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Live Radio A Unique Aspect Of Challenger Life In Ilkley

  • Posted: Jun 23, 2018

Live Radio A Unique Aspect Of Challenger Life In Ilkley

Jun222018

Ball-by-ball coverage – from qualifying to the finals – is an integral part of the Fuzion 100 Ilkley Trophy

On the ATP Challenger Tour, community and culture are integral aspects of its tournaments. With the majority of events located outside of large metropolitan areas, the support of the local population is critical to inject energy into its identity.

In the north of England, in the Yorkshire region, lies the quaint 137-year-old Ilkley Racquet and Squash Club. For 10 days each year, the quiet town of Ilkley comes alive with world-class tennis. The tournament is one of the most scenic and idyllic on the Challenger circuit, with a landscape of lush greenery, tall trees and the iconic Cow and Calf Rocks providing a stunning backdrop.

But if you can’t experience the Fuzion 100 Ilkley Trophy in person, fear not. You are most likely familiar with the popular free live streaming of the ATP Challenger Tour, with more than 150 tournaments available to watch on ATPWorldTour.com. And in Ilkley, live radio adds another dimension to the tennis experience. The tournament is quite unique in that it is the only event on the Challenger calendar that offers ball-by-ball radio coverage from the start of qualifying to the conclusion of finals weekend.

Remember the journalist that was the talk of Roland Garros, thanks to Alexander Zverev’s affinity with his heavy Yorkshire accent? His name is Jonathan Penfield and he runs Live Sports FM, the radio station that is responsible for bringing the Fuzion 100 Ilkley Trophy to life.

The station has been brought on by the tournament to increase awareness for the event and its world-class players. It is their fourth straight year in operation, commentating on every match on centre court over the length of the tournament. Short post-match interviews with the day’s winners are also stitched into the broadcast. 

“The thing is, everyone involved is a tennis fan,” Penfield said. “We aren’t doing this for the money. We’re doing this because we love the game. If they were good enough to be on the Tour, they would be playing. But they’re not. So, the next best thing for them is to commentate on the matches. We’re really proud of what we do, to be able to provide a service for the people.”

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A staff of about 20 people run the show, with a handful of commentators alternating throughout the week, including Penfield himself. Penfield also gives an opportunity to many prospective broadcasters looking to get their foot in the door, offering time behind the mic to gain experience in the industry.

“I’ve found it so interesting that even players at this level, especially the younger ones, have a fan base,” said Penfield. “They have people charting their progress and are passionate about it. And just like we commentate on aspiring pros, we have aspiring commentators we bring into the booth to call matches.”

An average day on site lasts 10-12 hours, depending on how long play extends into the evening. They kick it off at 10:30am with a half-hour preview show to build up to the start of the action. Penfield says his daily audience numbers are in the low 1000s, with most listeners located in the UK. But he stresses that creating awareness for the tournament is the primary goal. Where many in the region might not realise there is world-class competition in their backyard, the service provides a great opportunity.

“It’s great when we get comments on social media and it comes from all corners of the globe. Yes, sometimes it’s friends and family, but mostly it’s just people listening. The hardest thing for us is just the awareness and punching through to the people. It’s virtually all on social media. We sometimes do targeted advertising or it gets through word of mouth. But even if people don’t necessarily tune in immediately, they will be aware that it exists.”

This week in Ilkley, the €127,000 event features four semi-finalists appearing in their first grass-court semi-finals on the ATP Challenger Tour. Eighth seed Sergiy Stakhovsky battles #NextGenATP star Michael Mmoh, while 25-year-old Aussie Jason Kubler faces 24-year-old German Oscar Otte. In fact, Otte is appearing in his first professional grass-court tournament.

ATP Challenger Tour 

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Queen's Club: Gordon Reid reaches last four at Fever-Tree Championships

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2018

Britain’s Gordon Reid came from 5-2 down in the opening set to beat France’s Nicolas Peifer 7-6 (7-1) 7-5 and reach the last four at the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club.

Wheelchair singles and doubles tournaments are being held for the first time at the pre-Wimbledon event.

Reid and fellow Briton Alfie Hewett lost their opening round-robin doubles encounter.

The pair were beaten 6-3 7-5 by Peifer and compatriot Stephane Houdet.

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Reid, the world number five, made a slow start in his singles match against a player ranked two places lower.

After levelling the first set at 5-5, he was broken by the Frenchman who went 6-5 ahead, but the Scot proved the stronger in the tie-break

Reid, who won Paralympic singles gold in Rio, took control of the second set to lead 5-2 before Peifer bounced back with three games in a row.

But Reid held his nerve to win the next two games and set up a meeting with second seed Houdet in Saturday’s semi-final.

Top seed Hewitt, the world number two, will play last year’s Wimbledon champion Stefan Olsson in the other last-four tie.

The Swede beat Spain’s Dani Caverzaschi without losing a game.

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Nature Valley Classic: Petra Kvitova beats Julia Goerges to reach semi-finals

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2018

Petra Kvitova continued her Nature Valley Classic defence with a dominant quarter-final win over Julia Goerges in Birmingham.

The Czech fourth seed beat Germany’s Goerges 6-1 6-4 in 67 minutes.

Kvitova, who has not dropped a set in the competition, hit 20 winners to Goerges’ nine to reach her fifth semi-final of the season.

She will next play Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu, who beat Ukrainian second seed Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-2.

Kvitova previously beat Buzarnescu in three sets on her way to winning the Prague Open in May.

In the other quarter-finals, Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova saw off Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic 6-2 6-4.

She will play Czech Barbora Strycova, who won 7-5 3-0 after Lesia Tsurenko retired with injury.

  • Murray accepts Eastbourne wildcard
  • Federer through to Halle semi-finals
  • Live scores, schedule and results

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Djokovic wins 800th match to reach Queen's semi-finals

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2018
2018 Fever-Tree Championships on the BBC
Venue: Queen’s Club, London Dates: 18-24 June
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs, the BBC Sport website and app.

Novak Djokovic recorded his 800th career win as he beat France’s Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Fever-Tree Championships.

Djokovic, 31, trailed Mannarino in the first set but the former world number one from Serbia went on to dominate.

The three-time Wimbledon champion will next face France’s Jeremy Chardy, who beat American Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-4.

Top seed Marin Cilic of Croatia and Australian Nick Kyrgios will meet in the other semi-final on Saturday.

  • Murray to continue comeback at Queen’s
  • Federer through to Halle semi-finals
  • Kvitova reaches Birmingham semi-finals
  • Live scores, schedule and results

Djokovic delight at career milestone

Djokovic is through to only his second semi-final of a troubled campaign as he seeks to secure his first title in 2018.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion is ranked 22 in the world after losing to Italy’s Marco Cecchinato in the French Open quarter-finals.

Hampered by an elbow injury last year, Djokovic has failed to reach the semi-finals in any of his last five Grand Slam appearances and accepted a wildcard to Queen’s as he seeks to regain his best form before Wimbledon starts on 2 July.

If Djokovic wins the semi-final and goes on to take the Queen’s title for the first time, he will pass Stefan Edberg in ninth place on the all-time list for most men’s singles wins.

Jimmy Connors heads the list with 1,256 wins ahead of second-placed Roger Federer, who has 1,156.

“It’s a milestone, and of course it’s a great achievement,” said Djokovic about his 800th victory. “Every achievement is a great achievement. I should be happy for it and proud of it.

“When you work all your life for something and then you get rewards for it, of course it’s obviously very positive and I’m thrilled.

“I’m grateful, as well, as I’m able to play so many matches and to win so many matches in my career.

“It’s still the sport that I love with all my heart. I put in that heart every single day, and I’m very glad to be able to play semi-finals here after Rome and Roland Garros tournaments that went pretty well for me.”

Kyrgios serve too good for Lopez

Kyrgios hit 32 aces as he continued his impressive run by knocking out Spain’s 2017 champion Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3).

The 23-year-old also hit 32 aces in his second-round victory over Kyle Edmund and 18 against Andy Murray in the first round.

“I can’t remember a specific time where I’ve served at this level back to back,” said the Australian world number 21.

Cilic, who reached last year’s Wimbledon final and was runner-up at this year’s Australian Open, beat American Sam Querrey 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

The 29-year-old hit 10 aces and won 91% of first-serve points to reach the semi-finals for the third year in a row.

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Wimbledon 2018: Dan Evans wins twice in a day to reach qualifying event

  • Posted: Jun 22, 2018
Wimbledon Qualifying 2018 on the BBC
Venue: Bank of England Sports Centre, Roehampton Dates: 25-28 June
Coverage: Watch live on BBC BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app.

Britain’s Dan Evans won two matches in a day to claim a place in Wimbledon’s qualifying competition.

The 28-year-old was not given a wildcard by the All England Club after he served a ban for taking cocaine.

Playing in the pre-qualifying event, Evans beat Briton Marcus Willis 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) on Friday.

The world number 340 then fought back to beat compatriot Jack Findel-Hawkins 6-4 3-6 6-3 and ensure a place in Monday’s qualifiers at Roehampton.

Evans will need to win a further three matches to reach the Wimbledon main draw.

His best performance at Wimbledon came in 2016, where he reached the third round before losing to Roger Federer.

  • Live scores, schedule and results
  • Murray accepts Eastbourne wildcard
  • Djokovic & Kyrgios reach Queen’s semi-finals

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