BASINGSTOKE tennis ace Josh Goodall reached the semi-final of AEGON GB Pro-Series on the Wirral after a couple of first round exits in his previous two tournaments.
The British number four, ranked 269 in the world, beat Richard Gabb 6-4, 7-5 in round one thanks to a break of service in each set.
Next up was another Brit, Lewis Burton, and, having won the first set 6-4, the 27-year-old allowed his opponent back into the game as he lost the second set 6-3. In the deciding set Goodall came back to break Burton’s serve from 0-40 down as he won the match 6-4.
In the last eight, Goodall came up against Alexander Ward, a player with a massive forehand. It showed in the first set and it was evenly balanced at 4-4.
But, from there, the Basingstoke player won the next six games as he took the match 6-4, 6-2.
That set-up a semi-final against Britain’s number seven Dan Smethurst and Goodall lost the opening set 6-4.
He then levelled the match, taking the second set 6-3 and in the final set failed to take four break points at 3-3 as the match was decided on a tie-break.
Goodall had a match point, but he missed a return and Smethurst made the most of it, winning the tie-break 9-7. He then lost in the final to unseeded Brit Edward Corrie.
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