Duncan wins maiden Challenger, Lumsden reaches Master’U final, Rylatt runner-up in ITF Glasgow
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Another successful week for Scots abroad as players begin to wrap up 2023.
Scott Duncan became an ATP Challenger champion in Maspalomas with doubles partner Marcus Willis.
The pair entered the tournament as the fourth seeds, battling from a set down in the first round to overcome Spaniards David Jorda Sanchis and Nikolas Sanchez Izquierdo 2-6 6-2 10-7.
In the quarter-final, Duncan and Willis beat Greek-Canadian pair Markos Kalovelonis and Kelsey Stevenson 6-3 6-4 to progress to the last four.
Due to weather delays, the semi-finals and finals were played on the same day. Duncan and Willis rose to the challenge, toppling second seeds Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (ATP #97) and Vijay Sundar Prashanth (ATP #83) in a three-set thriller 6-2 6-7(2) 11-9 to book their place in the final.
The same afternoon, the pair took on French top seeds Theo Arribage (ATP #96) and Sadio Doumbia (ATP #34), who they beat 7-6(5) 6-4 for their second top 100 win of the day.
Duncan and Willis’ maiden ATP Challenger tournament win sees Scott enter the world’s top 200 for the first time at a career-high ranking of 180.
Reflecting on the win, he said: “Delighted to win my first Challenger, especially in the fashion we did.
“Rain delays meant we had to play the semis and final on the same day and to beat two top 100 pairs like that was a great feeling. It was both my and Marcus’ first Challenger title, so it was really a special moment for both of us.”
Lumsden and Team GB reach Master’U final
Ewen Lumsden was part of the GB Students team that travelled to Honfleur, France, to compete at the Master’U BNP Paribas 2023 Championships. The team is made up of three men’s players and three women’s players competing in a joint team format against other nations from around the world.
Team GB was made up of Esther Adeshina, Victoria Allen, Ameilai Rejecki, Finn Bass, Lumsden and Michael Shaw.
On the opening day of play, GB played Germany with Lumsden competing in the singles. Ewen came from a set down against Benito Martinez 2-6 6-2 16-14 to put GB ahead and the win would be crucial as GB came through in several match tie-breaks to win the tie 4-2.
On Day 2, the team played Australia for a spot in the final. GB’s Victoria Allen put the team 1-0 up, however Lumsden wasn’t able to overcome Enzo Aguiard as the Scot was edged out 6-7(3) 6-3 7-10.
The teams traded the lead throughout the day, but it was Michael Shaw and Victoria Allen who clinched victory 6-3 3-6 11-9 to win the tie 4-3.
GB played the USA on the final day for gold. Lumsden was in action in the mixed doubles, playing with Esther Adeshina but lost to Savannah Broadus and Gavin Young 9-3. USA won the day 5-0 and took home the Master’U BNP Paribas title for the fourth consecutive year.
GB have reached the final in each of the last five years of the event, with their last win in 2017 featuring Scots Maia Lumsden, Scott Duncan and Jonny O’Mara.
Rylatt reaches final in Glasgow
Hannah Rylatt of the GB National Tennis Academy based at Stirling made an impressive run to the final of the ITF J60 Glasgow.
Off the back of her Lexus British Tour Edgbaston title, Rylatt entered the tournament as the third seed, picking up a first-round win against Tegan Bush 6-1 7-5.
Rylatt then got past fellow Brits Alice Wilson-Marsh 6-2 6-0 and Sophie Bekker 6-3 6-4 in commanding fashion.
In the final four, Hannah downed seventh seed Flora Johnson 6-2 7-5. However, Rylatt’s run came to an end in the final when she faced top seed Allegra Korpanec Davies, losing out 1-6 6-7(1).
East of Scotland’s Shaylin Holt and Lilliana McFarlane reached the semi-finals of the girls’ doubles draw, as did GB NTA’s Henry Jefferson in the boys’ doubles.
