It was an early start for keen Marcus Willis and Lewis Burton fans following the F3 singles SF in Thailand on ITF live scoring at 3am followed by their 14th doubles final in the last 5 months of competing.
Marcus first met Takashi Saito of japan in the singles SF who he had previously triumphed over in the doubles QF earlier in the week .The Berkshire No1 did not disappoint defeating his Japanese opponent in straight sets 6-4 6-4 . Marcus lived up to his nick name "Wilbomb" with 11 aces during a highly contested singles SF to reach his first singles final of the year.
The story of this match wasn't just the Berkshire man’s superior serving it was converting and also defending well at the few critical game point opportunities.
Marcus will now meet Hyeon Chung a highly talented 17 year old Korean that reached a career high of no7 in the world ITF juniors in 2013 in tomorrow mornings singles final. To put that ranking into perspective No7 ITF junior is the almost identical ranking that Wimbledon champion Andy Murray had at the same age.
Manager Gary Lewis said it will be no easy task in the singles final but the A1 team are quietly confident that we will continue to end the series on a high. Gary went on to say i am hoping that Marcus can repeat his previous win against the teenager last week after going down in the 1st set last week 5-7 Marcus eventually prevailed 5-7 6-3 6-4 so a repeat performance would be nice.
So it was on a high that Marcus joined his doubles partner Kent No1 Lewis burton later this morning for their 6th consecutive pro futures Futures doubles final of 2014 and their 14th in the last 5 months of competing.
The F3 Thailand doubles final was a repeat of last week’s final v Chung & Nam of South Korea. Last week’s winners Chung & Nam had dropped sets on the way to the final whilst in contrast the "all British pair" had proved more solid winning all their matches in straight sets and did the same in this morning’s final prevailing 6-3 7-5.
Manager Gary Lewis said it’s been a great finale to the series of 3 pro futures it was nice to put the record straight in this morning's doubles final after the slip up against the same pair in last week’s Thai F2 final which went down to a tight tie break after the "A1 pair" won the first set.
This week, in spite of Marcus suffering with cramp we had learnt from our mistakes remained focused after winning the first set and then closed up shop prior to breaking at the first opportunity and calmly serving out.
Marcus & lewis are now the 3rd highest ranked all GB doubles pair and have the best Doubles win ratio in the Country with a whopping 88% they are averaging 2 titles per month and are thus progressing well prior to Wimbledon.
Pharmacist Gary lewis is using his contacts off court meeting with MD of BR Pharmaceuticals Phillip Byrne this week. Phillip the founder of the successful valupak vitamin range has generously pledged to supply the A1 Duo and its Aegon team with all their vitamin & health supplements. A1 Pharmaceuticals in return said they would stock the highly successful valupak vitamin and health supplement range with all profits going to tennis sponsorship. Gary said I am a keen advocate of health and vitamin supplements particularly for Athletes and there are a number of products in their range which will aid recovery and help prevent the symptoms of cramping.
Gary said any sponsorship however small is always appreciated because it is also saying well done! So a special thank you to Phillip & BR Pharmaceuticals
We will now focus on the next job in hand lifting the first singles title of the year - Thailand 10,000 USD F3
Marcus Willis (2) v Hyeon Chung
Starts 3am (GMT) and there will local TV coverage of the final.