As the tennis season winds down for 2018 there is still tennis action involving Australians. Tournaments with Australians competing are underway in Asia and the USA.
On the 14th we saw Marc Polmans lose a round two match at the ATP Challenger $150,000 event in Bangalore, losing 6-2, 6-4 to Aleksandr Nedovyesov from Kazakhstan. Priscilla Hon lost her opening round match against Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko 6-2, 6-4.
Over in the USA John-Patrick Smith defeated Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garanganga 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals. Smith is playing in the Champaign $75,000 ATP Challenger event.
At the $50,000 ATP Challenger event in Kobe, Japan Andrew Harris lost to Japan’s Go Soeda 6-3, 7-5 in their round two match. Aleksandar Vukic who like Harris reached the main draw through qualifying played his round one match against Colin Sinclair from the Northern Mariana Islands. The Australian advancing with a 6-1, 6-1 win.
With the above results, Akira Santillan and Aleksandar Vukic in Kobe and Lizette Cabrera are the only Australians sill active.
Matches for the 15th
Taipei WTA $125k – Round 2 – Lizette Cabrera [LL] to play Luksika Kumkhum [2] THA
Kobe ATP Challenger $50k – Round 2 – Akira Santillan to play Soonwoo Kwon [8] KOR, Aleksandar Vukic to play Yoshihito Nishioka [1] JPN.
Andrew Harris v Go Soeda Round two Kobe
Canberra – 31 October: Australia’s Andrew Harris in a round two match against Yosuke Watanuki from Japan. (Photo by Rob Keating – http://robiciatennis.com) #ApisCBRIntl #protour
Harris the world no. 422 had two break points in the opening game against the world no. 202. Harris failed to convert and was immediately under pressure in his opening service game. He was down three break points and after hitting a shot into the net gave up the break.
Soeda the world no. 47 on 23 July 2012 faced three break points when serving at 4-2. Harris was able to convert on the third opportunity after Soeda hit long. Harris was back on serve and had two game points to level the set, instead, he failed to close out the game and his Japanese opponent got the break, then served out the set.
In the second set, Harris had break points in the second game and converted to lead 2-0. Harris held for a 3-0 advantage before Soeda broke back in the fifth game. A medical timeout followed when Soeda received treatment.
Games went with serve until Harris was serving at 5-5. Soeda attacked on the first point to hit a volley winner to go 0-15. A double fault made it 0-30. A good first serve followed and Soeda hit long. Harris played an aggressive point to get to 30-30 as he hit a winner. Another double fault gave Soeda a breakpoint, but Harris saved that one.
On the next point, a forehand from Harris clipped the net and sailed wide. Harris again saved the breakpoint. Soeda came to the net on the next point and hit a short volley for his third break point of the game. Harris conceded the break after hitting long. Soeda closed out the match after forcing an error from Harris as he rushed the net.
Marc Polmans v Aleksandr Nedovyesov – Round two Bengalore
Australia’s Marc Polmans the world no. 145 opened the serving and was facing three break points. Aleksandr Nedovyesov the world no. 211 hit a down the line backhand to claim the opening game. In the next game Nedovyesov was down two break points but came up with two aces to get to deuce. Another first serve helped him move to game point before he double-faulted. The Kazakh player eventually held serve to lead 2-0.
Polmans was in early trouble after losing serve to love to fall 0-3 down. Polmans finally got on the board in the fifth game to see the score at 4-1 with Nedovyesov to serve. At 1-5 Polmans saved set points before holding for 2-5, but then the Kazakh player served out to take the first set despite facing break points.
Polmans double-faulted on break point in the opening game of the second set to straightaway fall behind. That was his fifth for the match at that stage. Polmans was able to hold serve, then break for 2-2. Serving at 3-3 Polmans had to again fight off break points. He saved two but was not able to fight off a third. Nedovyesov and Polmans then held the next three games to see the Kazakh player take the match.
