GASQUET, HAAS and NALBANDIAN SCORE DAY ONE WINS

14 Jun 2011

The Boodles got off to a flying start with wins for Richard Gasquet, Tommy Haas and David Nalbandian on a stunning day of tennis at Stoke Park.

Under sunny summer skies, Gasquet got the better of his compatriot Gael Monfils with an entertaining 7-6(0), 4-6, 10-6 win in the first match of the tournament. Monfils accepted defeat in the all-French battle and said he was delighted to be back at Stoke Park again to defend the title he won here last year. “It’s great to have a grass court like this to play on because you can really work on your game,” said Monfils. “Richard is a good friend of mine so we had fun and that’s why it’s good to play events like this the week before a Grand Slam – it’s relaxed but you are serious also.”
Haas, who had not played on a grass court for two years, showed few signs of rustiness against Tommy Robredo in the second match of the day. Haas won 7-6(7), 6-3 and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience of competing on a lawn court again. Haas has been hit by a series of injuries and is only playing his third tournament of the season after returning from a long spell on the sidelines at Roland Garros.
The Boodles’ crowd favourite Nalbandian made a welcome return for what is his eighth visit to Stoke Park and enjoyed a highly competitive joust with Viktor Troicki, beating the popular Serbian 3-6, 7-6(3) and 10-4 in a Champions’ tiebreak to round off the day’s tennis. Nalbandian looked delighted to be back at one of his favourite events of the year. “There are lots of reasons why I like to come back here,” said the Argentinean. “It’s a nice place to play and there are not many chances to play on grass before Wimbledon – that’s why I always play here.”

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Order of play
Mercredi 15 juin

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Del Potro and Ferrer triumph on day two

15 Jun 2011

Juan Martin Del Potro and David Ferrer managed to score day two wins at The Boodles before heavens opened at Stoke Park.

Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, looked in good touch ahead of Wimbledon, beating Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-1 in the first match of the day. Verdasco and Ferrer then staged an entertaining all-Spanish battle before Ferrer prevailed 6-4, 7-5.

“This is very good preparation, that’s why we come here. There are so many players and the atmosphere is perfect as well,” said Simon.
While the match was highly competitive, there were one or two lighthearted moments beforehand when the players took part in a Question and Answer session with guests lunching in the Player’s Enclosure at Stoke Park. Del Potro was made an offer he almost couldn’t refuse when one guest offered to partner him in mixed doubles. “Sure,” smiled the softly-spoken Argentinean. “We’ll play after the match!”
Del Potro and Simon also met with members of the British Armed Forces, who were VIP guests at The Boodles on Wednesday, courtesy of the Tickets for Troops campaign. The uniformed troops lined up to pose with the players before the match and were greeted with a massive round of applause by the crowd.

The Boodles Tournament Director and Founder Patricio Apey said: "We are delighted to recognise the work and courage of the Armed Forces in this simple way and to welcome them to our tournament."

Ferrer and Verdasco finished their match in drizzling rain before the weather worsened and curtailed play for the day and cancelled out the third scheduled match between Viktor Troicki and Alexandr Dolgopolov.

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Order of play
Jeudi 16 juin

Match 1 - 14.30 Start:
Novak Djokovic v Gilles Simon

Followed by
David Nalbandian v Richard Gasquet

Followed by
Fernando Verdasco v Alexandr Dolgopolov

Djokovic impressive in first match on grass

16 Jun 2011

World No.2 Novak Djokovic played his first competitive match on grass of the year when he defeated Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2 in just 47 minutes at The Boodles on Thursday.

“It was great, tennis-wise. It was a fantastic match and luckily we could play for an hour or so because the weather was very unpredictable and we didn’t know whether it was going to rain or not,” said Djokovic. “It is still a preparation period for all of us. We’re all getting ready for next week.”

Djokovic had not played since Roland Garros, when his 41-match winning streak, stretching back to January, was snapped in the semi-finals in Paris by Roger Federer. “It was a long run and it was a run that I definitely didn’t expect; to have that many wins with no losses but it’s really about having the right mental approach and I was really trying to stay focused and stay dedicated to each match that I played,” said Djokovic. “Seven titles is already an incredible achievement for only half a year and I played a great tournament at Roland Garros. Unfortunately I lost in the semis finals but I played a great match against Federer. Since then I was taking some time off and preparing for grass.”

Djokovic will be seeded second at Wimbledon next week and said he was looking forward to the Championships. “In my opinion it is the most prestigious and the most important tournament in our sport because of its history, it is tradition and I think it’s the most watched tennis event in the world.”

David Nalbandian eased past Richard Gasquet in the second match on Thursday with a 6-3, 0-6, 10-5 in a Champions’ Tiebreak.

The final match of the day was left uncompleted after rain halted play with David Ferrer leading Alexandr Dolgopolov 61.

Andy Murray, fresh from his AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club earlier this week, will play a match at The Boodles on Friday against Viktor Troicki, starting at 2.30pm.

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Order of Play
Vendredi 17 juin

Match 1 - 14.30 Start:
Andy Murray (GBR) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)

Followed by
David Ferrer (ESP) v Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)

Followed by
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v Tommy Robredo (ESP)

Murray's match curtailed due to rain

17 Jun 2011

Andy Murray took first blood against Viktor Troicki in their grass-court showdown at The Boodles on Friday before rain curtailed the day’s play at Stoke Park. Murray, who is unbeaten on grass this year after winning the AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club earlier this week, was leading Troicki 4-1 in the opening set when the heavens opened. No play was possible thereafter. “Obviously I would have liked to have played more. Another set and a half would have been great but I was lucky to get the matches in at Queen’s last week so today was just about getting some decent points in,” said Murray. “I’ve played well in the last few matches, I’ve played well at Queen’s and now I’ve just got to get myself in the right frame of mind and hopefully I’ll do well. You’ve got to focus on that, not get too far ahead of yourself and not put too much pressure on yourself.” Murray has been drawn to play Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the first round of Wimbledon, which begins on Monday. “I played him in Valencia a few years ago. I know him well from juniors,” said Murray. All other play for the day was abandoned due to heavy rain.

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Order of play
Samedi 18 juin

Match 1 - 14.30 Start:
David Ferrer (ESP) v David Nalbandian (ARG)

Followed by
Bob and Mike Bryan (USA) v Josh Goodall and Chris Eaton (GBR)

Followed by
Liam Broady (GBR) v Kyle Edmund (GBR)