Hussey revels in biggest win of career at Eastbourne

By Abi Curran

Giles Hussey revelled in the biggest win of his career on the south coast as he punched his second-round ticket at the LTA’s Rothesay International Eastbourne.

The 27-year-old took out No. 6 seed and world No. 32 Mariano Navone in straight sets, 6-4 6-2, after entering the main draw as a lucky loser.

The Dorset player found out he was in the first round less than an hour before he took to the court.

And Hussey, who had not even played a main draw Challenger match before this week, believes he made his own luck on the grass.

He said: “I’m shaking, my whole body is shaking, I came out here and wanted to enjoy it.

“I got in as a lucky loser so I was sat in there 45 minutes before the match and didn’t know that I was going to play today.

“I did everything right with my coach all week, preparing as if I was going to play and once I found out I was going to play, my coach just said go out and enjoy it and I did.

“I really didn’t know much about Mariano but I knew that he’s played on clay so I thought if I can come out here and just swing and open my shots and try and push him.

“Luckily it all paid off.

“I came out and was feeling nervous and that first game I held to love settled me down, through the rest of the match I was just trying to focus on my breathing.”

Hussey will face Italian Flavio Cobolli in the second round and joins fellow Brits Billy Harris and Charles Broom, who meet each other in the last 16.

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website