Gordon Reid became the first Brit to reach the men’s singles semi-finals in the history of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters as the round-robin phase of this year’s event reached its completion on the third day of play.
Reid’s fellow Brit Jordanne Whiley also reached her second successive women’s singles semi-final, with Yui Kamiji managing to keep her title defence alive by a narrow margin and fellow world No. 1 David Wagner booking his place in Saturday’s quad singles final.
World No. 3 Reid needed to beat Frenchman Nicolas Peifer for both players to progress from Pool B in the men’s singles and that is exactly what he did, sealing a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory to finish second to Peifer. Reid and Peifer had the same record as Belgium’s 2013 runner-up Jochim Gerard, having won two matches and lost one, but Reid and Peifer had better percentages of sets won against set played in their three pool matches.
“It’s my first time making the semis at a Masters tournament so I’m really pleased. It’s really important to have the home crowd support here. Sometimes you get a bit of downer and the crowd lifts you back up. I enjoy playing in front of a big crowd, especially when most of them are cheering for me," said Reid, who now has an enticing semifinal against world No. 1 Shingo Kunieda, having been the only player to beat Japan’s reigning NEC Masters champion so far this season.
After meeting Argentina’s Gustavvo Fernandez in two Grand Slam finals this season, Kunieda dominated their latest encounter to earn a 6-0, 6-2 victory and his place at the top of Pool A.
“I’m very satisfied with my performance and I can keep this good form going into the semi-finals. My serve especially was very good today and I could control the game all the time. It was comfortable,” reflected Kunieda.
Maikel Scheffers will play Peifer for a place in the final after finishing runner-up in Pool A. The Dutch former NEC Masters champion claimed his decisive round-robin encounter against Japan’s Takashi Sanada 7-5, 6-2.
“I’m very happy with that. It was a tough match; I didn’t play my best tennis of the week but I’m very happy to be through," he said. "I always play close matches with him. He’s a tough opponent for me so that’s why I’m very happy with the win."
Wagner’s third pool match against Britain’s Andy Lapthorne in the quad singles, a contest to decide which of them joined Australia’s Dylan Alcott in Saturday's first final of the week, ended in a 6-2, 6-4 win for the USA’s six-time champion.
“There was a lot at stake for both of us today. The best players in the world are here and he’s one of them. He’s Grand Slam champion, he knows how to win. It was going to be tough no matter what. You just have to come and be ready to win,” said Wagner, who will now bid to reverse the result of his earlier round-robin loss to Alcott after the Australian defeated Lucas Sithole 6-2, 7-6(3) to end his pool matches unbeaten.
A year on from reaching her first NEC Masters semi-final after finishing second in the round-robin phase of the 2013 event, Whiley came out top of Pool A this year after she beat Dutchwoman Sharon Walraven 6-4, 6-1 for her third straight sets win in London.
“I came here with the goal of making the semis and coming second in my group and I’ve exceeded that so I’m happy. It’s always hard to find that adrenalin when you know you’re already through to the semis, but for me I wanted to finish top of my group; that was important to me,” said a relieved Whiley. “I was tired and I was struggling, but I managed to get through it.”
Aniek van Koot, one of two Dutch semi-finalists, will be Whiley’s opponent in the last four after the world No. 3 earned a hard won 7-5, 6-3 over her countrywoman Marjolein Buis in Pool B.
“It’s definitely nice to be in the semis. I’m so pleased. It was a bit tense but she’s a difficult opponent in my eyes and she played well. I had to stay calm,” said van Koot. “It’s definitely easier knowing what you have to do, but she surprises me with her strokes. You can’t be caught off guard. You have to stay focused.”
The other eagerly awaited semi-final will be a rematch of the 2013 final between defending champion Kamiji and 2012 champion Jiske Griffioen. If the contest is anything like Kamiji’s third and last pool match it will be a thrilling encounter, the world No. 1 having relinquished a 5-3 deciding set lead against Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock before eventually edging past the world No. 4 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(3).
“When I play against Sabine it’s always difficult to find the chance to win and it was today,” said Kamiji after clinching the final set tie-break. “I had a good feeling today and it’s getting better. I just focused on my tennis and on nothing else. I have been working on my serve because I didn’t have a good feeling earlier in the week, but it’s getting better. I feel that I am getting better as the tournament goes on.”
Griffioen will play Kamiji in Saturday’s semi-finals, in a rematch of the 2013 NEC Masters final, after a 6-3, 7-5 victory over South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane ensured she finished top of Pool B.
“This last match wasn’t my best one, but I’m happy to go into the semis with three wins,” said Griffioen. “Today I really had to fight. Maybe I was a little bit unfocused because you know you’re in the semis already. But to pull it out in the end gives you confidence.”
Live stream coverage of Saturday’s fourth day of play, featuring the quad singles final and men's and women's singles semi-finals, will be available at www.wheelchairtennismasters.com.