After some first-day fiascoes, Cenians have taken to the court in confidence, but for some players, that confidence has been shattered by easy-win matches that turned into nightmares. At the Britannual Britonisean Open, the last major tournament of the clay-court season, Cenian players have encountered both easy opposition and inconceivable upsets as some Cenians must win their next match in order to qualify for the next round, while some already have their places booked.
In Group 15, Botack Andiam booked his place in the Round of 32 with four wins against an iffy qualification group. On the first match day, Gina Jeorge almost shocked the twelfth-ranked player in a second set tiebreak, having two match points on her serve. However, Andiam regained his calm to take the tiebreaker, 9-7. On the second day of qualification, Andiam again battled it out in three sets. After taking the quick first set, Andiam appeared to lose his form against Carmichael Brown as Brown bageled Andiam. In the third set, Andiam again managed a comeback. After being down a break at 4-5 with Brown serving for the match, Andiam pulled out some masterful tennis, sending a forehand winner down the corner to seal the break. He then held serve and broke again for the match, Brown's momentum apparently stopped. On day three, Andiam avoided any scares against Deanne Smith, using precise forehands and backhands to win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. On his last match on qualification day 4, Andiam again pulled defeat out of the clutches of victory, defeating Sajjad de Sauveterre 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. Again, in the third set tiebreaker, a netted serve gave de Sauveterre match point. However, Andiam pulled out a passing shot to save match points, eventually winning 8-6. He is guaranteed to advance, as he has four wins, with other group members only having one.
In Group 13, Salafran Garter of Frenline Delpha managed to shock Johmer Vales on the fourth match day, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, saving two match points in the tenth game before sealing the break in the last game with a lucky net-cord shot. On the first match day, Vales avoided major trouble in a clinical 6-2, 7-5 performance against Trixie Mattel, with a good combination of baseline play and play at the net. His next performance was even more clinical, defeating Benjamin Shaw 6-2, 6-0. Shaw did not have answers to Vales's powerful game. Even if Vales loses his next match, he will still advance, because Benjamin Shaw has no way of advancing ahead of Vales on goal difference.
In group 10, Ciache Nagya is also guaranteed a spot in the next round. Against Mayeso Kayden, Nagya hit too many unforced errors to her liking, but managed to overcome her errors to break Kayden's serve twice in the first set and again at the tiebreaker, winning the match with some wonderful topspin despite handing Kayden some love service games due to some egregious errors. On match day three, Nagya managed to survive against Monica Perez in three sets, dominating in the first and third sets but perhaps losing some cool in a tight second-set tiebreaker. "I wish I could just drop the second set and keep the first and third!" she quipped. On match day three, Nagya dispatched Samuel Gates in a good performance on both sides. However, Nagya came on top with a score of 6-4, 7-5, decided by a single break in each set. Nagya will play fellow leader Javier Pasante on today's match day. Of the Cenian players in this tournament, Ciache Nagya is probably the least consistent.
In Group 7, Kika Dovan has apparently struggled somewhat with her game, hitting way too many unforced errors and giving up her serve way too much. On Match Day 1, Dovan was given a scare by Laura Meyer. Meyer broke Dovan's serve in the first set after a double fault, one forehand error, and a put-away volley that Dovan somehow put into the net. Dovan recovered for a dominating performance in the second set, winning 6-1, but Meyer would not lose in the third set; Dovan managed to eke out the win, 10-8, after a Meyer forehand caught the let cord and headed into the doubles alley. Dovan also gave up a set against Kendall Wimbley, winning 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a close call. On the fourth match day, Dovan seemed to have left her game at the hotel, totally falling apart to home favorite Peter P Larry, 4-6, 2-6. Her serve barely landed in, and Larry took his opportunities when he had them, sending many return aces and taking advantage of Dovan errors. Dovan must defeat Greg Meares to have any hope of advancing, and hope Larry loses.
In Group 5, Elaine Foyner, world number 1, has cruised through her qualification matches, winning each in straight sets and guaranteeing a qualification spot. On match day 2, Foyner defeated Devon Crapes 7-5, 6-3, surviving despite more than usual errors in the first set. On match day 3, Foyner destroyed second seed Kenya Michaels, 6-1, 6-1, not allowing even the slightest hint of resistance in a wonderful continuation of her match-winning streak. On match day 4, Foyner dispatched Jimson Kearney, 6-2, 6-2, in a clinical baseline performance. In game 3 of the first set, Kearney attempted many passing shots against Foyner at the net, but she wouldn't let any through, holding her serve before breaking Kearney.
In Group 4, 11th-ranked Andy Amada, with his big serve and great forehands, fell to Mia Cassington, 1-6, 7-5, 4-6. Amada's serve started out wobbly in the first set as he gave it up several times. In the second set, Amada slammed forehand after forehand at Cassington, but a good part of them landed in the net until an inspired play in the 12th game gave Amada the break as a volley sealed the set. However, Cassington struck back as an uncharacteristic double fault helped Cassington to break. Two good volley winners in the 10th game were not enough to stop Cassington as she fired back a passing shot to seal the match. On qualification day 2, Amada survived a scare against Ethan Stokes, prevailing 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 after dropping the second set tiebreaker. On day three, Amada survived another scare, winning against Adebowale Gilliam of Madesu, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in a rust performance in the first set. However, he quickly closed the gap to win the next two and the match. Tomorrow is the last qualification day; depending on how well he does against Tyrone Partridge, the current group leader, he may qualify in first or second place, only if he wins in straight sets. If he wins in three, the outcome of the Gilliam-Cassington match would determine the second qualifier.
The remaining summaries will come after the match day today. Good luck to all Cenian players.