Day two at the Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy

Written by: Staff on 18th June 2010

Day two at the Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy |

The British Maureen Connolly Trophy Challenge team advanced to a 6-4 lead heading into the final day of competition, after GB and the USA won two rubbers apiece on the second day at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne.

Trailing 2-4 after the opening singles and doubles rubbers, the American team came out with all guns blazing, fourth player Grace Min recovering from a set down to defeat Eleanor Dean, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. It was another impressive performance from 14-year-old Dean, but ultimately Min’s experience told, and the USA clawed back a vital rubber.

“It was another day of learning for me,” said Dean, contesting only her fourth match on grass. “It’s a good experience playing with the crowd, I really like it actually. It’s great having Claire there on the court, and I’m looking forward to the doubles tomorrow.”

The USA’s Chanelle Van Nguyen produced a high quality match to defeat Britain’s Lucy Brown in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, in another fascinating encounter, leaving the tie delicately balanced at 4-4, with two singles matches still to play.

“Today was a tough match, the first set was good, and the second set she played a good match, it was tough for me,” said 18-year-old Brown. “I didn’t perform so well. Tomorrow’s the deciding day so it will be good to come out strong.”

Facing her opposite number Ester Goldfeld, Britain’s Tara Moore breezed through the first set 6-3, needing just the one break to go ahead. But Goldfeld fought back in the second set, forcing Moore to save multiple set points at 4-5, and again at 5-6. But the Brit clung on determinedly, sending the second set into a tie-break. Accelerating into a three-point lead, she sealed the win with a well-timed ace.

“It’s great having everyone here, having Claire and Iain on the side of the court, having Ellie, Lucy and Laura, it’s been really nice here today, and great to have a crowd,” commented Moore. “I think that’s what tennis needs is just a good atmosphere.

“I love grass as a surface, and it’s really good because I’m going into Roehampton and Wimbledon knowing that I’ve played some top juniors, so it’s really good for my confidence.”

With the skies darkening, it was up to No.1 players Laura Robson and Sloane Stephens to battle it out for the final rubber in front of an enthralled crowd at Devonshire Park. Robson eased through the first set 6-3, but surrendered the advantage in the second set as the highly-touted Stephens fought back to take it 6-3. Despite going a break up 4-2 in the final set, Robson’s work was not over yet, as the American broke back to make it 4-4. But the Brit dug deep to produce two quality games and win the match and rubber 6-4 in the third.

“It’s been really good so far,’ said Robson. “Eleanor and Lucy played really well today, it was unlucky for them to loose, and Tara played a really good match against Ester. It was good that I was able to win tonight, and everyone’s looking forward to the doubles tomorrow.”

It means that the British team enter the final day of competition two rubbers ahead with two to play. “Today’s been just great tennis, full stop,” commented co-captain Claire Curran. “To go into the last day leading is brilliant for us. More than anything I’m just really proud of them all, the way everyone on of them’s competed today. The quality of the tennis has been just outstanding, the whole event has been brilliant, the team spirit has been really good.”

Fellow co-captain Iain Bates continued: “I think the big positive from today was the way the girls responded when they were in tight situations. What we’ve seen from the girls over the last two days has been a great spirit, a good togetherness, and it’s great to be involved with this group of girls, who can hopefully do some good things in years to come. It’s exciting, and a testament to their efforts over the past two days that we’re in the position we are going into tomorrow.”

The USA meanwhile remain positive about their chances. “We’re feeling a lot better than yesterday,” said coach Sarah Taylor. “There were some great matches and the girls were competitive. The matches were really hard and we’re happy with the progress the girls made on the grass in just one day. Yesterday they were a little tentative but they really went after it today. Credit to the Great Britain team today, it was a great day of competition.”

“I have a lot of belief in my team,” said Van Nguyen. “We’re all really good doubles players and I hope we can get a good result on Saturday.”

The two remaining rubbers begin at 11am on Saturday. Katy Dunne and Moore face Stephens and Min, while Dean and Brown take on Goldfeld and Van Nguyen.

Topics: Brit, Challenge Team, Challenge Trophy, Chanelle, Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, Eleanor, Ellie, Good Experience, Impressive Performance, Lucy Brown, Match, Maureen Connolly, Opposite Number, Rubbers, Straight Sets, Tara Moore, Tie Break, Trophy Challenge, Van Nguyen