Gordon Reid has reached his first career Super Series semi-final as the British No.1 defeated Belgium’s Joachim Gerard at the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships today.
Reid, who had already pulled off an impressive result this week to defeat world No. 5 Stefan Olsson in the first round, dominated the first set before leading 5-0 in the second. And, after a slight resurgence from Gerard to bring it back to 5-3, Reid closed out the match 6-1, 6-3.
The 20-year-old will now face Ronald Vink after the Dutchman defeated David Phillipson 6-4, 6-3 to justify his place as No.3 seed.
Reid capped off a successful day winning his men’s doubles first round match with British partner Marc McCarroll as the duo defeated Argentinean pair Gustavo Fernandez and Augustin Ledesma 6-2, 6-2.
“It’s the first time I’d had the chance to get into the semi-final of a Super Series so there was a bit of pressure,” said Reid.
“I played well and I’m definitely happy with that performance. Vink is also playing well though and it’s going to be a tough match but I’ve beaten him before and I know I can do it again.”
In a week of upsets at Nottingham Tennis Centre, world No.1 Stephane Houdet was knocked out of the men’s event as eighth seed Michael Jeremiasz recorded a 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 win to book his semi-final place. Jeremiasz will now take on three-time British Open winner Shingo Kunieda from Japan after he won 12 straight games to defeat Fernandez 6-0, 6-0.
In the women’s draw, Lucy Shuker made a real match of it against fourth seed Sabine Ellerbrock but the German was too strong and came through 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-1 to set up a semi-final with Esther Vergeer.
World No.1 Vergeer made it an incredible 463 singles matches unbeaten with a straight-forward 6-0, 6-1 win over fellow Dutchwoman and fifth seed Marjolein Buis.
The other women’s semi will see an all-Dutch clash as third seed Jiske Griffioen faces second seed Aniek van Koot.
Thursday’s play will see Brits Andy Lapthorne and Jamie Burdekin in action in their quad semi-final matches.