GB women's team by Mathilde Dusol
01/06/14
Great Britain completed a successful BNP Paribas World Team Cup today as the women picked up a silver medal before the men claimed a bronze in Alphen, the Netherlands.
GB women's team, made up of Jordanne Whiley, Lucy Shuker and Louise Hunt with team captain and Paralympian Kevin Simpson, had to settle for silver after a strong Dutch team won the deciding doubles tie to take the gold medal 2-1.
World No.10 Shuker gave GB hope putting them 1-0 up after coming from a set down to defeat Marjolein Buis 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
But world No.3 Aniek van Koot put the Netherlands back in the tie winning 6-4, 6-1 against Whiley to force the doubles match on Centre Court.
And the Dutch pair showed why they have dominated this event for the past 15 years winning the doubles 6-4, 6-1 to clinch the gold yet again and leaving GB with their third silver medal in the women's event.
Great Britain's men's team of Gordon Reid, David Phillipson, Marc McCarroll and Ed Holt, with team captain Karen Ross, were able to finish on a winning note claiming a historic bronze medal 2-1 against Japan.
Takashi Sanada had given the Japanese the advantage with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Marc McCarroll but world No.3 Gordon Reid dug deep and pulled off a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win against Takuya Miki to level the tie at 1-1.
David Phillipson joined Reid on court for the doubles and the pair made quick work of defeating Satoshi Saida and Sanada 6-1, 6-2 to finish third and win a first medal for GB men since a bronze in 1989 before World Group One was introduced.
British No.1 Reid said, "We've had a really enjoyable week and our team spirit has been unbelievable. From the way we've all played I think we deserved to take something and I'm so very happy to be going home with a bronze medal.
"I'm in a very confident mood heading into the Grand Slam next week at the French and am looking to go all the way and keep the British success going along with Andy Murray."
Today's medals followed a gold for Great Britain's quad team yesterday after they defeated defending champions the USA 2-1.
The Tennis Foundation's Head of Disability Performance, Geraint Richards, added: "I'm very proud of our team this week and to come home with a medal of every colour against the top nations in the world is an incredible achievement.
"With the continued support of the Tennis Foundation and UK Sport, I'm sure we will push on and continue this success throughout 2014 right until we host the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in London at the end of November."
GB's Whiley now joins Reid heading to Paris to compete at Roland Garros in the wheelchair event starting on Wednesday.
2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup final results
Image by Mathilde Dusol
31/05/14
Great Britain claimed gold for the fourth time in the quad event at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup as they defeated the USA 2-1 in today's final in Alphen, the Netherlands.
The team, made up of world No.3 Andy Lapthorne, No.5 Jamie Burdekin and No.8 Antony Cotterill, were taken all the way by the defending champions the USA.
Beijing Paralympic medallist Burdekin gave the team a winning start getting the better of world No.9 Nick Taylor 6-0, 6-1 but when Lapthorne renewed his old rivalry with David Wagner, the world No.1 came out on top 6-1, 6-0.
That took the tie into a deciding doubles match where Burdekin and Lapthorne made a fantastic start against Wagner and Taylor taking the first set 6-1. But the Americans showed their strength to come back and clinch the second 6-2 to force a match tie-break. After a tense affair and some crucial aces from the duo, the Brits came through 6-1, 2-6, (10-7).
Lapthorne said, "It's fantastic to win the title again and before we've won it with Peter Norfolk in our team but it's great to see we can still do it now he has retired with our team now.
"It was a real team effort this week and we've all played our part and played some fantastic tennis. It's always an honour to represent your country and my success this week has been helped by the amazing support we get from the Tennis Foundation and UK Sport through our National Lottery funding."
Burdekin added, "It was always going to be a tough match against the USA as everyone knows they are the best in the world winning three Paralympic gold medals so to win against them really was extra special."
And the success continued for Great Britain as the women's team have reached the final for a second year running after they made quick work of their semi-final against Germany winning 2-0.
World No.10 Lucy Shuker gave the team a 1-0 lead defeating Bianca Osterer 6-2, 6-1 before Jordanne Whiley put the tie beyond doubt with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Katharina Kruger.
Whiley said, who is currently at a career-high ranking of world No.5, "We've been playing some good tennis this week and have coped well with the rain delays to stay focused and do what we needed to do.
"After winning the silver last year, we really want to get our hands on that gold medal and will be giving everything we can to overcome the Dutch and their home support."
The Brits will face the Netherlands in tomorrow's final after they came through their semi-final 2-1 against Japan.
Finally, GB's men's team will play Japan for the bronze medal tomorrow after they were edged out 2-1 by the Dutch team in their semi-final today.
Andy Lapthorne by Mathilde Dusol
30/05/14
Great Britain enjoyed a successful day at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Alphen, the Netherlands as the quad team reached the final before the men and women booked their spot in the semi-finals.
Great Britain got off to a winning start against Japan in their quad semi-final, with Jamie Burdekin taking the first rubber against Shota Kawano 6-1, 6-4 on the indoor Centre Court. World No. 3 Andy Lapthorne then put Great Britain's passage to the final beyond doubt after coming through against Mitsuteru Moroishi 6-4, 6-2.
GB will face USA in the final after the Americans came through a tough tie 2-1 against Israel winning 10-7 in a deciding tie-break in the doubles rubber.
In the men's event, fourth seeds Great Britain reached the last four after David Phillipson, Gordon Reid, Marc McCarroll and Ed Holt all played a part in a 3-0 victory over Austria in the last tie of the week in Pool C. The quartet lost a total of just seven games across the two singles rubbers and doubles rubber as Britain finished top of the pool to make the semi-finals for the first time since 2010.
There was no doubles played in the remaining Pool C tie between fourth seed Great Britain and Thailand after Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley, who have led Britain to two Women's World Group finals since 2009, defeated Wanitha Inthanin and Sakhorn Khanthasit, respectively.
Great Britain now has a semi-final against Germany, who will be without world No. 2 Sabine Ellerbrock for the last four contest.
2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup latest results, pool standings and match schedules
29/05/14
Great Britain reached the men's World Group semi-finals for the first time since 2010 on the fourth day of the 2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup after defeating Austria in their third and last round-robin pool tie.
Meanwhile, Great Britain's junior team completed their event in sixth place.
David Phillipson gave fourth seed Great Britain the ideal start against Austria, defeating Josef Riegler 6-3, 6-1, while current world No. 3 Gordon Reid dropped just one game in the first set of his singles rubber against former world No. 3 Martin Legner to put the tie beyond doubt. Ed Holt and Marc MCarrolll completed a 3-0 victory after defeating Legner and Thomas Mossier.
Luz Esperanza Merry levelled Great Britain's play-off against Chile for fifth place in the junior event, defeating Brayan Tapia 6-0, 6-1 after Nicholas Smelt had slipped to a 6-2, 6-1 loss against Alexander Cataldo. However, Cataldo and Tapia claimed the deciding doubles rubber as Great Britain finished sixth.
2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup latest results, pool standings and match schedules
28/05/14
Great Britain’s quad team reached the semi-finals on the third day of play at the 2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup after Jamie Burdekin, Andy Lapthorne and Antony Cotterill combined to beat Canada in 3-0 in their must-win third and last round-robin tie.
Burdekin got Britain off to a solid start, defeating Gary Luker 6-1, 6-1 before Lapthorne but the tie beyond doubt with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Sarah Hunter. Burdekin and Cotterill wrapped up the contest when defeating Adrian Dieleman and Luker 6-1, 6-1 in the doubles as second seeds Britain finished second in their pool to earn a semifinal against Japan on Friday’s fifth day of competition.
Luz Esperanza Merry got Great Britain off to a fine start in their last round-robin tie in the junior event, holding on for a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over the USA’s Casey Ratzlaff. However, things got much tougher for Britain in the remaining two rubbers as America Chris Herman beat Ian Payne 6-0, 6-0 and Payne and Nicholas Smelt slipped to a 6-2, 6-0 loss to Herman and Conner Stroud in the doubles. Great Britain will now face Chile for fifth place on Thursday.
Wednesday was a rest day of Britain’s men’s and women’s teams, with Britain now facing a must-win last pool contest against Austria if they are to reach the men’s World Group semi-finals. Rain in Alphen has delayed the scheduling of Louise Hunt, Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley’s last women’s World Group pool tie against Thailand.
2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup latest results, pool standings and match schedules
27/05/14
Great Britain's men's team made a winning start to their World Team Cup bid as they made light work of defeating Thailand 3-0 in their opening tie in Alphen, the Netherlands.
David Phillipson resumed his first singles rubber against Suwitchai Merngprom having won just the first game before the match was suspended on Monday. Phillipson went on to get to within one game of victory when rain saw the contest suspended for a second time, but on his third attempt to complete victory the Brit needed just five points to wrap up a 7-5 6-2 win.
Marc McCarroll put the tie beyond doubt after beating Suthi Khlongrua 6-4 6-2 before Ed Holt gained his maiden BNP Paribas World Team Cup win when partnering Gordon Reid to win the doubles 6-3, 6-4 and put the Brits top of Pool C.
And there was more good news as GB's defending junior champions registered their first win this year with Nicholas Smelt gaining his first ever BNP Paribas World Team Cup victory against Malaysia. Smelt beat Mohamad Firdaus Ibrahim 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 before Luz Esperanza Merry defeated Nazri Jefri 6-0, 6-3 to clinch the tie. Smelt then recorded his second win teaming up with Ian Payne to defeat Ibrahim and Jefri 6-3, 6-1 in the doubles.
Each with one win from two ties so far, Great Britain and Canada will decide the remaining semi-final place available in Pool B of the quad event.
Christer Jansson was defeated by Antony Cotterill 6-1, 6-3 before Jamie Burdekin came from a set down and dropped just three games in the final two sets to win his singles rubber against Anders Hard 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. Paralympic silver medallist Andy Lapthorne then joined Cotterill on court for the doubles to make it three wins out of three with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Hard and Jansson.
2014 BNP Paribas World Team Cup latest results, pool standings and match schedules
26/05/14
Louise Hunt, Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker provided the highlight of the first day of play for Great Britain in Alphen after beating Chinese Taipei 3-0 in their opening Pool C women’s World Group tie. Hunt beat Chia-Yi Lu 6-1, 6-2 before Whiley put the tie beyond doubt with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Yi-Shan Wu. Hunt and Shuker swept past the two Chinese Taipei players 6-0, 6-2 I the doubles ahead of fourth seeds Great Britain meeting Thailand later in the week.
Great Britain’s men’s got their first round-robin pool tie against Thailand underway, with David Phillipson leading Suwitchai Merngprom in the opening singles rubber before the match was suspended due to heavy rain.
The GB quad team were edged out in a deciding doubles rubber by former champions Israel. Jamie Burdekin slipped to a 6-3, 6-1 loss to London 2012 Paralympic champion Gershony before Andy Lapthorne produced a fine performance to defeat Shraga Weinberg 6-0, 6-1 and force the doubles rubber. However, Lapthorne had to retire during the doubles due to illness and GB go on to meet Sweden in their second pool tie.
GB’s junior team had a tough opening pool tie against top seeds the Netherlands, with Luz Esperanza Merry eventually losing out to Diede de Groot 6-3, 6-2 and Ian Payne slipped to a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Carlos Anker. Nicholas Smelt made his GB debut in the doubles rubber alongside Payne and the duo produced a fine effort before the Dutch partnership of de Groot and Mitchel Graauw finally sealed a 6-4, 6-4 win. GB’s junior team plays Malaysia in the second of their three round-robin pool ties.
25/05/14
Great Britain’s men’s team are fourth seeds for the men’s World Group and they begin their competition in a round-robin pool with Austria and Thailand, with Thailand being GB’s opponent in the opening round of ties.
In the women’s World Group Great Britain are also fourth seeds and also have Thailand as well as Chinese Taipei in their round-robin pool, with Chinese Taipei being the first opponents for Jordanne Whiley, Lucy Shuker and Louise Hunt.
Great Britain’s quad team are second seeds and have Canada, Israel and Sweden in their pool for the round-robin phase of the event, beginning the competition with a potentially difficult tie against another former champion, Israel.
Great Britain’s juniors face top seeds and host nation the Netherlands in their opening round-robin pool 2 before going on to play the USA and Malaysia later in the week.
19/05/14
Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation's Head of Disability Player Performance, today announced his players selected to represent Great Britain in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Alphen, the Netherlands from 26 May - 1 June.
Great Britain will be competing in the highest tiers across the competition as the International Tennis Federaton's flagship wheelchair tennis event.
The teams will be:
Men's World Group 1 – captained by Karen Ross
- Gordon Reid
- Marc McCarroll
- David Phillipson
- Ed Holt
Women's World Group – captained by Kevin Simpson
- Jordanne Whiley
- Lucy Shuker
- Louise Hunt
Quad Event – captained by Stuart Wilkinson
- Andy Lapthorne
- Jamie Burdekin
- Antony Cotterill
Junior Event – captained by Ash Smith
- Luz Esperanza Merry
- Ian Payne
- Nicholas Smelt
Great Britain won two medals at the 2013 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Antalya, Turkey, winning the junior event for the second time since 2007 and reaching the women's World Group final for the second time since 2009.
Geraint Richards commented, "Great Britain has a long history of medal-winning performances at the World Team Cup and, after winning the junior event and claiming a second silver medal in four years in the women's World Group, 2013 was another memorable event.
"We have selected the strongest team again available this year, with a blend of experienced GB internationals and World Team Cup medal winners and three players making their Great Britain debuts across the men's World Group and junior events, Ed Holt, Ian Payne and Nicholas Smelt. I am confident that all our teams and players will do their country proud in Alphen."
Find out more about the BNP Paribas World Team Cup here (link opens in new window)