Richard Gabb Wins British Tour Event
Team Bath MCTA tennis player Richard Gabb won the British Tour Event at Nottingham on 7 June 2013.
He scooped the trophy and prize money but also earned himself a wild card into the Main Draw of the Aegon Nottingham Challenge (ATP Challenger) Event as well.
Gabb lost to world #120 Steve Johnson (USA) 62 63 on the grass courts, another good learning experience.
The tier 1 British Tour event is played as part of the Nottingham Festival of Tennis, marking the beginning of the UK grass court season.
The British Tour event attracts a relatively strong British field due to the Aegon Challenge and Aegon Trophy Challenger events running at the same time.
Gabb improved through the week as his opponents got stronger.
In the final he defeated Neil Pauffley, ranked 200 places above him, in a great final 6-4 6-7(5) 6-4.
Gabb produced his best result in the semi final, beating GB #10 Dan Smethurst 6-2 4-6 6-3.
Earlier Gabb had beaten fellow Bath player Marcus Daniell 6-2 6-3, and Scott Whitbread 6-4 6-4 and Shakil Manji 6-0 6-4.
A mention should also go to Academy player Samm Butler who came through three rounds of qualifying to eventually face Harry Skinner in the second round. An epic encounter saw Butler display all his trademark determination to win in just over four hours 6-3 6-7(5) 7-6(6). Butler faced Dan Smethurst, world in the next round, but did not have enough for the world ranked 373, losing 6-1 6-2.
Butler had earlier been given a wild card into the qualifying for the Nottingham Challenge, winning a round against Aaron Banasik before losing to Dan Cox 6-0 76 (9).
The male players remained in Nottingham for another British Tour event which took place on 10-15 June.
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