Goodall finds hope on green, green grass of home (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Goodall finds hope on green, green grass of home

8:00am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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BASINGSTOKE tennis ace Josh Goodall has just enjoyed his best-ever Wimbledon – and he has now set himself the goal of making the top 100 as soon as possible.

The British number two, who is currently ranked 188 in the world, came so close to winning his first-ever singles game at SW19 last week when he lost in five sets to Frenchman Michel Llodra 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

That defeat came hot on the heels of Goodall’s first-ever ATP Tour victory over Japan’s Tatsuma Ito 6-4, 6-1 at the Aegon International at Eastbourne.

The signs were good for the 23-year-old from the start of this season’s grass-court campaign as he won through the qualifiers at the Nottingham Open, before making it all the way to the semi-finals.

Goodall said: “It has been a good year for me so far on the grass. I had a great run in Nottingham, won my first ATP match in Eastbourne and then won my first sets at Wimbledon.

“I feel I am improving all the time and now I am looking to get into the world top 100 as soon as I can.”

Today, Goodall heads off to America for another grass-court event at Newport, Rhode Island.

He will then will return to Manchester for the last grass event on the British calendar.

The Basingstoke-born player said: “My coach Jeremy Bates has certainly helped my game and I am confidant I can do well in both these events.”

Good results there should help the British number two Goodall retain his place in the Great Britain team for the Davis Cup tie in September against Poland at the Echo Arena, Liverpool.

The Basingstoke player is keen to have another shot at glory after playing in the last tie at Glasgow in March.Unfortunately, on that occasion, a British team, minus Andy Murray, lost against the Ukraine as Goodall had a baptism of fire on his debut.

Talking about the experience, Goodall said: “The occasion was awesome, but I did not give a good account of myself. That is what I want to put right in Liverpool if I am given the chance.

“I think against Llodra at Wimbledon, I started to show what I can do. Now I want to do that for my country.”

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