January 2013

Lucy has just returned from the Australian tour where she has competed in 3 tournaments - the last of which was the fantastic Australian Open Grand Slam.

Sydney International
Flying out to Australia and coming down with an illness proved a bit tough for Lucy to compete in the singles and saw her lose to World No 6 Sharon Walraven 3-6, 3-6.
However trying a new doubles partnership with Londons Gold Doubles Medallist Marjolein Buis proved a good paring proving their second seeding and winning their first match against Kamiji and Park 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 and into the final against top seeds Van Koot and Griffioen, Londons Silver Medallists. Many deuce games were fought but the more experienced pairing proved better on the day with Van Koot and Griffioen winning 1-6, 0-6.

Onto the Melbourne Open and a small draw meant Shuker drew Second seed Griffioen in the Quarters. Windy conditions and close games but Griffioen closed out the match 2-6, 2-6 and went on to win the tournament.

Lucy then moved on to prepare for the big tournament, the Australian Open Grand Slam, where the top 8 women and men compete for the titles.

Lucy drew Australians own Di Toro, Former World No1 first match. With a large home crowd chanting and cheering Di Toro took the first set 2-6. But Shuker settled into the match and found her competitive form winning the second set 6-4. The third and final set saw the pair level but Shuker broke Di Toros serve to go 5-4 up. Serving for the match, Shuker served the game out to 0 and sealed her place in the semi final 6-4.

Into the semis, Shuker was up against World No3 Ellerbrock and the second seed of the tournament with the hottest day of the tournament (38 degrees). Ellerbrock gained an initial lead but Shuker fought back to bring the match to a tie break, but couldn't dominate and Ellerbrock closed it out 1-7. Into the second set, and once again the pair fought hard and Ellerbrock took a 2-5 lead. Fighting back, Shuker brought it level at 5-5 saving 2 match points in the process. Unable to convert chances, Ellerbrock took the match 5-7.
Into the doubles and continuing the partnership from Sydney, Shuker and Buis played Ellerbrock and Walraven. This proved to be a real contest with the pairs fighting out the first set. It wasn't until Shuker and Buis broke their opponents serve and held their own did the first set come to a close 7-5, and they continued to find even better form in the second set covering each other well on the court and closed it out 6-3.

Into their first Grand Slam final as a pair, Shuker and Buis came up against Sydney's Winners Griffioen and Van Koot. Melbourne through up some awful windy conditions for the ladies to deal with, and the game was all level at 4-4. Some long rallies and close calls gave Van Koot and Griffioen the first set 4-6. Again the close games continued throughout the second set, but unfortunately the more experienced pair closed out the match 3-6.

November 2012

Doubles Masters
Lucy partnered Annick Sevenans of Belgium for the Doubles Masters in Holland. Drawn into group 2 they beat Buis and Hunt 6-4, 6-2 but lost a close match against Ellerbrock and Kamiji 2-6, 6-3, 3-6. Putting them second in their group they played the number 1 seeds from group 1 and Silver medallists from London 2012 Paralympics Van Koot and Griffioen, fighting hard they eventually lost 4-6, 3-6. Playing off for third and fourth place Shuker and Sevenans came up against Whiley and Kruger and dominated the match winning 6-4, 6-2.

Singles Masters
Lucy qualified for singles masters and was drawn into group 2.
Playing the first seed Ellerbrock first, Lucy did well to compete but lost 3-6, 2-6.
Next player in the group Lucy played was Buis. Buis dominated the first set 1-6, but then Lucy battled hard and came back to win the remaining 2 sets 6-3, 6-4.

The final group match to be played was against her Doubles Masters partner, Sevenans. The pair battled and Lucy found herself serving for the match in the third set, but Sevenans came back to eventually win 5-7, 6-4, 5-7.
With Ellerbrock having won all her matches the rest of the group level having won 1 match and lost 2. Only 1 game separating them Lucy found herself playing Montjane in her final match and eventually lost 6-4, 6-2.

September 2012

Only 10 days after the finish of the Paralympics, Lucy flew out to USA to compete in 2 tournaments.

The first was held in Hilton Head, and being top seed Lucy made easy work of her first 2 opponents winning against Proctor 6-1, 6-3, and Sporte 6-0, 6-0. Into the final and playing against her doubles partner in the tournament Kruger, Lucy found herself 0-3 down in the first set. Eventually finding her form Lucy took the first set 6-4, and the second set 6-2 to win the title at Hilton Head for the 3rd time.

Kruger and Lucy dominated in the doubles event with their seeding taking them straight into the semi finals against Redford and Williams where they won 6-1, 6-1. Up against Mardonnes and Sporte in the final Lucy and Kruger dominated and dropped just 2 games throughout winning 6-0, 6-2.

St Louis US Open
Lucy went into the tournament as 3rd seed and found herself in the bottom half of the draw.

With her first match up against Kruger - her opponent in the final of the last tournament in Hilton Head, it was a tough match for the pair of them. Lucy however got off to a good start, and dominated, closing out the match 6-2, 6-4.

Into the semis Lucy was playing the second seed in the tournament Walraven. From the start Lucy executed great shots and dominated her opponent, closing out the match in just 2 sets 6-2, 6-4.

Lucy was into her first super series final against Ellerbrock of Germany. Ellerbrock dominated the match in the first set and a half and then Lucy found good form to come back and take the second set 3-6, 6-4. A technical time out for Lucy with a puncture gave Ellerbrock time to compose herself and dominate the remaining set to close out the match 3-6, 6-4, 1-6.

Partnering up with her first round singles opponent, Kruger the pair had a bye straight into the semis. Up against Mardonnes and Chokyu, the pair had a struggle to compete and lost out 4-6, 3-6.

LONDON 2012 PARALYMPICS

Lucy had a gruelling run up to the Paralympics competing in nearly 8 tournaments back to back in order to gain the valuable 8th seed position in the singles event.

First round saw her up against Lauro from Italy on Eton Manor's Centre Court. With the home crowd behind her Lucy was off to a good start closing the match out 6-2, 6-1.

Into the second round Lucy came up against Kaiser from USA again proving her 8th seed position Lucy took the match comfortably 6-0, 6-2.

Into the quarter final and up against the Dutch seeded player Griffioen, the pair fought, with Griffioen taking ahead 2-5. Lucy battled back to 4-5, but Griffioen, dominated and closed out the match 4-6, 2-6.

Onto the doubles, Lucy partnered Jordanne Whiley and claimed the 3rd seed position. The draw gave them what they thought might be a medal match first round, the Germans - Kruger and Ellerbrock. Lucy and Jordanne found great form, attacking the German pair, closing the match comfortably 6-3, 6-3.

Into the semi final and up against the Wimbledon doubles champions and second seeds, Van Koot and Griffioen from Holland. Lucy and Jordanne took a 3-0 lead but looked to become nervous and tentative which let the Dutch pairing come back and take the first set 4-6, and closed out the Second set 3-6.

Up against Thailand pair in the Bronze medal match, who had won silver in a previous Paralympic Games. Faced with a different type of tennis, one of limited power and lots of spin, the Great Britain duo lost the first set in a tight tie break, and immediately went 0-3 down in the second set. Lucy took a toilet break and on her return, herself and Jordanne started their come back, with the lead of the second set changing regularly. However, Lucy found herself serving at 2 match points down, but good first serves saved the pair, and they then went on to take the lead. At 6-7, 7-6, 5-3, and 3 hours later Lucy finally served an ace out wide for the British pair to win the Bronze medal and the first medal in the history of women's wheelchair tennis for Great Britain.

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