GB men to play for third at Invacare World Team Cup
Great Britain's men's wheelchair tennis team play second seeds and last year's winners France today (Sunday) in the play-off for third place at the 2010 Invacare World Team Cup in Antalya, Turkey after a fine performance in their semi-final despite losing out to top seeds the Netherlands.
Great Britain's women's and junior teams have already finished fourth in their respective events after going to the deciding doubles rubber in each of their respective play-off ties against Thailand and Australia.
Current British No 2 Gordon Reid sparked thoughts of an upset when he took the first set of Great Britain's men's semi-final against Dutch world No 6 Ronald Vink 6-4, but Vink's experience finally told as he went on to take the opening singles rubber against 18-year-old Reid 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
British No 1 David Phillipson faced a tough task against on-form Dutch world No 4 Robin Amelina, with Beijing Paralytic silver medallist Amelina winning the second singles rubber 6-1, 6-0, but the undoubted highlight for Britain's men came in the doubles rubber when Marc McCarroll and Reid made a remarkable recovery from a set and 5-2 down to beat reigning Wheelchair Tennis Doubles Masters champions Maikel Scheffers and Vink 0-6, 7-5, 12-10 in a deciding championship tie-break.
The men's team finish their event having improved on their fifth placing in 2009 and having reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2002.
After finishing as runners up in the women's event in 2009, Britain's women finished fourth this year after a 2-1 loss to Thailand in their play-off.
Jordanne Whiley took Great Britain to a deciding doubles after Kay Forshaw slipped to a 2-6, 0-6 loss defeat at the hands of Thai former world No 6 Sakhorn Khanthasit. Whiley ends the week undefeated in her four singles matches after beating Chuarf Inthanin 6-1, 6-0, but the doubles pairing of Louise Hunt and Whiley subsequently lost 2-6, 1-6 to Athens 2004 Paralympic silver medallists Khanthasit and Ratana Techamaneewat.
Great Britain's juniors have finished fourth for the second year in succession after a 2-1 loss to Australia in their final tie of the week.
Twelve-year-old Alfie Hewitt was beaten 2-6, 0-6 by Keegan Oh-Chee before 17-year-old Josh Steels made a fine effort against Australia's No 1 junior Henry de Cure. However, de Cure held on for a 6-7(4), 6-2, 10-3 victory. The highlight of the tie for Britain came in the doubles rubber, with Hewitt and Steels ending their campaign on a winning note, beating de Cure and Stephan Rochescouste 7-5, 6-2.