Bowman pips Roberts to take B2 title

More to follow soon....

Bowman wins vital match

David Bowman carved out a hugely important 6-3, 6-2 win against Paul Stewart at Wigmore. Bowman, playing on the artificial clay, was slow to start and broken immediatley. Bowman soon got going however, playing with more topspin and becoming less aggressive. Cutting out the errors, Bowman was able to fightback to take the set.

Bowman looked far more relaxed in the second set. With drop shots starting to frustrate Stewart, Bowman knew he had the match under control and cruised through the set 6-2.

"A big win," said Bowman afterwards. "He's my main rival at the moment and I knew I would have to play well to beat him. I felt more comfortable than I have done before on the clay, which is important as I may be playing James on it shortly."

Bowman fights back to beat Doolan

David Bowman ground out a hard fought 2-6, 6-4, 10-5ctb win over Pat Doolan at Brockwell Park. Playing in abysmal conditions, Bowman was rattled at first, and had no answer to Doolan's mix of lethal serves and ground stokes. With Doolan hitting forehand winners off both sides, Bowman normal attacking game was made redundant, and Doolan wrapped up the set comfortably. With the rain coming down much harder in the second set, Bowman made a crucial break midway, and served for the set at 5-3. Doolan found form, however, and broke back. Bowman managed to break again through to take the set on his third set point. Due to the conditions, both players agreed to play a championship tiebreak. An early mini-break put Bowman in command, and Bowman cruised through to win the match with a lovely backhand volley.

"I'm relieved," said Bowman afterwards. "I was out of the match at the start but somehow managed to claw myself back in. He's so difficult to play; you come in on his backhand and he passes you with a forehand!"

Bowman collapse gives Lonergan shock win

David Bowman collapsed out of nowhere to give Sean Longeran a shock 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win at Battersea Park. Bowman started the first set tightly, being broken in the opening game and struggling to match Lonergan. In typical fashion, however, Bowman managed to get himself back in the set, and clinched it 6-4. That should have set Bowman on course for the win, but instead a mental breakdown came about, putting Bowman 5-1 down. The forehand crumbled, and Bowman had no ammunition. Resorting to slices and drop-shots, Bowman managed get the set back to 5-5, and with momentum back with him, the match should have been his. However, the forehand failed to fire, and the players traded breaks to take it into a tiebreak. Here, just one mini-break by Lonergan was enough to level the match. The third set started equally as bad, with Bowman being broken immediatley. This proved to be fatal, as Bowman could find no way back. Despite saving match point on serve at 5-2, he was broken in the next game to land him a rare defeat.

"I don't know what happened. It's never happened before," said Bowman. "Full credit to Sean, but I lost that match; he didn't win it."

Bowman eases to first win

David Bowman got the summer campaign off to a perfect start with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over Farouk "Raz" Razvi at Magdalen. Although not reaching his best throughout the match, Bowman looked good enough, and wrapped up the first set comfortably. The second set was a tighter affair, but Bowman broke mid-way to go 4-2 up. A wayward game with a few missed forehands gave Raz the break back, but Bowman regained his form to ease to victory.

"It was a good start," said Bowman afterwards. "He is very steady and took advantage of my, at times, sloppy forehand. Nevertheless he's a great guy to play; I just wish they were all as friendly!"

Summer League gets underway

The Summer 2010 edition of the South London Tennis League has started, with local hero David Bowman in B2. Bowman, who will be playing alongside some of the big names including Gavin Rose and Pat Doolan, was rated third-favourite by organiser Ron Gray, with odds of 5/2. "I'm looking forward to getting back to the SLTL", said Bowman. "There will be some tough matches, and perhaps I can put an end to Doolan's 102 matches since losing a 0-6 set!".

The league runs until Sunday 31st October, with the bonus point deadline Sunday 5th September.

Confirmation of results

Having received the offical results for B3, it was confirmed that David Bowman was top of B3 on 23 points. James Roberts was second on 21 points. Wins and sets difference were equal, but Roberts had the better games difference. Roberts, unlike Bowman, however, failed to get his bonus points, putting Bowman two points clear.

The next league runs from 19th July - 31st October.

Bowman cruises into B2

David Bowman found a welcome return to form as he beat Sean Williams 6-1, 7-6 at Wimbledon Park. Bowman started well, breaking Williams early and looked extremely comfortable on the artifical grass. A lethal mix of agressive play and the midcourt slice backhand proved too much for Williams in the first set, and Bowman quickly wrapped it up. Bowman looked comfortable in the second when up 4-2, but let a break slip to allow Williams to recover. Bowman was in trouble at on serve at 5-5 and 15-30, but two huge serves allowed him to take the game. Williams fought valiently, cutting out his errors, but it was Bowman who got the better start in the tiebreak, and cruised home to take it 7-4.

"I like the artificial grass," said Bowman after the much. "It's much more fun to play on. It's about using skill, variety and angles, rather than standing at the back and blasting the ball."

Bowman will next be in action in B2 when the Summer League starts in July.

Bowman crashes to dismal defeat

Gavin Pereira blew the race for the B3 title wide open by crushing David Bowman 6-1, 6-4 at Wigmore. Bowman, desperatley struggling on the artificial clay, slumped to one of his worst ever defeats in the SLTL. Bowman was broken immediatley in the first game as Pereira fired on all cylinders. Bowman wasted a breakpoint oppurtunity in the next game with a netted backhand return. Pereira stormed through the rest of the set, wrapping it up in under 30 minutes. Bowman started cautiously in the second, desperatley trying to deny Pereira his rhythm. In typical fashion the plan worked, and Bowman broke to lead 3-2 and the customary bellows followed. The joy was, however, shortlived as Pereira immediatlely broke back and then broke again to wrap up the match.

"I like the artifical clay," said Pereira. "They LTA are encouraging them as they help build up fitness and technique."
"Yeah, right," replied a disgruntled Bowman, who vowed never to play on the courts again.

Bowman can still, however, come top of B3. Bowman beating Williams will give him the title, a loss should put Williams top with a three-way battle between Bowman, Willcocks and Burrell for second.

Sutton withdrawal hands Bowman walkover

David Bowman won his sixth B3 match after an injury forced Murray Sutton to withdraw from the league. Sutton, who was injured in his first match of the season against Roger Willcocks, was unable to continue. As Sutton had already played a match, walkovers had to be given to the rest of the players, something that will hinder Willcocks' progress in the division. It puts Bowman, however, one step closer to promotion. Another victory will almost certainly guarantee promotion, and another walkover may come with Gavin Pereira and Sean Williams, Bowman's two remaining opponents, still injured.

Bowman survives Holliday fightback

David Bowman needed to go the full distance to see off leading lady Cecely Holliday 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. Bowman started brilliantly, playing aggressively with the forehand and racing into a 4-0 lead. Holliday, however, found hers and quickly levelled to make it 4-4. Bowman survived breakpoint opportunities to hold for 6-5, and a couple of Holliday errors gave Bowman the set. Bowman started the second well, getting into a 3-1 lead. Again, Holliday fought back, blowing away Bowman off both sides. A double fault from Bowman gave Holliday the break to lead 5-4, and a netted Bowman backhand gave her the second set. Once again, it was Bowman who started brightly in the final set, and although the players traded early breaks, the Bowman forehand once again found its range, allowing Bowman to comfortable wrap up the match. “It was a tough match,” said Bowman afterwards. “You can clearly see why she has held her own for so long. I don’t think I’ve had that many winners put past me for a long time. Drop a ball short and it’s bye-bye!”

Bowman survives shaky start to beat Daza

David Bowman recovered from an early wobble to comfortable beat Alex Daza 6-3, 6-3 at King George’s Park. Daza, who had had a pre match warm-up, started the stronger player, and broke Bowman in his second service game as the trademark (now copyrighted) Bowman forehand failed to fire. Bowman broke straight back, however, and went on to break once more to take the opening set. The players traded early breaks in the second set, but once again Bowman found his rhythm, producing a stunning backhand down the line winner at 1-1 and 0-15. But Daza responded in the next game with a similar backhand, and was starting to fire off both sides. It was Bowman, however, who upped his game in classic style, dominating with the forehand and breaking Daza twice to secure his fourth straight victory of the campaign. “He played well,” said Daza, “and has a good forehand and beautifully light feet.” Both players agreed that the courts were nice. “Why play at Magdalen?” jibed Daza.

Bowman cruises past Willcocks in scrappy affair

David Bowman won his third SLTL match 6-2, 6-4 against danger man Roger Willcocks at Southfields. Bowman and Willcocks, not the type to be put off by rain, started the match in light drizzle, and once again Bowman took the initiative, playing shots more accustomed to Roy Webb. Willcocks clearly had no answer and the first set was wrapped up with the minimum of fuss. The second looked like going much the same way, until when Bowman, serving at 3-2, suddenly lost concentration. Willcocks got a break, and then brought out his trademark first serve, clearly leaving Bowman in total shock as to how that had been produced. Willcocks, then however brought out his other trademark, as he put it, stringing together a series of unforced errors that allowed Bowman to break back and secure the match with Willcocks putting a lob long.

Bowman survives tough affair on the artificial clay

David Bowman notched up his second straight win against big hitter James Roberts 6-4, 7-5 at Wigmore. Bowman, no fan of the slow and slippery courts, made a decisive breakthrough in the first game, breaking Roberts before holding serve to take the first set. Bowman broke early in the second set, but Roberts, not going down without a fight, broke back with some stunning passing shots. It was Bowman, though, who proved to be more consistent and notched up two match points. The first was wasted with a double fault, and a second with a forehand slammed into the tape, in similar style to Andy Murray’s fifth set point against Roger Federer in the Australian Open. Bowman held his nerve, however, and after wasting two more match points when serving at 6-5, he stormed into the net off a serve, clearly worrying Roberts who duly responded by putting the return into the bottom of the net. “I hate the artificial clay,” said Bowman critically. “I’m not in a hurry to play on it again.”

Bowman opens campaign with solid win

David Bowman started his B3 campaign with a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 victory over Sulphuro Burrell at Southfields. Burrell, who had lost to Bowman the last time the pair met, found his serve misfiring in the first set, allowing Bowman to stroll through 6-1, despite facing three break points in his first service game. The second set was a tighter affair, and Burrell once again cracked again at important moments, with him being 4-3 and 40-love up on serve. Bowman, typically gritty, hung in brilliantly to snatch the set 6-4. “It’s always difficult playing Sulphuro,” remarked Bowman afterwards. “I’m glad to have gotten him out of the way.”