With the women holding centre stage in September, it is now the turn of the men as world-class tennis returns to Loughborough University 13-19 October, with entry completely free for spectators.
The Aegon GB Pro-Series Loughborough is an ITF Pro Circuit $10k event and has a great blend of top British and overseas players on the entry list, with 8 players currently ranked in the world top 500. All the world’s top players including Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, and Federer sharpened their pro careers at this level, and a number of the players in action at Loughborough are currently enjoying career high rankings in their quest to reach the top.
The highest ranked player, Britain’s Ashley Hewitt, has climbed a remarkable 1300 places in the past 12 months, and is currently enjoying a career high ranking of 371. The 21 year old trains at Bolton and won the Aegon GB Pro-Series Newcastle in May this year. He’s also reached a further 3 singles finals during 2013.
Richard Joyner, Tournament Director, said ‘’This is the second of three international pro events being staged at the University this autumn, and we are once again looking forward to seeing some world class tennis close up. A number of players are arriving in Loughborough with a career high or close to their career high ranking, so we will certainly being seeing athletes who are at the top of their game, and striving to reach the higher echelons of pro tennis.
“The Men’s Singles final is scheduled for 11.30am on Saturday 19 October, with the Doubles final scheduled for Friday. There is courtside seating for the singles final, and entry throughout the week is completely free for spectators, what better way to watch some of the world’s best tennis players and cheer on the British hopefuls?”
24-year-old David Rice, who is ranked 3 places behind Hewitt, is also at a current career high of 374. Rice, from Team Gosling, has captured 2 singles and 4 doubles titles during 2013, and also played in the doubles at Wimbledon this year and in 2011.
Both players will be looking to capture another title, as will the other British players ranked inside the world top 500. Marcus Willis has started October by capturing the singles & doubles titles in Kuwait, whilst Neil Pauffley captured the singles title in Hambach, Germany on the same day.
The overseas challenge is headed up by 20 year old Belgian Joris De Loore, who was ranked 4 in the world as a junior in 2011, and has a current pro ranking of 420, whilst Lithuanian Davis Cup player Laurynas Grigelis will be looking to use Loughborough as a spring board back up the rankings having reached as high as 183 in 2012. 21 year old Irish Davis Cup player Sam Barry, from Limerick, is yet another player who recently achieved a career high (489), and having won 3 doubles titles already will be looking to capture his 1st singles title of 2013.
The qualifying draw takes place on October 13 & 14, with the main draw running from the 15th to 19th.
http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/tournaments/men's-tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100030156
http://www.lta.org.uk/fans-major-events/AEGON-GB-Pro-Series/Calendar/Loughborough-2/