Schoolkate triumph heads Aussies' pre-Wimbledon push

Perth Now

8 hours ago

Australian Tristan Schoolkate has lifted his first grass-court title in England - only to celebrate his breakthrough triumph by cadging a lift to his next tournament from the man he beat in the final.
Schoolkate's victory in the Ilkley Trophy was the highlight of a weekend when Australia's tennis men began some impressive muscle-flexing on the grass with Wimbledon in their sights.
The rising Perth professional who began the year by taking a set off world No.1 Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, moved towards the edge of the game's top 100 with his win on Sunday.
The traditional, picturesque grass-court Challenger event adjacent to the famous Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire has become a pre-Wimbledon staple and it was a real feather in the 24-year-old's cap to become the second Australian holder of the Trophy after Jason Kubler prevailed two years ago.
Schoolkate, who will rise to a new career-high of 106 in Monday's rankings, had to battle back from a set down to beat British wildcard Jack Pinnington Jones 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-3 and grab his first ever title on a grass court.
As he enjoyed his victory at the trophy presentation, Schoolkate had the crowd laughing when he revealed that Pinnington Jones was due to be chauffeuring him to his next event 145km away at the Nottingham Open Challenger later on Sunday evening.
"Hopefully, Jack still wants to take me tonight!" smiled Schoolkate. "He offered to drive us! I'll shout the Guinnesses!"
Looking at the patriotic crowd, he added: "They all got behind you today - I tried to pretend that my name was Jack..."
Schoolkate is yet to win a match on grass at tour-level but he'll go into Wimbledon qualifying in eight days time high on confidence after a tournament in which he had to battle through four three-setters to take the crown.
It was the second Australian title success of the weekend after the fledgling doubles partnership of Jordan Thompson and Matt Ebden picked up the title at Rosmalen in the Netherlands in just their first ATP tournament together.
The duo, who'd previously won their only Davis Cup rubber together, beat British duo Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 6-4 3-6 [10-7] on Saturday as Thompson celebrated his eighth tour-level doubles crown and Ebden his 13th - and first since he won Olympic gold with John Peers.
The pair will next play in the prestigious Queen's Club Championship where the Australian men's contingent will be out in full force after two more battled through all-Aussie qualifying ties on Sunday to make the singles main draw alongside Thompson, Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur.
Aleksandar Vukic defeated Adam Walton 6-4 6-4 while Alex Bolt, the 32-year-old veteran world No.186 who always seems to come alive with the scent of the grass in his nostrils, upset world No.80 Chris O'Connell 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
Vukic's reward is another all-Australian clash in the first round against Popyrin, while Bolt will play rising Briton Jacob Fearnley.
De Minaur, back in business after taking a break following his early exit at the French Open, will open up against Czech Jiri Lehecka, while Thompson will play Spain's Jaume Munar.