Cl] and Rosmalen [G]

Rosmalen - Semifinals

• In the day's first semifinal, third seed Hilary Bots did battle with Victorian qualifier Alistair Son. Bots hadn't dropped a set all week, but found the going tough early against the resilient Son, who dominated the first set to take it 6-1. The 33-year old, who looked out of his depth on the Monte Carlo clay, looked active as he came to the net regularly, but this cost him in the fifth game of the second set as Bots earned the decisive break. Serving out the set to take it to a third, Bots started well to have two break points in Son's first service game, but the Victorian produced some smart tennis to manage to hold. The very next game he came through with the big service break - returning a second serve from Bots with interest to set up a 2-0 lead. He was largely untroubled from then on, as he moved into the final 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

• In the second semifinal, rampant top seed James McDougal looked to make his second final in as many weeks as he played New Zealand's Jonty Rhodes, who was also fresh off a finals appearance in the doubles. Rhodes had clearly had more court time this week, and also offered a sterner test than McDougal's previous opponents who took a combined total of two games from him. That was eclipsed early, as Rhodes shot ahead to a 3-0 lead in a first set characterised by his quality returning and positive shot-making on the forehand wing. The Kiwi managed to take the first set off McDougal, who looked rattled in the second as he trailed 0-2 at one stage. While he created chances, he could never get that decisive break on the big Kiwi serve, as Rhodes produced a big upset to advance to the final 6-3, 6-3.

• In the doubles semifinals, Alistair Son made it 2/2 semis, as he and Nigel Scott combined for a 7-6(0), 6-2 win over Bruce Force/Jordan Logan, while Jake Howe/Eddie Morris moved into their first final with a 4-6, 6-3, [10-4] win over Ginger Furball/James McDougal, to complete a disappointing day for the Scot McDougal.

 

I smashed Scott in qualifying. The doubles title is there for the taking.

 

Also, tennis bods: How does [10-4] happen? Wouldn't you win with 6-4?

 

Doubles don't play a proper third set any more, they have a tie break to 10 if it's one-set all.

Droos no doubt charming the Dutch crowd

 

Hamburg - Semifinals

• Monte Carlo champion Samuel Vimes was looking for his second final in as many tournaments, and in Hamburg had to compete on centre court with the talented Australian veteran Matt James for a spot in the final two. Like his top-seeded counterpart in 's-Hertogenbosch, Vimes hadn't been tested this week, but he dominated the first set anyway against the third seeded Aussie - taking it 6-2. James, however, lifted in the second to force Vimes onto the defensive, with his experience proving decisive at key moments as he managed to send the match to a third. While James kept on coming, Vimes managed to keep his cool and snatched a break of serve against the play early in the third. His second service break of the set effectively meant curtains for the Victorian, as Vimes advanced to the final 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

• In a battle to determine Vimes' opponent, fourth seed Alex O'Driscoll took the court against unseeded Englishman Paulson Reframe. Reframe, who had prevailed in two tough matches so far, needed to get out of the blocks early, but hit a snag in the middle of the first set as he sprayed a backhand wide to hand O'Driscoll an early service break. Despite saving three set points, Reframe could not avoid dropping the first as O'Driscoll moved to the cusp of a finals appearance. There was to be no fightback from Reframe this time, as O'Driscoll got on top of him early in the second and cruised to victory 6-3, 6-0.

• In doubles semifinals action, top seeds Chad Dyer/Paulson Reframe picked up a 6-2, 7-5 win over Ezequiel Ames/J.H. Ridd, while second seeds Alex O'Driscoll/Luka Popovic also advanced, with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Joshua Ritchie/Lucas Schaw.

 

Rosmalen - Singles Final

New Zealand's Jonty Rhodes has claimed his first career title, following a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Victorian qualifier Alistair Son.

In a fantastic end to a good week for Rhodes, he managed to overcome a disappointing first set to produce some quality grass court tennis against the game Aussie veteran.

The experienced Son came out blazing in the first set, and took the few opportunities the monster Kiwi gave him with a service break in the fourth and sixth games. Despite a stumble of his own on serve, he did enough to close the set out with some composed serve-and-volley tennis.

Despite the disappointing start, Rhodes began to lift his game on serve and earn himself a bunch of free points. Son began to falter in the second, and, after dropping it, positively collapsed in the third.

The two breaks of serve in the third were enough to lead the Kiwi to his first title, while Son will have to test his luck in the doubles final this afternoon.

 

Hamburg - Singles Final

The Celtic Provinces' Samuel Vimes has snatched the second title of his career, following a straight sets win over New South Wales' Alex O'Driscoll.

O'Driscoll, whose recent form suggested he'd be Vimes' biggest test thus far, started strongly as he brought up a break point in the Norwegian's first service game, but Vimes overcame his early jitters to grind out a hold.

In a tense opening set, both players traded breaks and numerous opportunities on service, with O'Driscoll looking particularly shaky with the ball in hand. Vimes, however, could not earn the decisive break as the set petered out to a tiebreaker.

There the Norwegian took an early mini-break and a 4-1 lead, but was chased down by O'Driscoll. Unfortunately for him, though, he failed to take points on either service soon after, as Vimes took the tiebreaker 7-5.

O'Driscoll needed a good start to the second set, but didn't get it, as Vimes broke early and then often to move to the cusp of the title. O'Driscoll had a look at two break points when Vimes served for the match, but could not convert either as the clinical Vimes secured the title 7-6(5), 6-1.