Daniel doubles hopes still alive

LOCAL tennis player Daniel Smethurst was beaten yesterday by top American Bradley Klahn in the second round of the boys singles at Wimbledon.

But the 17-year-old from Failsworth put up a gritty display against the 16th seed before bowing out 7-6, 6-4.

Smethurst, who is 38th in the world junior rankings, had earlier defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Papasidero 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.

Yesterday also saw Smethurst and Daniel Evans open their doubles account with a first-round match against fellow Brits Michael Davis and Faris Akhazzan, which they won 6-4, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Australian duo Matt Reid and Bernard Tomic, the number three seeds.

Smethurst, a former pupil at Lyndhurst Primary and Failsworth Sports College, and Evans are an accomplished junior doubles pairing having reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon 12 months ago and also the last eight at the French Open at Roland Garros this year.