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Thursday 11th, Day THREE - Round One
After two days of
qualifying the Nationals moved into top gear today as the men's
and women's Main Draws got under way on two glass courts, while
the Masters events move into full swing with most of the top
seeds in action in the various categories.
Moverley stops defending Champ Perry
One major and two
minor upsets on Day Three as Fiona Moverley beats
defending champion Sarah-Jane Perry and qualifiers Joel Makin
and George Parker reach the men's quarters ...
Two qualifiers through to Men's quarters
 The
men's matches started with an upset as Wales' Joel Makin,
making his first appearance in the main draw, continued his
impressive from in qualifying to beat seventh seed Declan James
in three tough games. "I was behind in all three games so I'm
very happy to win that one in three," said Makin.
 Makin
now meets fourth seed Chris Simpson in the quarters after
the Guernsey man survived a strong comeback attempt from Ben
Coleman, winning in four games. "I played really well for two
and a half games, then took my foot off the pedal for a couple
of points and he really took advantage," said Simpson. "His
shots were really going in, and the end of the third and fourth
games were tense, I was dreading having to play a fifth."
 There
was another upset, another qualifier making progress in his
first main draw appearance, as George Parker came through
a tough five-setter with Joe Lee. "I played well for the most
part," said Parker, "I got dragged into his medium paced game
and lost my length in parts, but when I managed to up the pace I
got the time I needed to capitalise on any opportunities. My
short game needs to be better to worry the top guys but I'm
really pleased to make the quarters."
 Parker's
opponent will be two-time champion and second seed James
Willstrop, who ended the run of local favourite Adam
Murrills in four games. "All credit to him in the third,"
said Willstrop, "he played well and really took it to me, but I
managed to get back in control in the fourth. It's been a funny
year," added Willstrop, who missed last year's event with
injury," a few steps forward then a few back, but the
Nationals are always a great event, we all want to do well
here."
There were no upsets in the evening session as Nick Matthew,
Adrian Waller, Daryl Selby and Greg Lobban progressed as
expected.
 Matthew
beat Chris Ryder - who injured himself halfway through the third
but completed the match - in straight games, the seven-time
champion expressing a desire to extend his record: "Chris a
very clever player, he's so fluid with his movement, I hope his
injury isn't bad. "It's such an honour to hold the record of
titles, but 8 sounds a nicer number than 7!"
 Waller
came from a game down to beat Nathan Lake. "He started well
and it took me a while to get into it," admitted the fifth
seeded left-hander. "I almost came back in the first but
after that I was more comfortable, although he made it tough all
the way."
Lobban became the sole Scottish representative in the last
eights as he beat Tom Ford in three, and Selby won his all-Essex
match with qualifier and U21 finalist Richie Fallows in straight
games.
Moverley knocks out defending champ
 Two-time
champion Jenny Duncalf kicked off women's proceedings on
the new show court with a straight-games win over Leonie Holt.
"I've played here so many times so I'm very relaxed here, but
it's always good to get a tournament started with a win," said
Duncalf, starting her 16th straight Nationals campaign. "The
venue looks great and having two glass courts for a Nationals is
special.
 Another
familiar Nationals face made a welcome return as Sarah
Campion (formerly Kippax) made it through to the quarters
for an eight time as she beat qualifier Rachael Chadwick in
three. "It feels GREAT to be back," said Campion, who missed
last year's event through pregnancy. "I'm absolutely loving
being back on court, it's so refreshing."
 Four-time
champion Alison Waters recovered from a slow start in
which she was a game and 8-4 down to Wales' Deon Saffery, to win
in four games. "She came out firing," admitted Waters, "she's
a skilful player and was putting me under a lot of pressure. I
was a bit nervous, it took me a while to settle but I was
pleased with how I came back."
 Waters
will now meet Emily Whitlock, the fifth seed who beat
qualifier Julianne Courtice in straight games. "We hadn't
played each other for ages," said Whitlock, "not since junior
times, so when I saw the draw I was pleased to have the chance
to play her again. I'm looking forward to playing Alison, we
have different styles and it makes for an interesting game."
The evening session started with what turned out to be the
only upset of the day, but it was a massive one as unseeded
Fiona Moverley took down defending champion Sarah-Jane
Perry, the third seed, in four games.
 Perry
started well enough taking the first, but Moverley struck back
to take the lead and had two match balls at 10-8 in the fourth.
Perry dug in to save those in long rallies, but on Moverley's
third chance Perry hit the tin and her reign was over.
"I'd forgotten she was defending champion, but we had a tough
five setter here last year," said Moverley," so I wanted to see
if I could get my revenge. I tried to play safe on match ball
but she played them well, I've never been so glad to see a tin
as on that last point!"
 The
final three matches saw comfortable wins for Laura Massaro,
Tesni Evans and Victoria Lust as the
quarter-finals were settled.
Massaro beat rising junior Gina Kennedy, who struggled with her
accuracy but earned praise from the world #1: "She has real
talent, runs everything down and fights hard," said Massaro.
"That got me a long way towards the top so she's halfway there
already!"
 Evans
made it two Welsh in the quarters for possibly the first time
ever (to be checked) as she beat Millie Tomlinson in straight
games. "I'm happy with how I played and really pleased to be
in the quarters for the first time," said Evans, "Joel's win
earlier gave me a boost."
Lust completed the round with a three-game win over another
English junior qualifier, Alison Thomson.
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