Neptune British Open Singles Championship 2012
Jan 23, 2012 - Jan 30, 2012 Eton B Snell
Monday highlights - the Final
Will Hopton continued his remarkable season by beating rival Alex Titchener-Barrett by four games to two in a scintillating final at Eton. This caps an excellent week for the young Manchester professional, although ATB will rue some missed opportunities in the all-important fourth game.
Evenly matched from the start, the match was played in front of a packed Eton gallery, with spectators supporting both players vociferously. Hopton, as an Old Etonian, commanded perhaps the support of the college boys, who revelled in the opportunity to watch top class Rackets.
The first game was tight and edgy, reaching 7-all with neither player dominating. But then ATB struck a purple patch of 7 straight points to take a dominating lead, finally closing out the game without further loss. First blood ATB! However Hopton rallied in the next game, reaching 7-1 and seemingly possessing boundless energy. ATB fought back to narrow the score to 9-5, but 3 quick points from Hopton restored his advantage. He slowly gathered the necessary points to level the score at one game all, and with this came belief.
The third game was tight from the start but ATB always kept in front. Three vital points at 7-5 gave him the edge and from there on ATB drew inextricably nearer to restoring his lead, playing powerfully angled shots, and keeping Hopton on the back foot - ATB leads 2 games to one. The fourth game was tighter still, with both players working hard, ATB's power against Hopton's eldritch recovery shots. The match at this point hung on a knife edge and at 11-all it could have gone either way. But Hopton had found his range and appeared to be able to recover anything and everything that ATB threw at him - and this was his moment, securing the next four points to draw level once again at two game-all.
At this stage, Hopton was in top form and played winners from impossible positions. The fifth game was a revelation with Hopton notching up points to take a commanding lead, and eventually taking this all important game with the loss of only three points - advantage Hopton. There were trademark multi-shot rallies, but Hopton seemed to be the one punching the air in most cases. The sixth game was extremely tight, although Hopton stayed just ahead, before a run of five points from 5-4 gave him a dangerous lead. ATB would score no more points, and despite some determined resistance it was Hopton who emerged victorious to win his first Neptune British Open.
Neptune's Charlie Liverton was on hand to say a few words from the sponsor, and Eton Headmaster Tony Little presented the prizes. Peter Brake, the Eton professional, marked the match with his usual light touch - and was one of the driving forces behind making the tournament a resounding success.
Saturday highlights
Alex Titchener-Barrett beat Nick James 4-0 to reach Monday's Final. James started well and swept ahead in the first game, leading 7-2 before ATB responded strongly to reach 9-all. From there on ATB's power play generally held sway taking the first game 15/10. A similar pattern in the next two games saw ATB needing only one more game to reach the final, which he did in style. Overall a good tournament for Nick James - but this was one match too far (on this occasion). The second semi final saw Will Hopton beat Tom Billings 4-0. Having secured the first game, all looked well for Hopton but Billings responded reaching 14-11 in the second game. At this stage Hopton returned magnificently, saving game point, before finally drawing level at 14-all - and then taking the set of three. Business as usual in the last two games to see Hopton reach Monday's final to take on ATB. A final word to the gallant semi finalist, Billings, who surpassed all expectations throughout the tournament, gaining notably scalps along the way.
Thursday highlights
Both the top seeds, Al Titchener-Barrett and Will Hopton eased through their respective quarter finals without dropping a game. Ben Snell produced a brilliant performance against Hopton, and a series of long rallies wore down both players, but it was Hopton's tenacity and supreme ball retrieval which eventually won the longer points. In the second match, Alex Coldicott held his own in many of the hard hitting exchanges but, in the end, it was ATB's greater strength of depth which won the day. Saturday's semi finals will see ATB take on Nick James in an intriguing clash of two in-form players, whilst Will Hopton faces his U24 doubles partner, Tom Billings, who has performed magnificantly throughout the qualifying tournament and the main draw, knocking out two seeds in the earlier rounds.
Wednesday highlights
Nick James came though a hard hitting contest against Mark Hubbard to reach Saturday's semi final. The match was very well balanced, with Hubbard rallying well to recover the third game. However, it was perhaps James's athleticism which won the day, coupled with his fine retrieval skills, leaving no easy winners for his opponent. As a result Nick James is currently at his highest ever world ranking (5).
Tuesday highlights
Tom Billings aged only 18, produced another fantastic performance to beat the 3rd seed James Coyne by 3 games to 1 in the quarter-final of the Open Singles at Eton College last night. After losing the first game 8/15 it looked as if the powerful Coyne would have a routine win, but Billings attacked on both sides of the court pushing Coyne deeper in the rallies. He used his double handed backhand to great effect in both attack and defence and won the next two games 15/11, 15/10. The fourth game saw both players rallying well, Coyne got to 13/11 only for Billings to hit a lucky wood winner, then with 2 mistakes from Coyne the game went to the set 3 at 13 all.
Coyne played well and served for the game at 2/0 but was taken out. Billings then served an ace, and an error from Coyne gave Billings a match point only for Coyne to hit a return winner. The same happened on Coyne's game ball with a return winner from Billings setting up another match point. A long tentative rally from both players was eventually won with a backhand drive down the wall from Billings to record a great victory.
So after coming through the qualifying rounds, then beating the 6th seed James Beaumont, and the 3rd seeded Coyne Tom Billings will play either Will Hopton (2) or Ben Snell (7) in the semi-final on Saturday afternoon.
Results
Monday 30th
FINAL Will Hopton (2) bt Alex Titchener-Barrett (1) 7/15, 15/6, 9/15, 15/11, 15/3, 15/4
Saturday 28th
SF Al Titchener-Barrett (1) bt Nick James (4) 15/10, 15/6, 15/8, 15/3
SF Will Hopton (2) bt Tom Billings 15/7, 17/14, 15/3, 15/2
Thursday 26th
QF Will Hopton (2) bt Ben Snell (7) 15/9, 15/3, 15/11
QF Al Titchener-Barrett (1) bt Alex Coldicott 15/12, 15/5, 15/6
Wednesday 25th
Alex Coldicott bt David Makey (8) 15/18, 15/3, 15/9, 15/7
Al Titchener-Barrett (1) bt Sam Northeast 15/3, 15/11, 15/3
QF Nick James (4) bt Mark Hubbard (5) 15/9, 15/13, 11/15, 15/8
Tuesday 24th
Ben Snell (7) bt Ryan Tulley 15,9 15/5, 15/12
Will Hopton (2) bt Peter Brake 15/2, 15/3, 15/1
Nick James (4) bt Guy Smith-Bingham 8/15, 15/11, 15/11, 15/13
QF Tom Billings bt James Coyne (3) 9/15, 15/11, 15/10, 16/15
Monday 23rd
Mark Hubbard (5) bt Steve Tulley 16/13, 15/7, 11/15, 15/6
James Coyne (3) vs Nick Hutton 15/9, 15/12, 15/10
Tom Billings bt James Beaumont (6) 11/15, 15/7, 16/13, 15/8