First pro title for student Ben Jones as Team Bath Tennis aces earn Wimbledon wildcard places
University of Bath sporting scholar Ben Jones is celebrating the first professional title success of his tennis career after men’s doubles victory at the $15k ITF World Tour event in Netanya, Israel.
The Buchan Jones Scholar, who has just completed the second year of a Chemistry degree, and Ukrainian partner Vladyslav Orlov justified their status as number one seeds by progressing through the tournament without dropping a set.
They cruised through the first three rounds, losing just 12 games along the way, before overcoming home duo Yannai Barkai and Jordan Hasson 7-6(4) 6-2 in the final.
Jones proudly wears the Blue & Gold of the University of Bath in national BUCS competition – click here to read more or watch the following video:
Meanwhile, fellow Team Bath Tennis players Liam Broady and Luke Johnson have been given wildcards into the Wimbledon 2019 men’s doubles main draw. They will partner former Team Bath player Scott Clayton and Evan Hoyt respectively.
Broady, coached by Dave Sammel, is also hoping to secure a place in the men’s singles competition and made a great start to his qualification campaign on Monday as he beat Slovakia’s Andrej Martin 6-3 6-1 in the first round. He will next face Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Samantha Murray is competing in the women’s singles qualifiers and started her bid for a place at SW19 in fine style by beating Peng Shuai of China on Tuesday. In a match that lasted two hours, Murray took the opening set 6-4 but was edged out 7-5 in a second-set tie-break before finally sealing victory by winning 6-4 in the third.
She will now face Cristina Bucsa of Spain in the second round.
Click here to find out more about the all-encompassing tennis programme at Team Bath.
