Shenkman claws back Gordon force-storm at Seacourt Silver Racquet
Frustrated Vallat overcomes Medlow challange in Round of 16 encounter
England’s premier handicap tournament for professionals and elite amateurs is now underway at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island. The Seacourt Silver Racquet, now in it’s 52nd edition, features the top players from around the country where, in theory, any player could win.
Qualifying began on Wednesday, with nineteen players battling for one of four spots in the main draw. Unusually, the qualifying is played off level, meaning the eventual sixteen main draw players will be the highest standard available.
All four top seeds came through the qualifying without dropping a set. Benedict Yorston put a stop to the strong run of James Law, while Seacourt veterans Tom Weaver and Luke Danby locked in their main draw places against IiP graduates Tim Armstrong and Nick Jamieson. Oxford professional Craig Greenhalgh rounded out the qualifiers beating Scott Blaber dropping only one game.
The first two of the main draw matches began in the early evening. For the first time, main draw matches are being played off half-handicaps, albiet with a handicap cap of 9.4. The first match saw Bertie Vallat owing half 15 to James Medlow. It was a scrappy start between the two young players, though Vallat’s poor choices on a couple of key points saw him conceding an early 4-2 lead to Medlow. The receiving end was the place to be as both players teed off at the dedans, drawing volley errors from their opponents. Vallat knuckled down and began to play more consistent tennis, winning the next 3 games to take a 5-4 lead. A few untimely errors from Vallat gave Medlow the tenth game. Medlow was inches away from a deciding point, his force floating just above the bandeau. Vallat was able to capitalise by hitting the winning gallery to win the set, even after a moment of hesitation as to whether the ball would lose the chase.
With the match slipping away, Medlow brought out a barrage of target hitting, putting Vallat under pressure on his defense. Despite counter-punching with a few grilles, Vallat was growing visibly frustrated, dropping his racket on the floor and spraying his fingers through his red locks after several of his shots. At other times, he mouthed off at various features of the court as if they were to blame for his poor shot. Medlow, meanwhile, went on his best run of the match, his shots consistently finding the middle of his strings. He very quickly moved from 2-all to 6/2, taking the second set.
Vallat recomposed himself for the final set, where he was better able to absorb Medlow’s attack and cut down on his errors. Medlow rallied behind the support of the Seacourt crowd to cut back Vallat’s early 3-1 lead to 3-all. He attacked Vallat’s forehand, with the under pressure Vallat spooning the ball back up for Medlow to attack again. Medlow won a cruicial 40-all point at 3-all that left Vallat contemplating chucking his racket. Vallat responded by finally finding a high gear, winnning the next 11 straight points and thence going on to win a tough match
In the second main draw match of the day, Robert Shenkman gave Owe ½ 15, Rec ½ 15 to Louis Gordon. Gordon immediately showed his strength on the Seacourt court, with an exhibition of rapid forces catching Shenkman out for pace. The Petworth professional used the severity of the court and the low height of the roof to his advantage, restricting Shenkman’s preferred playing style of long, defensive rallies. Despite receiving the handicap, Gordon was winning the majority of points as he smashed through the first set in 17 minutes.
Shenkman was much improved in the second set, able to control the height and length of his shots, pulling his volleys down from the ceiling to be excellent shots around the tambour. He pulled Gordon into more of a rallying game, restricting his ability to slap the ball. He also made good use of the tambour and grille through the set, taking advantage of Gordon’s strapped ankle which prevented him from making late changes of direction. Shenkman took the second set 6/3.
Gordon largely put away his force to begin the third set, instead opting to rip the ball into the corners. The two-time champion built up some scoreboard pressure, with the help of the handicap, before re-introducing the force back into his play to great effect. Shenkman couldn’t build any rallies out of the forehand corner, as Gordon took the a 5-1 lead and looked to be well on his march towards a potential third title. Shenkman would not be deterred, fighting back with a display of faultless tennis that Gordon could not break through. Shenkman fought back to 5-all, sending the match into a deciding game. The Mancunian started with two last gallery chases, defending both with a determination and purpose not yet seen in the match. After Gordon lay a second gallery chase, it was all but too late as Shenkman had a 40-0 lead. Shenkman placed the cherry on top of the match by hitting his first match point into the dedans, paying Gordon back for the countless he had received the other way.
Round of 16 matches resume on Friday.
Match results:
Qualifying Round 1:
Nigel Pendrigh lost to Josh King 4/6 1/6
James Law def Jim Ludekens 6/3 1/6 6/1
Tim Armstrong def Jez Brodie w/o
Giles Gunning def Paul Weaver 6/1 6/1
Qualifying Round 2:
Josh King lost to Scott Blaber (6) 0/6 3/6
James Law def Adam Player (5) 6/5 5/6 6/1
Algernon Nottingham lost to Tim Armstrong 3/6 6/5 6/3
Giles Gunning lost to Nick Jamieson 1/6 3/6
Qualifying Round 3:
Craig Greenhalgh (1) def Scott Blaber 6/0 6/1
Benedict Yorston (3) def James Law 6/0 6/4
Tom Weaver (4) def Tim Armstrong 6/1 6/2
Luke Danby (2) def Nick Jamieson 6/5 6/5
Main draw (Round of 16):
Bertie Vallat (Owe ½ 15) def James Medlow (Love) 6/5 2/6 6/4
Louis Gordon (Rec ½ 15) lost to Robert Shenkman (Owe ½ 15) 6/0 3/6 5/6
Order of play for Friday:
Main draw (Round of 16):
9:00 am: Luke Danby (Love) vs Benedict Yorston (Love)
10:30 am: Claire Fahey (Love) vs Vaughan Hamilton (Love)
12:00 noon: Lewis Williams (Owe ½ 15) vs Craig Greenhalgh (Love)
1:30 pm: Ben Taylor-Matthews (Owe ½ 15) vs Darren Long (Rec ½ 15)
3:00 pm: Nino Merola (Owe 15) vs Tom Weaver (Love)
4:00 pm: Robert Fahey (Owe ½ 15) vs Will Flynn (Rec 15)