Jay Clarke at the Wimbledon practice courts, 2017
Photo by Javier Garcia/BPI/REX/Shutterstock | Jay Clarke at the Wimbledon practice courts, 2017

Jay Clarke claims title in Doha

By Glenys Furness

  • Top seed claims first title of 2018
  • Dropped one set on way to the trophy

DOHA, QATAR – Top seed Jay Clarke takes the title in the ITF 15K Futures event. The Brit only dropped one set en route to lifting the trophy.

Brit of the Week

Jay Clarke was the top seed in Doha 15K futures, in the first round the Brit was up against Marek Gengel. The Czech player started well and kept with Clarke during the first set. The Brit secured the break needed and held on to take the set. In the second set Clarke stepped up the game and broke twice to take the match 6-4, 6-2.

The second round saw the top seed up against Hungarian Gábor Borsos. In the first set it looked very much like the Brit would be out of the tournament as Borsos got the break of serve and secured the lead. Clarke was not done though, and fought back. The Brit took the next two sets with a single break of serve in each to book a spot in the quarter-final 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

In the quarter-final Clarke faced another Czech player, this time the sixth seed Jan Mertl. The first set was total domination by the top seed as the Brit lost only one game to ease into the lead. However, the second set was very much closer. Mertl mounted a fightback and the six seed stayed toe to toe with the Brit. Clarke and the Czech found themselves in a tiebreak, but the Brit was more aggressive and once again dominated play to book a spot in the semi-final 6-1, 7-6(2).

The semi-final saw the top seed up against the only non seeded player left in the event. Omar Giacalone was no match for the Brit in the first set, as Clarke dominated and broke twice to seal the first set. The Italian tried to fight back in the second set, but the top seed held firm and secured the break needed to take the spot in the final in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

In the final Clarke faced the seventh seed, another Italian, Pietro Rondoni. The Brit once again totally dominated the first set and lost only one game to Rondoni. The top seed didn’t have everything his own way though as in the second set Rondoni rallied and pushed the Brit hard. In the end though, it was the top seed who came through at the end by securing the break and lifted the trophy 6-1, 7-5.

 

ITF & Challenger Round Up

James Ward lost to the second seed Daniel Altmaier in the second round in Doha 6-4, 6-4.

Thomas Colautti lost in the first round in Doha 7-6(3), 6-3.

Liam Broady lost in the first round in Drummondville, having won the first set 6-4 he lost the next 6-4, 7-6(3).

Toby Martin lost in the first round in Santa Margherita Di Pula 6-1, 6-3.

Billy Harris lost in the second round in Santa Margherita Di Pula 6-2, 6-3.

George Loffhagen lost in the first round in Spain 6-2, 7-5.

Lloyd Glasspool lost in the quarter-final in Bakersfield 6-3, 6-4.

Evan Hoyt lost in the first round in Egypt, the Brit won the first set 6-3, then lost the next 6-3, 6-2.

Aiden McHugh lost in the quarter-final in Egypt 6-2, 7-6(6).

Jonathan Gray lost in the second round in Greece 7-5, 7-6(4).

Neil Pauffley lost in the quarter-final in Greece 6-3, 6-2.

Freya Christie lost in the second round in Gwalior, India. The Brit won the first set 7-6(4) but then lost the next 6-4, 7-6(6).

Emily Webley-Smith lost in the second round in Gwalior 6-4, 6-1.

Laura Robson won her first match in Toyota, then pulled out of the event handing a walkover to her opponent.

Harriet Dart lost in the quarter-final in Toyota 6-4, 6-4.

Katie Boulter lost in the first round in Mexico 7-5, 6-2.

Katie Swan retired in the second round in Mexico with the score at 6-3, 2-1.

Jodie Burrage lost in the quarter-final in Sharm El Sheikh 7-6(2), 6-3.

Francesca Jones lost in the quarter-final in Heraklion, Greece. The Brit  won the middle set 6-1, the final score was 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.

Alicia Barnett lost in the first round in Ramat Hasharon 7-6(11), 6-0.

Danielle Daley lost in the second round in Ramat Hasharon 6-1, 6-1.

Olivia Nicholls lost in the second round in Ramat Hasharon 7-6(5), 6-2

Next week Brits play in Miami, California, Santa Margherita Di Pula, Portugal, Bahrain, Greece, Israel, Australia, France, Egypt & Turkey.