UNIQLO Doubles Masters | Cotterill, Lapthorne, Hewett and Reid remain unbeaten in Bemmel

Both all-Brit partnerships competing at the UNIQLO doubles Masters continued their unbeaten run on day three.

Andy Lapthorne and Antony Cotterill were the first to get three wins from three today in the quads division with a 6-2 6-2 win over Greg Hasterok and Kyu-Seung Kim.

They also found out who they will be facing in tomorrows final when David Wagner and Nick Taylor came through their match against Heath Davidson and Lucas Sithole in three sets 6-2 3-6 6-1.

Meaning we will get to see that great quads division on court doubles rivalry between GB and the USA once more, and for the final time this year.

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett also added their names to 100% club, this time in the men’s open division, with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Kamil Fabisiak and Martin Legner.

Like Lapthorne and Cotterill they had already booked their place in the next round but the win means they go into their semi-final unbeaten.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for the other Brit competing today, Louise Hunt, as her and Dutch doubles partner Michaela Spaanstra bowed out to Kgothatso Montjane and Charlotte Famin in straight sets 6-4 6-4.

Want to catch up on what went on on day three check out our live updates below.

Alfie and Gordon won their final Pool B match

A trio of wins for the Brits

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett made sure there was none of the on court drama of yesterday in their final Pool B match against Kamil Fabisiak and Martin Legner.

In fact by coming through in straight sets 6-4 6-1 the made it quite easy for us to watch.

Having already made it through to the semi-finals at this years event the pressure was off and this meant we saw the Brits relaxed – they were keeping it competitive and you could tell they wanted the win but they were also having fun out there too.

The win means that they have won all three of their Pool B encounters this year and go into the semi-finals unbeaten and having only dropped one set.

One break of serve was all the number two seeds needed to claim the first set.

There were other chances in this set for the Brits to make a break for it but a mention here has to go to Fabisiak who when the pressure was on whipped out some magnificent service games which kept him and Legner nipping at Reid and Hewett’s heels throughout this first set.

Including when they were 5-3 down – the British duo only needing to break to take the set – but Fabisiak wasn’t going to let them take it that easily holding and forcing Reid to serve it out – which of course he did.

The second set started much like the first, Reid and Hewett going 2-1 up after the first three games.

But this time there was no mini comeback from Fabisiak and Legner and the Brits broke away and went on a four game run to take the second set and the match.

Making a break for it

Hewett holds and then he and Reid break the Legner serve to widen the gap a little between them and Fabisiak/Legner.

The Brits lead 4-1 in the second set

Fabisiak on serve again

After getting the break and consolidating Reid and Hewett went 2-0 but not wanting to give the Brits too much of a lead up steps Fabisiak to keep him and Legner just behind them in spectacular fashion, coming from 0-40 down to hold.

Hewett/Reid lead 2-1

Game and first set Reid and Hewett

Which he does and the Brits take the first set 6-4.

Onto the second now – will we see them do it in straight sets?

Fabisiak’s super serving

Is keeping him and Legner in the first set.

Hewett/Reid went 5-3 up and only needed to break to take it but Fabisiak had other ideas

The Brits lead 5-4 and Reid will serve for the first set

Play is on serve

Both pairs hold and Reid/Hewett continue to lead in this first set 3-2

No drama yet

No drama to report yet but the game is still young

two service holds and one early break by Hewett/Reid

Reid/Hewett lead 2-1

This is your five minute warning!

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett are due on court at 6pm

And finally for today…..

The first of the final men’s open division pool matches are underway.

On Centre Court Gustavo Fernandez/Maikel Scheffers have just defeated the Spanish duo Daniel Caverzaschi and Martin de la Puente in straight sets.

The quads finalists are confirmed

Ladies and Gentleman your quad division finalists are…….

ANTONY COTTERILL AND ANDY LAPTHORNE (GB)

And

DAVID WAGNER AND NICK TAYLOR (USA)

Yes we are getting to witness that great quad division on court rivalry one more time before the end of the year –

It will be Team GB v Team USA.

It will be the defending champions v the duo looking to push the number of doubles Masters titles they’ve won together into double figures.

It will be anything but straightforward (as we saw when the two teams met on Thursday night).

We already knew Lapthorne and Cotterill were through to the finals when yesterdays win over the team from the USA guaranteed them a spot in Saturday’s final even before they played today’s match.

But that didn’t stop them wanting to maintain their unbeaten record at this years tournament.

Their 6-2 6-2 win over Greg Hasterok and Kyu-Seung Kim means that they go into the final with a 100% winning record in the round robin stages having only dropped one set in the process – a huge confidence boost no doubt.

Wagner and Taylor decided to make their journey to the final a little bit harder – losing to Lapthorne and Cotterill yesterday meaning that their match against Heath Davidson and Lucas Sithole was a winner takes all affair.

With both pairs on one win and one loss whoever won this exchange would book that last place in the final!

Like yesterday they made it look easy in the first set racing ahead and taking it 6-2.

But there’s something about these two and second sets – they like to give us a scare.

They let Davidson and Sithole find a way back in giving them confidence to go on a run of games and take the second 6-3, so we were into a decider.

The third and deciding set saw a momentum shift back towards Wagner and Taylor and they once again surged forward going up 5-0 before Davidson and Sithole could get their next game on the board.

At 5-1 up they sealed the deal, won the next game and got the win in yet another gripping three setter 6-2 3-6 6-1.

The Quads are on the court

The quads matches are underway and we’ll update you with the scores as they come in.

Montjane and Famin book their semi-final spot

Game, set and semi-final spot Montjane and Famin

Kgothatso Montjane and Charlotte Famin made sure it was their names that would feature on semi-finals day after they came out on top in straight sets 6-4 6-4 against Britain’s Louise Hunt and her Dutch partner Michaela Spaanstra.

The conclusion of this match on Centre Court now means the four semi-finalists in the women’s draw have been decided.

The match today was tight and either of the pairs could have taken either of the two sets played.

Both saw Hunt and Spaanstra come form 5-3 down to get back to 5-4 but then Montjane/Famin take it by breaking their serve.

There were some cracking rallies though and some really intelligent playing from both teams.

Hunt has to be commended for her sheer determination when it came to coming in the net and going for the winner – at the start of the match her shots weren’t quite getting over but she kept on going and there were some stunning winners from her as a result, as there were from all the players on court today.

In the end though it was that unforced error percentage – shots going wide, long or into the net – and taking the opportunities when they presented themselves, coupled with having to deal with the power Montjane can create from her shots, and boy did she bring those out when her and Famin were trailing, that made the difference and saw the result go Montjane and Famin’s way today.

A familiar scoreline

And we’re back to a familiar end of set scoreline for this match.

Hunt and Spaanstra pull it back and Montjane/Famin now lead 5-4 in the second set.

But the danger is not over Spaanstra will have to hold her nerve and her serve to level it at five all otherwise the set and subsequently the match will belong to Montjane and Famin

Four games that saw a shift in the set

Montjane/Famin go 3-1 down but that only fuels them and they go on a three game run which sees them now lead in this second set.

Can Hunt and Spaanstra pull it back

Montjane/Famin lead 4-3

KG’s power prevents Hunt and Spaanstra consolidating 

Would you like to be on the end of one of Kgothatso Montjane’s serves or shots from the baseline – I know I wouldn’t

She fires them out with such force that you have to also commend any opponent who can return a ball from her.

But that’s what she’s famous for – that powerful hitting – and it’s what’s stopped Hunt/Spaanstra from consolidating their early break and going 3-0 up in this second set, so she most certainly got the job done in that service game.

Hunt/Spaanstra lead 2-1

First set Montjane/Famin

They couldn’t be held back for long though and Montjane/Famin take the first set 6-4 after breaking Hunt’s serve for the third time in the set.

The rallies in this match so far have been brilliant and really this first set has come down to who has hit fewer unforced errors, both pairs having had games where they’ve struggled on serve.

So if Hunt and Spaanstra can tidy up those unforced errors then we could see them easily come back from the loss of this first set.

Hunt and Spaanstra keep themselves in it

Montjane/Famin break the Spaanstra serve to go 5-3 up but she and Hunt keep themselves in it by breaking immediately back.

A double fault from Montjane giving them the break and keeping their first set hopes alive.

Montjane/Famin lead 5-4

The lead switches again

That’s been a couple of closely fought games between the pairs but in each case its been Montjane/Famin who have come out on top in these next two.

Hunt is playing smart and coming into the net to try and shorten the rallies with a winner but at the minute her backhand is falling just short at the net.

Montjane/Famin lead 4-3

Hunt and Spaanstra getting into this match 

Getting their first game on the board seems to have kick-started something magical in Hunt and Spaanstra and they’ve taken the next two games.

Hunt/Spaanstra lead 3-2

And we’re off

Starting with the final women’s Pool B match between Kgothatso Montjane/Charlotte Famin and Louise Hunt/Michaela Spaanstra

It looked to be going all Montjane/Famin’s way but Hunt/Spaanstra started gaining confidence in that third game and got the break back immediately.

Montjane/Famin lead 2-1

Day three will begin very soon

And here’s the order of play courtesy of the ITF

The final day of round-robin pool matches is underway at the UNIQLO Wheelchair Doubles Masters

Schedule download – https://t.co/c9J8LWygKM

Centre Court play from 13.00. Stay tuned for LIVE STREAM details.#UNIQLODoublesMasters #wheelchairtennis pic.twitter.com/GwyrAsUX5S

— Wheelchair Tennis (@ITFWheelchair) November 24, 2017