Lapthorne and Burdekin Advance to British Open Semis

Jamie Burdekin, member of the GB Wheelchair Tennis team and Paralympic bronze medallist at Beijing 2008 at Eton Manor © • Getty Images

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“It’s important to be playing people like him at this stage with the Paralympics just around the corner, as he’s a quality player and it will be good to test myself against him.”

Andy Lapthorne and Jamie Burdekin ensured Great Britain made up half of the quad singles semi-final draw as they both secured straight sets wins at the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships on Wednesday (18 July).

Lapthorne faced world No.7 Lucas Sithole from South Africa but despite the tricky opposition made short work of the match, winning 6-1, 6-3 to book his semi-final spot at Nottingham Tennis Centre for the second year running.

The Brit will now face world No. 2 Noam Gershony from Israel after he defeated Brit Adam Field, 6-1, 6-0.

Burdekin was not far behind Lapthorne as he got the better of American Bryan Barten, 6-1, 6-2, to set up a clash with world No. 1 David Wagner, who eased through his match, 6-3, 6-2 against Israeli Shraga Weinberg.

“Bryan is a top-10 player and it’s always going to be tough but I just did what I had to do against him and I’m pleased to be in the semi-finals,” said Paralympic quad doubles bronze medallist Burdekin.

“I’m facing the world No. 1 now, which I wanted to do, and I’m really looking forward to playing him.

“It’s important to be playing people like him at this stage with the Paralympics just around the corner, as he’s a quality player and it will be good to test myself against him.”

Meanwhile, in men’s singles, Brit David Phillipson upset the odds again as he defeated teammate Marc McCarroll, 6-3, 6-2 to book his place in the quarter-finals.

Phillipson, who is ranked four places below McCarroll at world No. 24, will now face Dutch fourth seed Ronald Vink as the Nottingham local attempts to reach his first Super Series semi-final.

“That’s a great result for me and although I think we both played quite well, I’m just pleased I had enough to win it in the end,” said Phillipson, who has been selected to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

“I know Nottingham Tennis Centre well because I’ve played a lot here and I’m local to the area so it was great to play in front of friends and family.”

Gordon Reid joins Phillipson in the quarters after easing to a 6-0, 6-1 win over South Africa’s Sydwell Mathonsi to set up a clash with Joachim Gerard, who pulled off a huge upset of his own. The Belgian world No. 14 knocked off defending champion and world No. 2 Maikel Scheffers, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

On Centre Court, former world No. 1 Michael Jeremiasz got the better of Alex Jewitt, 6-0, 6-2 to make it four career wins out of four against the British No.4.

Lucy Shuker proved why she’s the top-ranked Brit, as she defeated fellow countrywoman Louise Hunt, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the women’s quarter-finals and set up a rematch with German fourth seed Sabine Ellerbrock, who defeated her at last week’s Swiss Open in three sets.

World No. 1 Esther Vergeer extended her incredible unbeaten run to 462 singles matches with an impressive display against Columbian Angelica Bernal to win 6-0, 6-0.