Shuker ready for Masters bid after Nottingham doubles title

Ash Priors' Lucy Shuker goes into next week’s NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters and ITF Wheelchair Doubles Masters in Mission Viejo, California, on the back of winning her latest doubles title at the Nottingham Indoor over the weekend. Shuker also beat the world No. 5 en route to the semi-finals of the women’s singles.

Shuker teamed up with her London 2012 bronze medal-winning partner Jordanne Whiley for the women’s doubles and the top seeds won their fourth title together from five tournaments this year and their second Nottingham Indoor title in three years.

Shuker and Whiley eased into the final for the loss of just two games and they then won the opening set against second seeds and defending champions Louise Hunt and Sabine Ellerbrock 6-4, before Hunt and Ellerbrock were forced to retire midway through the second set due to injury.

The Somerset-based two-time Paralympian, who is currently world ranked No. 6 in doubles, just one place behind Whiley, will now partner Dutchwoman Marjolein Buis in the ITF Wheelchair Doubles Masters in California as she renews a partnership that reached the final of the Australian Open in Melbouurne in January and won the South African Open Super Series title in April.

“After our medal at London 2012, me and Jordanne have had a pretty good year and it’s encouraging for both of us to head to California on the back of another title,” said Shuker. “However, I started the year by reaching the Grand Slam final in Melbourne with Marjolein and hopefully we can approach the end of the season with another good performance.”

Shuker is among nine players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme who will be contesting the NEC Masters and the Doubles Masters, the year-end championships for the world’s top ranked players.

She goes into the NEC Masters on the back of encouraging performances against current world No. 5 Buis and world No. 2 Sabine Ellerbrock of Germany.

World No. 8 Shuker looked like she might be on course for a straight sets win over Buis in the quarter-finals, but eventually held on in the final set for a 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3 victory. She then held a 5-3 second set lead against top seed Ellerbrock in the semi-finals, but Ellerbrock fought back to advance 6-2, 7-5

“I’m very happy with the win over Marjolein. it’s one of my best of the year and my first of the season over a world top five ranked player,” said Shuker. “It’s come at a good time and gives me a lot of confidence going into the Masters in California and I’ll be aiming to reproduce that kind of form again in the USA."

The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters and ITF Wheelchair Doubles Masters take place from 5-11 November in California.