GB pick up silver and bronze medals on final day
1st June 2014Great Britain completed a successful BNP Paribas World Team Cup today as the women picked up a silver medal before the men claimed a bronze in Alphen, the Netherlands.
GB women’s team, made up of Jordanne Whiley, Lucy Shuker and Louise Hunt with team captain and Paralympian Kevin Simpson, had to settle for silver after a strong Dutch team won the deciding doubles tie to take the gold medal 2-1.
World No.10 Shuker gave GB hope putting them 1-0 up after coming from a set down to defeat Marjolein Buis 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
But world No.3 Aniek van Koot put the Netherlands back in the tie winning 6-4, 6-1 against Whiley to force the doubles match on Centre Court.
And the Dutch pair showed why they have dominated this event for the past 15 years winning the doubles 6-4, 6-1 to clinch the gold yet again and leaving GB with their third silver medal in the women’s event.
Great Britain’s men’s team of Gordon Reid, David Phillipson, Marc McCarroll and Ed Holt, with team captain Karen Ross, were able to finish on a winning note claiming a historic bronze medal 2-1 against Japan.
Takashi Sanada had given the Japanese the advantage with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Marc McCarroll but world No.3 Gordon Reid dug deep and pulled off a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win against Takuya Miki to level the tie at 1-1.
David Phillipson joined Reid on court for the doubles and the pair made quick work of defeating Satoshi Saida and Sanada 6-1, 6-2 to finish third and win a first medal for GB men since a bronze in 1989 before World Group One was introduced.
British No.1 Reid said, “We’ve had a really enjoyable week and our team spirit has been unbelievable. From the way we’ve all played I think we deserved to take something and I’m so very happy to be going home with a bronze medal.
“I’m in a very confident mood heading into the Grand Slam next week at the French and am looking to go all the way and keep the British success going along with Andy Murray.”
Today’s medals followed a gold for Great Britain’s quad team yesterday after they defeated defending champions the USA 2-1.
The Tennis Foundation’s Head of Disability Performance, Geraint Richards, added: “I’m very proud of our team this week and to come home with a medal of every colour against the top nations in the world is an incredible achievement.
“With the continued support of the Tennis Foundation and UK Sport, I’m sure we will push on and continue this success throughout 2014 right until we host the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in London at the end of November.”
GB’s Whiley now joins Reid heading to Paris to compete at Roland Garros in the wheelchair event starting on Wednesday.