Men’s international tennis returns to the outdoor clays courts at The West Hants Club, from Sunday 20 April to Saturday 26 April, with free entry to spectators.
The Aegon GB Pro-Series Bournemouth is an ITF Pro Circuit men’s $10k event, which has seen a number of player’s who have since moved on to the higher echelons of the game. All the world’s top players sharpened their pro careers at this level, and this year’s line-up is a good blend of British and overseas players.
The 2013 event, saw a 16 year old Borna Coric explode onto the pro-tennis stage. The Croat, ranked 1422 at the time, qualified and then won the 2013 men’s singles title, beating British number 4 Dan Cox 67(4) 64 63, in a highly entertaining final in front of nearly 100 spectators. In the 12 months since Coric, who has a training base in London, has risen to 295 in the world, winning 4 other titles in 2013. He also made his Davis Cup debut against Andy Murray, last September, and earlier this month beat Wimbledon singles semi-finalist, and top 20 player, Jerzy Janowicz, in the Croatia / Poland Davis Cup tie.
The British challenge will be led by British number 10 Marcus Willis, who recently won the $10k title in Tipton, and with a current world ranking of 361, is close to his career high of 346 (October 2013). British number 11 Brydan Klein makes his first pro appearance back in Britain, since last summer, whilst former world junior number 2 Liam Broady (now 20), returns to home soil after a successful few weeks competing in the middle-east.
In addition there will be local interest in the qualifying event, with 17 year old Adam Glynn, from Broadstone in action. Glynn, who has been a member of the West Hants club since the age of 10, and is jointly coached by Richard Irwin & Rob Booth, will be playing his second ever pro event. His first was as a 16 year old, at the same event last year, where he impressively won through qualifying, before losing to then top 500 player Andrew Fitzpatrick.
Speaking ahead of this year’s event the Corfe Hills school pupil said ‘I had a knee operation in January, which took me out for 5-6 weeks, but am really looking forward to Bournemouth. Last year [qualifying for main draw] gave me great confidence, which I’m looking to take into this year, especially against such high class opposition. I’m doing my A levels in the summer, so have been slightly restricted with my tournament schedule, but once my exams have finished am looking to playing plenty of Aegon British Tour and GB Pro-Series events, before taking up a tennis scholarship in California at the end of August’
Tournament Director, Richard Joyner, said ‘The facilities at the West Hants Club are first class, and with good weather the club setting is fantastic . This is my 5th year as Tournament Director, and during that time we have seen some really exciting talent performing on the West Hants clay. Last year saw the exciting emergence of Borna Coric, 2012 saw Olly Golding win his first pro title as the reigning US Open junior champion, whilst 2010 champion Eric Prodon reached a ranking of 83 the year after winning in Bournemouth in 2010.’ Joyner added ‘The West Hants Club is set for a fortnight of great tennis with the Aegon British Tour taking place the week before’
Men’s qualifying for the Aegon GB Pro-Series is Sunday 20 & Monday 21 April, with main draw Tuesday 22 April to Saturday 26 April, and the men’s singles final scheduled for 11.00am on Saturday 26 April.
Entry for spectators throughout the week is free of charge.
As well as coming along to watch, you can follow the action through live scoring, on www.lta.org.uk/aegongbproseries