Player Articles
The Guardian: Neil Pauffley
Neil Pauffley is just 16 but already he has a serve that could maim a Wimbledon line judge. His ground strokes aren't bad, either. As Olga Morozova, his coach at Bisham Abbey national sports centre, feeds alternate balls to his forehand and backhand, Neil scurries from side to side sending a series of rasping top-spins zinging within inches of her head.
It is 4.30pm and Neil has already spent more than four hours on court, starting his first session before school at 7.30am. Morozova, a former Russian number one who has been training Neil since he was six, sends him back to the baseline, urging him to hit the ball even harder this time. 'Shoulder turn, shoulder turn,' she reminds him between each stroke. 'Good, now close in and ...' Before she can finish, Neil takes the ball early and volleys into the far corner like a young Stefan Edberg. In the spectators' gallery, his mother Jill, a softly spoken woman with curly hair and watchful brown eyes, allows herself a quiet smile. 'Neil always give 100 per cent,' she tells me proudly......
Amanda Carreras Annual Overview
This month we feature British 19-year old, Amanda Carreras. During this period, she took part in three ITF $10,000 tournaments all on her favoured clay court surface.
Her first tournament of the month was held in Badalona, a city situated on the left bank of the river Besos and on the Mediterranean Sea. Throughout this month the city, apart from hosting this tournament, was also celebrating Saint Anastasi, the patron saint of Badalona with various activities and festivals taking place......
Pro Circuit success for Hewitt
NEWCASTLE, GREAT BRITAIN: With rain a constant threat throughout, second seed Axel Michon drew first blood winning a long first set 64. The Parisien then looked on course for his 11th pro singles title, when storming ahead 4-1 40-15 in the second, before an unflappable Hewitt won five of the next seven games to take the match into a tiebreak, which he then won 7-4.
With the first two sets having beeen played in drizzle, the clouds started to lift for the final set, much to the pleasure of the large vociferous crowd. They were further cheered by some inspired tennis from 21-year-old Hewitt, who after serving out for the title at 5-3, received a standing ovation as the player’s shook hands.....
Video: Pro Circuit interview with Richard Gabb & Neil Skupski
A triumph for the number one seeds! Gabb and Skupski talk about their success in Bournemouth on England's south coast....
Video: Hilda Melander and Lucy Brown on title win in Gloucester
Title win number two for the Swedish-British team following on from their August 2013 triumph in Austria....
Gabb & Clayton triumph in Antalya
Scott Clayton & Richard Gabb took the Turkey F32 Futures doubles title when beating Japenese duo Ehara & Nagao 3-6, 7-6(4), 10-7 in the final....
Gabb & Clayton win consecutive Doubles Titles out in Antalya
Scott Clayton & Richard Gabb took the Turkey F33 Futures doubles title defeating No.4th seeds Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) and Ricardo Radriguez (VEN) in the final....
Brown & Hewitt triumph in the Aegon Nottingham British Tour
Lucy Brown & Ashley Hewitt took the Nottingham Aegon British Tour in both Womens and Mens. After playing three tough matches on her road to victory Lucy took the final and title 6-3, 6-1. Ashley on the other hand came through all four matches including the final without dropping a set.
Brown & Bowtell reach Loughborough $10,000 Doubles Final
Martina Borecka and Sherazad Reix who played against each other in a semi-final earlier in the day, beat Amy Bowtell and Lucy Brown (GBR) (4) in the Women’s Doubles Final in two sets (6-3 6-2). The match started off very even at 4-3 in the first set....
Amy Bowtell wins the Loughborough $10,000 Women's Singles Title
In the women’s singles, Bowtell captured her second pro singles title of 2014 with a 6-7(6), 6-1, 7-6(3) defeat of No.3 seed Sherazad Reix. In a back and forth match that lasted 2 and a half hours it was Ireland’s No.1 who came out on top to capture the third ITF Pro Circuit singles title of her career.
Aegon GB Bath Pro-Series Richard Gabb reaches final showdown
Joe Salisbury & David O'Hare (IRL) claimed the men's doubles title in Bath with a 6-1, 6-2 win over second seeds Richard Gabb & Jonny O'Mara.....
Amanda Carreras Triumphs out in the Vinaroz Spain $10,000
Amanda Carreras won the $10,000 Vinaroz title, defeating Diana Sumova 6-4, 6-1 in the final. After a great week for Amanda on the clay she finally wins her first title of the year and well deserved...
