Talented tennis players set to feature in Bath

24 October 2014

An exciting array of talented tennis players are set to take centre stage at the LTA’s Aegon GB Pro-Series tennis tournament at the University of Bath next month.

The tournament runs from 2 to 9 November on the indoor courts at the Sports Training Village and is free for spectators to watch.

Czech player Denisa Allertova is the highest ranked player entered for the women’s $25k tournament, with a current world ranking of 109.

The 21-year-old from Prague has already won seven ITF Futures titles this year and reached the semi-finals of the WTA Tour event in Luxembourg earlier this month, after progressing to the main draw through qualifying.

Another one to watch is Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay, ranked 141 in the world, who reached the final of the ITF Astana 7 tournament in Kazakhstan in July.

Liechtenstein’s Stephanie Vogt returns to action in Bath, where she won the women’s singles title at last year’s tournament.

Rising star

Another rising star due to grace the indoor courts at the Sports Training Village is 18-year-old Oceane Dodin from France.  Currently ranked 357 in the world, she has to progress through qualifying to reach the main draw in Bath – but she achieved that feat at last month’s $25k tournament in Shrewsbury and went on to win the title.

The British challenge in the women’s competition is led by 22-year-old Tara Moore, who won the $10k tournament in Glasgow at the start of the year.  Team Bath MCTA player Jessica Simpson, needs to work her way through qualifying to reach the main draw.

There is plenty of British interest in the men’s tournament, which runs alongside the women’s competition in Bath and has a $15k prize fund.

British number five Dan Smethurst leads the GB challenge and heads to Bath with four ITF Futures titles under his belt this year.

Boy Westerhof of the Netherlands also features, having just won the men’s singles title at this month’s ITF Futures in Zimbabwe and also the men’s doubles partnering compatriot Antal van der Duim, who also plays in the Bath tournament.

Team Bath MCTA players Richard Gabb and Toby Martin, both former under-18 national champions, feature in the men’s main draw. Gabb is currently ranked 632 in the world and Martin 692. Former Team Bath MCTA player Ashley Hewitt also plays.

Exciting players

Tournament Director Julie Piper said the tournament looks set to be an exciting one.

“I’m very excited with the player field for this year’s event and there is plenty of British interest for people to come and support,” she said.

“This level of event gives spectators the opportunity of coming and watching tennis in a relaxed atmosphere and who knows, they could be watching a future Grand Slam Champion.”

Barry Scollo, Director of Tennis at the University of Bath, said: “It should be a fascinating tournament with some great tennis and some exciting young players on show at a top tennis environment.

“It will be particularly interesting to see how the Team Bath MCTA players get on playing on their home courts. It’s a great opportunity for them at their home tournament.”
Further information is available from the LTA website or the tennis pages on the Team Bath website.

For further information members of the media can contact the Team Bath press office at press@matchtight.co.uk or on 01225 383518.

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