Day one: Dudeney & Pinnington Jones ease into second round
There was plenty of British interest at the Lexus Ilkley Open as main draw action got underway and the qualifying rounds resumed.
Alicia Dudeney secured the biggest win of her career after defeating Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume 6-4, 6-3 to reach the second round.
The British wild card saved 10/14 break points she faced across the match, while converting seven chances of her own as she beat the world No.127 in an hour and 27 minutes.
In the men’s draw, Jack Pinnington Jones came through an all-British battle against Harry Wendelken 6-4, 6-4 in one of the standout matches of the day. Pinnington Jones – who finished runner-up in Ilkley least year – sealed a decisive break in each set against his compatriot to move into the second round.
There, he could be set to face another Brit in Felix Gill should he win his first round match against a qualifier.
Oliver Tarvet clinched his first win of the grass court season after beating France’s Ugo Blanchet, 6-3, 6-3.
Tarvet – who recorded his first Grand Slam win at Wimbledon last year – will now go on to face will face either fellow Brit Paul Jubb or fourth seed Tristan Schoolkate in the next round.
Finally, Roland Garros qualifier Toby Samuel came back from a set down to beat Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet 1-6, 7-6(10), 6-4.
15-year-old wild card Danielle Britton put up a strong fight against top seed and world No.70 Viktorija Golubic in the women’s draw but lost out on a spot in the second round after losing 6-3, 6-3.
Broom comes through qualifying to reach main draw
An all-British battle saw Charles Broom come through a close battle against Dan Evans, fighting back from a set down to win 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-3.
Jubb also joins Broom in the main draw after overcoming top seed Mark Lajal 6-7(9), 6-2, 7-6(5) in his second round qualifying match.
Meanwhile, Oliver Okonkwo edged a tight match against Ben Jones, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to qualifying for the main draw.
Alastair Gray was close to joining his compatriots in the main draw but suffered a 6-2, 7-6(7) defeat to Filippo Romano.
Emily Appleton missed out on a spot in the main draw to Harmony Tan, losing 7-5, 6-3 while Edie Griffiths also fell short in the final round to Vendula Valdmannova 6-2, 6-2.