IAN FLANAGAN, whose exploits at Queen’s last week captured the public’s imagination, lost his final chance of qualifying for Wimbledon when was beaten decisively in the first round of the Roehampton tournament yesterday. Flanagan, from North Wales, achieved the best result of his fledgeling career eight days ago when he beat Mark Philippoussis, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, in straight sets. Yesterday was a more humbling experience as Andy Ram, of Israel, won 6-2, 6-0 in only 43 minutes.
Flanagan, ranked No 556 in the world, had no answer to Ram’s powerful serve-and- volley game. He had been suffering from a stomach bug overnight but was making no excuses. “Ram did well. I’m just disappointed I couldn’t give the people who came to watch me something to clap about,” he said. “I am disappointed I didn’t get a wild card for Wimbledon. I thought I might after Queen’s. Hopefully next year I’ll get there on merit.” His consolation is that he will be playing doubles at Wimbledon.
Chris Lewis and Andrew Banks also lost in the first round at Roehampton. Jamie Delgado, who beat Mariano Delfino, of Argentina, 6-2, 6-4, was Britain’s only winner.
Greg Rusedski, as always, was in upbeat mood as he prepared to start the defence of his Nottingham Open title today. The Great Britain No 2’s world ranking has fallen to No 110 since his return in March after clearing his name over drugs allegations but the 30-year-old said: “I always like to do well here. You gain confidence from winning matches and winning on grass. I just hope to build up my confidence ahead of Wimbledon.”
Rusedski’s match is the second on Centre Court, where he will play Karol Kucera, the Slovakian whom he beat to claim the first of his two Nottingham titles in 1997.
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One of the biggest surprises of the first day was the 7-6, 6-4 victory of Alex Bogdanovic over Joachim Johansson, the world No45 from Sweden. Bogdanovic is ranked No 307 in the world and had his funding withdrawn by the LTA because of questions over his commitment.
Lee Childs, the Somerset-based right-hander who came through the qualifiers, played spiritedly but lost 6-3, 6-3 to Hicham Arazi, the No 7 seed from Morocco. Mardy Fish, the No 2 seed from the United States, has withdrawn with a hip injury.
Amanda Janes is the sole British representative at the Hastings Direct International Championships after defeats for Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha at Eastboune yesterday. Janes, the daughter of Christine Truman, the former French Open champion, will face Jie Zheng, of China, ranked No 49 in the world, today.
Keothavong, the British No 1, took the first set of her first-round match against Magdalena Maleeva, the No 8 seed and world No 21, but was unable to maintain the pace against the experienced Bulgarian and lost 7-5, 1-6, 1-6. Baltacha lost 6-2, 7-6 to Cara Black in the final qualifying round but suggested that she is returning to her best after a six-month break for treatment for a liver condition.