By Glenys Furness

Felix Gill claimed ITF M25 Antalya title
Brit was fourth seed

ANTALYA, TURKEY – Felix Gill entered the ITF event and was the fourth seed. The Brit claimed his first title of 2026 defeating the top seed in the final.

 

 

Brit of the Week

Felix Gill kicked off his 2026 season by entering the ITF event in Antalya. The Brit was the fourth seed. In the first round Gill was against Makoto Ochi. The qualifier was no match for the seed, as Gill dominated from the start. The seed didn’t drop a single game in the first set to ease into the lead. The second was a little bit better for Ochi, who managed to get a couple of games on the board. However, the seed still dominated and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.

The second round saw the seed against Mihai Razvan Marinescu. The Romanian struggled against the Brit, as Gill continued where he left off in the last round. The Brit dominated again, although the Romanian managed a couple of games, Gill strolled through in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.

In the quarter-final the Brit was against fifth seed Raul Brancaccio. The Italian proved to be the hardest match to this point. Although Gill dominated the first set to take the lead, Brancaccio fought hard. The second set saw the Italian playing better and staying with Gill. Eventually, though, the fourth seed secured the break required and moved into the next round 6-2, 6-3.

The semi-final saw Gill against Dusan Obradovic. The Serbian got off to a flying start, breaking the seed several times to dominate the set and take the lead. The Brit fought back in the second set, breaking Obradovic and levelling up the match. In the final set, neither player wanted to lose and both fought hard. Eventually, a tiebreak ensued. In the breaker it was the seed that edged through and into the final 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4).

In the final the Brit was against the top seed Filip Jianu. Gill dominated the first set as the Romanian struggled to get anything on the fourth seed serve. However, the second set saw the top seed re-group and dominate the Brit to level up the match. The final set saw the Brit again dominate and lift the trophy 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.

 

 

Challenger & ITF Round Up

Melissa Boyden was defeated by Sofia Shapatava in the first round in Antalya 6-2, 6-0.

Jay Clarke was defeated by Matteo Martineau in the first round in Bengaluru 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Emile Hudd was defeated by Jordan Thompson in the first round in Noumea 6-3, 7-6(5).

Ryan Peniston was defeated by Moerani Bouzige in the first round in Noumea 4-6, 7-6(9), 6-4.

Luca Pow was defeated by Keegan Smith in the semi-final in Winston-Salem 6-2, 7-6(7).

Oscar Brown was defeated by Ergi Kirkin in the second round in Monastir 6-1, 7-6(1).

Ali Habib was defeated by Marko Miladinovic in the second round in Hurghada 2-2 (RET).

Naiktha Bains was defeated by Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the semi-final in Nonthaburi 6-3, 7-5.

Hannah Klugman was defeated by Ann Akasha Ceuca in the second round in Oslo 6-2, 7-6(5).

Amelia Rajecki was defeated by Ann Akasha Ceuca in the quarter-final in Oslo 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.

Next Week Brits play in Auckland, Australian Open Qualifying, Glasgow, Turkey, USA, Tunisia, France, Egypt, Spain, Germany, Hobart, Thailand & Manchester.