Richard Bloomfield moves into final qualifying round

Richard Bloomfield has moved into the final qualifying round at $75k Challenger event in Nottingham after two tough wins.

The event is the second Challenger of the Nottingham tennis festival and is a grass court warm up event for many of those attempting to qualify for the Wimbledon Championships.

Bloomfield got off to a slow start after a rain-delayed start; dropping the opening set to British junior Joshua Ward-Hibbert in a tie-break. The Norfolk man found some form however to break the serve of his young opponent and level the match to force a deciding set.

The decider went the way of the second set and Bloomfield moved into the next round with a 6-7. 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Canadian Pierre-Ludovic Duclos put up an equally strong fight in round two however this time, the British number 5 claimed the first set in a tie-break.

Duclos hit back by reversing the score line from the opener to take the match into a final set but Bloomfield was not to be beaten; finding a rare break of serve to win 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.

The 29-year-old from Alpington faces Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert for a place in the main draw of the tournament.

Last week, after losing in the first round of qualifying for another Challenger, Bloomfield kept his eye in by entering a British Tour at the same venue in Nottingham. After two wins, Bloomfield withdrew in the quarter finals to protect his back ahead of this week's tournament.

A 6-1, 6-2 first round win over Matthew Frost was followed up by a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Sizya Kivanda before his withdrawal before the quarter final against eventual winner Tom Burn.