Whittington joins big guns in Ilkley last eight (From Wharfedale Observer)

Whittington joins big guns in Ilkley last eight

5:52pm Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Sport By Bill Marshall

Andrew Whittington is the only unseeded survivor in the JM Glendinning Group International Tournament going into today’s men’s singles quarter-finals.

The 18-year-old Australian firstly came through a tight three-setter against New Zealander Marcus Daniell in the opening round before despatching fifth-seeded Frenchman Rudy Coco yesterday in another contest that went the distance.

The Melbourne teenager defeated Daniell 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-3 on Tuesday and beat a ring-rusty Coco 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 yesterday.

His reward is an all-Australian last-eight match this afternoon against third seed Michael Look, who is 514 places higher than 886th-ranked Whittington in the world rankings.

Second-seeded Albano Olivetti, winner last week at Manchester, is the only other overseas player left in the singles.

The Frenchman, whose ranking is 310, had his alarms in the first round against British wild-card Scott Whitbread, winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 but had a much easier time of things in the second round, defeating Tom Burn 6-1, 6-2. The in-form Olivetti today meets seventh seed Andrew Fitzpatrick, who beat qualifier George Coupland 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) yesterday.

Fitzpatrick is one of five surviving Britons, and two home-based players are guaranteed to be in tomorrow’s semi9-finals.

Top seed Josh Goodall plays sixth seed Dan Cox, while fourth seed Dan Evans meets eighth-seeded Ed Corrie.

Goodall dropped the opening set before overcoming Italian Lorenzo Frigerio and Corrie did likewise in beating Marcus Willis.

British Davis Cup player Goodall defeated Frigerio 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, while Corrie overcame Willis 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

While things were tight for Fitzpatrick, Goodall and Corrie, they were altogether more straightforward for Evans, who beat Mexico’s Manuel Sanchez 6-2, 6-3 and, once the first set was over, for Cox.

He was taken to a 9-7 tie-break by Neil Pauffley before taking the second set 6-2.

Goodall is seeking a hat-trick of wins, having won in 2010 and 2011.

Whether he gets back on the grass is still up in the air as rain has meant the tournament has so far been played indoors.