Smart holds off Woods-Casey in nail-biter at British Open

Riviere, Howell and Virgona deliver comfortable victories

Leon Smart booked his place in the quarter finals of the 2024 British Open with a 2 hour 45 minute epic against Melbourne’s John Woods-Casey. The match was longer than the other three matches of the day combined as both players exchanged momentum throughout. Woods-Casey, following up from a three and a half hour five-set first round match with Tim Chisholm, demonstrated that he is a player that can challenge for a top 10 spot with his performance, while Smart will be glad to see off players challenging his ranking points from below.

Steve Virgona barely had a hit out against Zak Eadle, the latter coming off a three and a half hour five set match in the first round. Virgona was clinical as ever, hardly making an error, conceding just seven points in the first set. Virgona was particularly devastating on the return of serve, with Eadle unable to find a serve that Virgona could not turn into. Eadle was clearly laboured in his movements and retired the match halfway through the second set after just 34 minutes of play.

Claire Fahey was much improved on her 2024 Australian Open Quarter Final appearance against number 2 seed Nick Howell, a match where she had been triple-bageled. Fahey brought heat with her forces and caught Howell flat-footed at times, but the 2023 French Open champion was up to the task. Howell’s volley return-of-serve repeatedly put Fahey on the back foot in the rallies, and his quality and weight of shots was too much for the Ladies World Champion. Fahey’s retreiving was not strong enough to trouble Howell as the difficult balls she did return were often high onto the penthouses. Although she lead briefly at the start of the first and third sets, the result of the match was never in doubt as Howell methodically worked his way through the match.

Vaughan Hamilton came out on fire against World Champion Camden Riviere, quickly smacking three dedans in the first minutes of the match and gaining a one game lead. Riviere, who had not yet practiced on the Queen’s Club court, was not fazed, and calmly went about his work turning the screws on Hamilton. The crowd were treated to some delightful rallies, both players renowned for their chaotic energy. Riviere in particular was hitting beautiful drop shot volleys, continuing where he left off at the French Open. Both players were happy to boast the ball around, with a couple of outrageous rallies ending in winning galleries. Riviere won through a straight sets victory in exactly one hour

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The match of the day was between John Woods-Casey and Leon Smart. It was a slow, tense first set. Both players made extensive use of the high serve as the four-day old balls started to grip on the penthouse, but it meant the pace of the play was slow. The players exchanged games early with neither player looking entirely convincing. Woods-Casey sent plenty of balls onto the service penthouse seeking the galleries while Smart couldn’t find the winners on the big points, while Smart was vulnerable in his backhand corner. Smart took a 4/2 lead with a long backhand rally that he finished with a disguised shot into the forehand corner. Smart had his first set points in the 5/3 game, defending a better than 2 chase. Woods-Casey cut it into the forehand corner. Smart bravely left it, the ball called as 1 and 2 and Woods-Casey survived. He would go on to require a further five set points and a 5-all game before closing out, as every attempt at a finish by Smart was answered and equalled by Woods-Casey.

Woods-Casey used the momentum gained by defending the set points to blitz the start of the second set, quickly racking up a 4/0 lead. Smart slowly rebuilt through the set as Woods-Casey began to show his nerves gain. At times, Smart was stretching out his shoulder and upper back, but worked his way back into the contest shot by shot. Woods-Casey was bold, taking on several shots in front of the tambour and the galleries with mixed success. Woods-Casey squandered a few early set points as Smart brought his way back to a second consecutive 5-all. Both players had set points, but this time it would be Woods-Casey who held his nerve, again with a backhand volley defending galleries.

After a break to clean the court, it was Smart who came back hotter, racing through the first three games. Smart had eschewed his preferred chandelle serve for a series of side-wall railroads that put Woods-Casey on the backfoot. Smart maintained his composure as the Melbourne professional made a series of strange decisions and rash shots, letting his frustration show at times. However, as had been the case throughout the match the momentum swung again, with Woods-Casey fighting back applying pressure on Smart’s backhand to level up at 4-all. Smart’s backhand then came good, as Woods-Casey got stuck at the hazard end and Smart could ask questions of Woods-Casey around the tambour. Smart won eight straight points to close out the third set 6/4. The combined court time seemed to take its toll on Woods-Casey, as he again dropped the first three games of the fourth set, albiet not as decisively as the third. Woods-Casey’s movement appeared more and more laboured, punishing himself into some epic rallies. Smart’s big match experience came to the fore, winning the big points as Woods-Casey struggled to find an effective serve. Despite a brief resurgence from Woods-Casey as Smart was seeking the final game, it would not be enough as Smart got the job done on the first match point. Woods-Casey stayed on court for half an hour afterwards talking through his serve with Queen’s Club head professional Ben Ronaldson.

Match Results:

• 12:00 pm Zak Eadle lost to Steve Virgona (5) 0/6 1/4 ret.

• 2:00 pm Claire Fahey lost to Nick Howell (2) 1/6 1/6 2/6

• 4:00 pm Camden Riviere (1) def Vaughan Hamilton 6/1 6/2 6/0

• 6:00 pm John Woods-Casey lost to Leon Smart 5/6 6/5 4/6 4/6

Order of Play for Wednesday:

• 12:00 pm Will Flynn & James Medlow (Q) vs Louis Gordon & Robert Shenkman (5)

• 2:00 pm Vaughan Hamilton & John Woods-Casey vs Claire Fahey & Henry Henman (Q)

• 4:00 pm Darren Long & Neil Mackenzie (6)* vs Freddie Bristowe & Adam Player

• 6:00 pm Jonny Whitaker* & Lewis Williams vs Thomas Durack & Tony Hollins

* Lewis Williams was originally to play with Levi Gale as the sixth seeds, but following the latter’s withdrawal, has instead paired with Jonny Whitaker. The new combination has less points in the IRTPA World Doubles Rankings than Darren Long and Neil Mackenzie, so the latter have moved into the sixth seed position.

Tickets are still available for the main draw matches here: https://tennis-rackets.eventize.co.uk/calendars/tennis

For full match listings see the Tennis and Rackets Association: https://www.tennisandrackets.com/real-tennis/tournaments-fixtures/british-open-singles-and-doubles-championships-2024#overview