From TIM GARNER
The top seeds in the Reliable Networks Grand Prix Finals were both made to work for a berth in next round at the Roehampton Club.
In the men’s event World no.11 Daryl Selby looked to have weathered the storm having nicked the first against Chris Fuller and then opening up a 2 game lead. However, the Nottingham based youngster had other ideas as a capitalised on Selby taking his foot off the gas in the third to pull one back.
England international Selby then steadied the ship and efficiently closed out the match in four to take up his semi-final berth. He will play Eddie Charlton, who saved three game balls in the first against Ben Coleman but was quickly back on the ropes as Coleman levelled it at one a-piece. Unperturbed, the fourth seed regained control of the match and worked Coleman from corner to corner eventually also coming though in four.
Earlier in the evening the longest match of the night, put paid to the schedule, as third seed Chris Simpson battled to contain the exuberant Joel Hinds. Simpson twice found himself behind aft er squandering a healthy lead in the third and again made life hard for himself as he allowed Hinds to build up a head of steam in the fifth.
A clinical forehand drop at 8/10 saved one match ball, and a dive just secured a let and saved another at 9/10 as Hinds continued to attack the front of the court, saving one match ball himself with a spectacular cross court nick. However, eventually it was Simpson who prevailed to set up a clash with second seed Adrian Grant.
Reliable Networks Grand Prix winner Andy Whipp & Grant entertained the crowd with some fast and furious rallies. Grant, World no.22, opened up a two-game lead but as is his trademark he kept the crowd entertained dropping the third before closing out the fourth to complete the top seeds in the semis.
The women’s also saw the top seeds progressing but in completely different styles. Emma Beddoes made short shrift of Nada El Kalawaay as the England junior international found the tin on too many occasions to trouble her senior counterpart.
Top seed Sarah-Jane Perry may have come off the back of a successful Allam British Open, where she knocked out World no.7 Low Wee Wern, but Lisa Aitken was clearly undaunted as she took the match to Perry. Having secured first and then been edged out in the second Aitken stormed back to take the third using clinical two wall boasts and cross-court flicks to unsettled her more illustrious opponent.
However, Perry has clearly gained much from her recent successes and part in the senior England set-up and didn’t panic. She took control of the rallies early in the fourth and ensured that Aitken never gained sight of the finish line to take the match in five and set up a clash with Beddoes in Thursdays final.
Reliable Networks BSPA Grand Prix Finals 2013
Mens Draw:
Wednesday Thursday Friday
Daryl Selby (1)
13/11 11/8 5/11 11/4 7.45pm Selby
Chris Fuller
6.00pm
Ben Coleman
12/10 6/11 11/5 11/4 4.45pm Charlton
Eddie Charlton (3/4)
7.00pm (doubles at 6.15pm)
Chris Simpson (3/4)
8/11 11/4 10/12 11/3 14/12 4.00pm Simpson
Joel Hinds
7.45pm
Andy Whipp
11/5 11/7 6/11 11/8 Grant
Adrian Grant (2)
Women’s Draw
Sarah-Jane Perry (1)
7/11 11/7 3/11 11/5 11/7 6.00pm Perry
Lisa Aitken
7.00pm
Nada El Kalaawy
11/4 11/5 11/3 6.45pm Beddoes
Emma Beddoes (2)
