Major upsets as seeds fall
The top three seeds all fell in the singles competition at the Aegon GB Pro-Series in Tipton yesterday, leaving a British and Irish line-up in today's semi-finals.
Birmingham-based Lloyd Glasspool has progressed to the singles semi-final without dropping a set.
However, Glasspool's opponent, qualifying wild card Sam Barry, will provide stiff competition, as the Irishman saw off Italian number one seed Lorenzo Gisutino today in a thrilling three-setter – 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).
Glasspool is now the only remaining Brit in both the singles and doubles competitions – he and partner Joshua Ward Hibbert beat fellow Brits Scott Clayton and Richard Gabb in straight sets.
Glasspool and Ward-Hibbert will face Billy Harris and Evan Hoyt in an all-British doubles final today.
Harris and Hoyt were pushed hard by Canada's Filip Peliwo and Pole Jan Zielinski, but came off the victors in a fast and furious match with the final score 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, 10-8 to the Brits.
Wild card Jonny O'Mara, 20, surprised the highest-ranked Brit in the singles competition, as he beat Ed Corrie 6-4 ,7-6 (7-4) to line up a semi-final against Neil Pauffley, 25, who battled hard and served up 16 stunning aces to beat Italian second seed Matteo Viola 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2).
The first of the singles semi final matches is scheduled to begin at 11am, to be followed by the second singles semi final, with the doubles final not before 2pm. Spectators are welcome to watch at Tipton Sports Academy for free.
