Whybourn flies the flag for Brits on day two at qualifying
Lisa Whybourn flew the flag for Britain when she became the first home-grown lady to etch out a second round place by dispatching Sarah Gronert 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 this afternoon.
The delighted 21-year-old served well throughout and looked remarkably at ease on the green stuff, yet only a few months ago the British wild card was battling tonsillitis and suspected glandular fever.
But today there was no sign of ill health – merely preventative strapping for a right shoulder ‘niggle’ – as the world No.409 swiped the first set for the loss of only one game.
“I think I started really well, which is the main thing,” she told Wimbledon.com. “I don’t think she’s played many matches on the grass so to start with she was maybe a bit tentative. I served really well throughout the whole match, apart from when I was a break up in the second set, 40-15 on my serve and I lost that game. I think that was the decider and in the third it was on serve the whole way and I played two great games to break and held my nerve.”
The duel, played out before a patriotic crowd, was particularly sweet for Whybourn who, two years before, had lost to her German opponent in straight sets at a challenger event in Turkey.
“I love playing here and feel really comfortable,” Whybourn added. “It’s a great opportunity for us being in our country that we get wild cards, especially the last month where we’ve all had some career best wins against people in the top 100. So we show we can compete at that level …and hopefully build on it.”
Whybourn’s win halted a disappointing run of for the British contingent. Earlier in the day fellow wild cards Jade Windley and Katy Dunne (pictured above) were dealt comprehensive straight set losses by their respective opponents Marta Sirotkina and Maria Elena Camerin.
Although Anna Fitzpatrick pushed France’s Kristina Mladenovic the three set distance, she simply did not have enough left in the tank come the final set and fell 3-6, 6-4, 2-6. Meanwhile, Tara Moore was left disappointed after squandering a set and 5-2 lead against 16th seeded Erika Sema exiting 6-4, 6-7 (5), 4-6 and Spanish No.11 seed Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino swept aside Melanie South 3-6, 2-6.
In the men’s event Chris Eaton faced a tough second round opponent in the form of No.1 seed Jurgen Zopp. But the Briton’s spectacular serving and impeccable volleying kept the powerful Estonian at bay until the first set tie-break. There, a couple of loose forehands allowed Zopp to sneak ahead and blast a winner past Eaton at the net to set up a set point.
The top seed failed to convert but promptly engineered a second set point, which again went begging.There was no denying the fact that Eaton was playing out of his skin and word had certainly spread – there were no spare seats and the grass verge opposite the courts had turned into a sea of bodies. George Morgan, who lost in the opening round yesterday, also turned up to offer support clad in an England shirt ahead of tonight’s Euro 2012 game.
But Eaton’s service weapon faltered when he needed it most. A double fault on the third match point against cost him the opening set and despite a valiant effort, the Briton eventually bowed out 7-6, 7-6.
Zopp was quick to applaud Eaton after the match. “It was really close and could have gone either way, it was a matter of a few points in the tie break and that was it so I am really happy that I managed to win those two tie breaks,” he said.
“He plays completely different style than any other player here. He plays serve and volley and he doesn’t give you any rhythm. I think he played a great match. I didn’t play bad but he served unbelievably well. I don’t know how many aces he hit and a great first volley. It’s always tough to play these kinds of players.”
More to follow
