Howell’s Champions Trophy quest back on track after deciding game victory over Sayers
Virgona rediscovers form against Shenkman
Nick Howell’s quest for a second Champions Trophy title has survived by the barest of margins, defeating Bryn Sayers in a deciding game in the final set at the Royal Tennis Court on Friday. Meanwhile, Steve Virgona’s campaign is back on track, overcoming fifth seed Robert Shenkman in straight sets to reach the semi-finals.
Having lost to Robert Fahey in the previous day’s play, Nick Howell found himself playing in a second chance match against Bryn Sayers, who had defeated Nino Merola in his elimination quarter-final. With the court and balls playing quite slow, Howell was better able to inject pace into the game, using it to win the first four games. But given how large the back wall nick was playing, and the length Sayers was playing, there was enough in the court for the Queen’s club professional to keep interested. They reached an impasse in the seventh game, counting out nine deuces and slowed down by the very regular chases and changes of ends. Though Sayers won the game, Howell quickly reeled off the next, going on to win the set only being slowed down by Sayers’s ability to hit openings when down set point.
Little separated them through the start of the second set. Sayers’s methodical consistency played off against Howell’s all-or-nothing hitting. However, Sayers was still able to break the pattern with a force or target, often against the run of the rally. Howell, meanwhile, wasn’t finding enough opportunities to attack the ball, as Sayers took the pace out of the game. From 2-all, Sayers won the next three games, a decisive lead that saw him go on to close out the set.
Back to the wall, Howell threw his racket after the ball in the third set. Sayers was up to the challenge, neutralising the threat wherever it emerged and always being able to find an equal if not better response. Though at times, Howell seemed consigned to an early trip back to South Carolina, after a few fortunate shots and a few tight railroads he regained a spark, fighting from 2/3 down to within a stroke from a 5/3 lead. Sayers never wavered, going to 5/4 by beating better than 2 on the floor. Howell set up a deciding game with back to back grilles.
Sayers went up 30-0 in the deciding game, with a difficult short railroad followed by a reste he controlled start to finish after a good serve. Howell then changed rackets, using the new one to rip the ball into the corners. Sayers had his chances, missing the grille by inches then failing to punish a sky ball. With two short chases, Howell ripped in a series of tough railroads, winning the match with an ace.
In the other match of the evening, fifth seed Robert Shenkman played fourth seed Steve Virgona. Given it was just the second time the two had shared a court in a competitive singles match, Shenkman was initially uncomfortable with the different angles and spins the left-handed Virgona generates, especially on the return of serve. Though he was positive early, striking the dedans several times in the first two games, he quickly got sucked into Virgona’s play style. From the service end, Virgona gave Shenkman’s defences a thorough examination. Shenkman saved two set points in the 3/5 game, one with a nick railroad, taking the game to deuce, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Virgona establishing the overall lead.
After taking a bathroom break between sets, Virgona returned in a dominant mood. He tested Shenkman time and time again around the base of the tambour, with the amateur champion unable to find a way out of the longer rallies. Virgona was on the precipice of a 3/1 lead when there was an extended medical time out for Shenkman due to a face bleed from running into a wall. Upon the resumption, Shenkman never got going again, with Virgona controlling the play all the way to the match’s conclusion.
Play continues on Saturday with the two semi-finals. Robert Fahey and Ben Taylor-Matthews will return to competition having received a bye through Friday’s play. The tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday.
Match results:
5:00 PM: Bryn Sayers (6) lost to Nick Howell (1) 3/6 6/3 5/6
6:15 PM: Robert Shenkman (5) lost to Steve Virgona (4) 3/6 1/6
Order of play for Saturday (all times BST):
12:30 PM: Robert Fahey (3) vs Steve Virgona (4)
2:00 PM: Ben Taylor-Matthews (2) vs Nick Howell (1)