Latest update from Irish team at Wheelchair World Team Cup

 

Stafford Lynn lost Turan Akalin 6-4 6-0

Ivor Jess lost Ismail Canturk 6-1 6-3

Ivor Jess/Gerry Milligan lost Turan Akalin/Anto Cakmak  3-6 6-3 15-13

 

Ireland lost their first match at the Qualification event for the Wheelchair World Team Cup to Hosts Turkey in Antalya today. First up was Ivor Jess of Crumlin who played the accurate Ismail Canturk. Canturk played smart tennis attacking and defending at the right times and despite lots of close games and long rallies Ivor couldn’t get his head in front in any stage in either set and despite being on court for almost 2 hours lost 6-3 6-1.

Next was Irish no 1 Stafford Lynn who fought valiantly against a powerful opponent and a strained shoulder which restricted his movement. Nonetheless Stafford had opportunities in the first set and was unlucky to lose it 6-4 to his top 100 ranked opponent. However once the shackles were off his opponent moved it up a gear and stormed through the second set to guarantee the win for Turkey.

In the final match, Belfast’s Gerry Milligan made his Irish debut playing doubles with Ivor Jess and will be delighted with his first match performance although perhaps not the result. The Irish pair were on top throughout the first set and duly took it 6-3. However a momentary lapse at the start of the 2^nd saw them go 3-0 down a lead they couldn’t reduce and lost it 6-3. In the 10 point tie break to decide the match the Irish pair were never behind and had 4 match points all of which were saved by the Turkish play with good tennis before finally the Turks took the match on their first match point.

The Irish play Greece tomorrow knowing a top 4 spot is now unlikely.

Photograph ( from left to right)

Jean Daly ( Team Manager), Gerry Milligan, Jim Watt ( Non Playing Captain), Stafford Lynn, Ivor Jess