TENNIS: Shuker moves up to No6 in the world (From This is The West Country)

TENNIS: Shuker moves up to No6 in the world

6:47pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport

LUCY Shuker, British women’s No. 1 wheelchair tennis player, has attained a new career-high singles ranking after reaching her first Australian Open singles semi-final.

Shuker, from Ash Priors near Taunton, has also equalled her career best doubles ranking after reaching her second Australian Open doubles final at Melbourne Park.

She has moved up one place to No6 in the women’s singles rankings to equal the highest ever world ranking achieved by a British women’s player, emulating former British No 1 and four-time Paralympian Janet McMorran.

Shuker reached her first singles semi-final in Melbourne after a stirring recovery to beat Australian world No8 Daniela di Toro 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in her opening match in Melbourne.

Shuker then put up a fine effort against world No4 Sabine Ellerbrock in their semi-final, but the German player held on to win 7-6(1), 7-5.

In the doubles rankings Shuker has moved up to No4, equalling her best that she first attained in 2010.

Second seeds Shuker and Marjolein Buis of the Netherlands came from behind in the first set of their doubles semi-final to beat Ellerbrock and Sharon Walraven of the Netherlands 7-5, 6-3. That gave Shuker a place in her second Australian Open final since 2010.

Shuker and Buis faced Dutch top seeds Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot in Friday’s final and the Anglo-Dutch pairing, playing together in only their second tournament, came from a break down to level the second set at 3-3 before London 2012 Paralympic silver medallists Griffioen and Vergeer secured the title 6-4, 6-3.

Shuker, a doubles bronze medallist at London 2012, said: “It was a memorable Open for me and my results have brought their own rewards with my rankings this week.

“I wasn’t that far off Sabine in the semi-final and will keep working towards trying to reach my first Grand Slam singles. “In the doubles Marjolein and I had been finalists at the Sydney International in our first tournament together so hopefully we will get the chance to play together again in the future after two finals from two tournaments.”