The second day of the Liverpool Hope International Tennis Tournament was off to a great start with press coverage by BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC TV, Granada TV who were all here to witness an emphatic lineup.
First up, a tennis exhibition by Bronze Medal Winning Paralympian Jamie Burdekin from Liverpool and Bosnia´s Damir Dzumhur.
Jamie will lead Great Britain’s squad as they look to defend their World Team Cup. This is the equivalent of the Davis Cup and sees the top countries in the world battle it out to be the best.
Click here for latest ITV interview with Jamie here.
Jamie, a bronze medallist from Beijing 2008 – has been in a wheelchair since 2000 – and due to play in a tournament in France next week, said: “It was amazing to take part in such a prestigious event in Liverpool – I’m honoured. I don’t usually play on grass – but it is much harder playing on this surface because the wheels don’t move as well – it was hard work out there. I’m now looking forward to travelling first class to France on the train and will hopefully do well there too! Today has been brilliant.”
Jamie also appeared on BBC’s North West Tonight.
Aljaz Bedene (GBR) vs. Pablo Andújar (ESP)
The exhibition was followed up by an epic encounter of hard-hitting and nail-biting tennis action as British nr. 2 Aljaz Bedene and Spain’s Pablo Andujar, number 36 world number, battled it out in a super tiebreak in third set. The duelling duo edged each other on as the score levelled at 7-7 in a super tiebreak, eventually ending at 13-11 to Aljaz Bedene.
Final score 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 13-11.
After his victory yesterday against Pablo Andújar, world number 36, Bedene said to BBC Radio Merseyside:
“It was a fantastic atmosphere and I was pleased to win. My record on grass is not as good and this, in Liverpool, is perfect preparation before I play again on grass at Wimbledon.
“I lost the first set but was satisfied today – there were some good rallies, so it was good for the crowd. Today I showed that I can play on grass!”
Peter McNamara (AUS), Richard Krajicek (NDL) vs. Mansour Bahrami (IRAN), Barry Cowan (GBR)
The ever popular Legend´s Doubles took place at Centre Court and caused amusement to an enthusiastic crowd at Liverpool Club.
The players may be slightly older this year but their skills certainly had not diminished. Mansour Bahrami and Peter McNamara moved around and had the timing of a forty-something.
Close quarter rallies were flavour of the day as the pairs powerfully hit the balls at one another – standing yards away from one another – with just the net separating them!
A one point Lathom´s Peter Cowan nipped off court to take a sip of a spectator´s drink!
A fun match for all to see.
Final score: 8-6
Ana Bogdan vs. Lauren Dowling
The young Liverpool-qualifier Lauren Dowling put up a great fight against Romania´s Ana Bogdan. Bogdan won though both sets 6-0, 6-2.
Damir Dzumhur (BIH) vs. Andrey Rublev (RUS)
“Match of the tournament, with a standing ovation”, was the conclusion of Chair Umpire John Thompson. Hungry for revenge after having lost to the junior world no.1 in a previous tournament, Damir battled hard and smart, however Rublev came out victorious by the smallest of margins in a third set super tiebreak.
Final score: 6-7 (9-11), 6-4, 8-10