Wheelchair Tennis
More delight at the doubles for Nottingham's David Phillipson
David Phillipson (GBR)
Nottingham's David Phillipson partnered with Marc McCarroll clinched their second doubles title of 2010 as they followed up their previous win this year at the Melbourne Open. The British seeds had a first round bye and were then awarded a walkover in their semi-final after one of two scheduled Danish opponents was forced to forfeit after picking up an injury. Phillipson and McCarroll subsequently claimed the final with a 6-4 6-2 victory over fellow Briton Tony Knappett and Sweden's Dan Wallin.
But it was a different story in the Men's Singles after top seed Phillipson had started confidently with a straight sets win over compatrriots Josh Steels and Kevin Simpson. In an amazing final against third seed Wallin, Phillipson went 5-0 up in the third and deciding set and had two match points on the Swede's serve before earning another two match points on his own serve at 5-3 ahead. But Wallins fought back to take the match 6-0 1-6 7-8 after a final set tie-break.
"It's been a bit of a strage week and I'm not quite sure how I lost the Singles final. It was just one of those days" said Phillipson. He was aiming to remain unbeaten on home soil and this season after winning last months North West Challenge in Preston, the first tournament on the 2010 tour.
"Dan just came out firing on all cylinders in the first set and was hitting winners all over the court. He made more errors in the second, which allowed me to get back into the match, but I just have to put it down as a bad day, although he's a player who is improving very quickly.
Winning the doubles was good, but it's not all I wanted." added Phillipson, who had beaten Wallins comfortably in straight sets in the semi-finals at Preston.
Phillipson now looks forward to April's Florida open, the first tournament of the year to share Super Series status with the British Open which returns to the City of Nottingham Tennis Centre at the end of July.
