Jeremiasz Knocks Off No. 1 Houdet at British Open

No. 8 Michael Jeremiasz recorded a three-set victory over No. 1 Stephane Houdet to advance to the Wheelchair Tennis British Open semi-finals. 20 Jul 2012

A picture of man in a wheelchair playing tennis

Michael Jeremiasz playing a forehand and beating No.1 Stephane Houdet during the British Open.

ⒸGetty Images

By IPC

“It was a very close and intense match, since we know each other’s games so well, but Stephane made more mistakes than me today and I’m pleased to be in the semi-finals.”

In a week of upsets in the Wheelchair Tennis British Open at Nottingham Tennis Centre, world No. 1 Stephane Houdet was knocked out of the men’s singles event on Thursday (19 July) as eighth-seeded Michael Jeremiasz recorded a 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 win over his fellow Frenchman to book a place in the semi-finals.

“It was in Australia at the start of the year that I last beat Stephane, but he has beaten me every time since then, so I’m very happy to get the win today,” Jeremiasz told the ITF.

“It was a very close and intense match, since we know each other’s games so well, but Stephane made more mistakes than me today and I’m pleased to be in the semi-finals.”

Jeremiasz will now take on three-time British Open winner Shingo Kunieda from Japan after he won 12 straight games to defeat Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez, 6-0, 6-0.

Great Britain’s Gordon Reid advanced to his first career Super Series semi-final after defeating Belgium’s Joachim Gerard, 6-1, 6-3.

The 20-year-old will now face Ronald Vink after the Dutchman defeated David Phillipson, 6-4, 6-3, to justify his place as No. 3 seed.

In the women’s draw, all four of the top seeds will compete in Friday’s singles semi-finals despite brief dips in form by No. 2 Aniek van Koot and No. 4 Sabine Ellerbrock.

Van Koot avenged her Japan Open loss to Kgothatso Montjane with a 6-3, 7-5 victory and will now play No. 3 Jiske Griffioen in an all-Dutch semi-final.

Griffeon advanced after beating Australia’s Daniela di Toro, 6-1, 6-1.

The most comprehensive quarterfinal victory belonged to world No. 1 Esther Vergeer, who eased past her fellow Dutchwoman Marjolein Buis, 6-0, 6-1. Vergeer extended her career to an incredible 463 singles matches unbeaten with the win.

Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock beat Great Britain’s Lucy Shuker in the other women’s quarter-final match, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-1.