McCarroll wins first ITF 1 titles as Brits enjoy success in South Africa

about a year ago

McCarroll made it a clean sweep as he teamed up with Gordon Reid to win the men’s doubles event before Andy Lapthorne capped a great day for the Brits as he claimed the quad singles title.

British No.3 McCarroll had to come from a set down in the men’s final but after having two match points saved, he finally got the better of British No. 1 Reid, who was also competing in his first ITF 1 singles final, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

McCarroll had earlier beaten world top ten opposition as he caused an upset with a 6-4, 6-3 win over top seed and world No. 10 Takashi Sanada in the quarter-finals before defeating local hope Eliphas Maripa 6-2, 6-2 to book his place in the final.

“I was nervous going into the match and made a bunch of unforced errors in the first set but calmed myself and managed to improve my serve and returns which helped me close out the match and win my first ITF 1 title,” said world No. 24 McCarroll.
“South Africa is proving to be a great place for me. I’ve had some really good wins here and in the final today, despite losing the first set, I felt that I played well. Gordon is a respected opponent, doubles partner and friend and he fought to the bitter end. Gordon is currently ranked 12 places above me and I won after losing two match points which proves how tough the final was.”

A busy day for McCarroll and Reid saw them back on court within an hour of their singles final but they eased past Brazilian duo Rafael Medeiros and Daniel Rodrigues 6-1, 6-0 in their doubles semi-final.

The British top seeds made another confident start in the final against Japanese second seeds Yoshinobu Fujimoto and Takashi Sanada en route to wrapping up a 6-1, 6-4 win that gave them their eighth doubles title together and their first at ITF 1 Series level.

World No. 4 Lapthorne added to the British success when he won the quad singles to lift his fifth ITF 1 Series title after beating Israel’s Boaz Kramer 6-3, 7-6(1).

Players on the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme will be in action again next week at the Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International, the ITF 3 Paralympic test event taking place in the Olympic Park from May 3-6.