The ITF tours return to Scotland this week for both women and men

In the women's 25k, three Brit Girls made it through qualifying with Anna Smith, 8th qseed, taking her place in the Main Draw at the expense, anticipated by her higher ranking, of fellow Brit Natasha Khan whilst Heather Watson and Mandy Elliott both overturned the rankings against qseeded Germans.

Heather took down the top seed Barthel who played so well at Shrewsbury last month and so, following her win over (an injury hampered) Mel South at Barnstaple, this represents a second important win under her belt in the seniors ; hot on the heels of lifting the US Open junior crown (can't resist giving that memory another !); Mandy beat the 5th qseed

Those three plus Lucky Loser Helen Parish and the 6 already there (Katie O'Brien was a last minute withdrawal; resting up after her WTA level exploits in Japan last week) made for 10 Brit Girls in the MD first round.

This has distilled today into 5 Brit Girls in R2.

Result of the day came from current form horse Lisa Whybourn who beat Tvaroskova of Slovakia, world ranked 270 to Lisa's 591. She recovered from losing the first set 1-6 to take the next two 4&2 to set up a clash with Mel South in R2. Mel is seeded 2 but will have a fight on her hands methinks. May the best Brit Girl win

Also through are Jade Curtis, Anna Smith and Naomi Cavaday. Good luck you three

Meanwhile, R2 of the men's event has 7 Brit Guys still standing including Dan Evans who's seeded 3 and will be meeting Dan Cox in the QFs if they both win tomorrow. Also through are Dominic Inglot who double bagelled a French qualifier today and faces the top seed tomorrow; Richard Bloomfield who meets the 5th seed in R2; Marcus Willis who takes on the 7th seed next up; Alex Slabinski ditto 6th seed; and David Rice ditto 2nd seed.

A tough old day in prospect; good luck everybody

Mel South not ready to move over! David Rice wins big!

There was one Brit Girl guaranteed to win a singles QF berth; which proved to be the sum total

At the top of the draw Jade Curtis put up a decent fight against top seeded Patricia Mayr of Austria but went down 4&2; at the bottom of the top half of the draw Anna Smith took the first set from her doubles partner and Barnstaple form horse Johanna Larsson of Sweden, seeded 5 here, but then lost the next two sets 3&0; and at the top of the bottom half Naomi Cavaday, seeded 7 here, went down 6-7(5) 6-2 2-6 against the former world #75 Selima Sfar of Tunisia who at age 32 is a wily campaigner who often punches way above her current ranking of 307; however, Naomi will feel that match was one that got away

Which brings us to the good news; Lisa will be disappointed that she couldn't quite carry on her current incredible journey up the rankings; but it was a very good effort against Mel, GB#4 and world 153, who held firm by 7-6(1) 6-4; so that's for Mel and still a for Lisa.

Meanwhile in the Mens David Rice pulled off the coup of the day taking down the second seed and world 278 from Belarus 3-6 6-4 6-2 to be one of 3 Brit Guys through to the QFs

Also there, and lining up to meet David in the SFs is Dan Evans, GB #5 and seeded 3 here, who beat his Irish opponent 2&4 and, in the top half of the draw, Richard Bloomfield who had a very nice, albeit hard-fought, win over the 5th seed 7-5 6-7(2) 6-4 :cool

Mel South and Dan Evans march on

Mel South's week continues undefeated in both competitions

She saw off Italian qualifier Julia Mayr 4&3 to now face Piter of Poland for a place in the semis whilst the top half of the draw bizarrely had the 1st and 3rd seeds both retiring before the end of their encounters so it's tempting to think Mel's chances of lifting the title have improved significantly today

Furthermore, her run of form with Emma Laine of Finland has carried on from their title-winning effort in Barnstaple; they won their SF comfortably 2&1 to set up a final against Mayr & Mayr of Italy.

Retirements are clearly all the rage (the end of a long season maybe? ) as Dan saw off his opponent by the margin of 6-2 retired; but, hey, Dan's through

Sadly it won't be David Rice next; he couldn't continue his heroics from R2, going down 3&3

Richard Bloomfield went agonisingly close in the second set of his QF against the top seed, but went down 6-3 7-6(5)

There must be one Brit title winner, and possibly two, in the dubs with second seeds Chris Eaton and Dominic Inglot to contest the final against Dan Cox and his Belarussan partner.

3 more British title-winners today!

It was unalloyed joy for Britain today (if Dan Cox will allow!) with yet another 3 British title-winners' names in the honours list for 2009 bringing the grand total for the year to 104. Mel South and Emma Laine of Finland won their doubles final by a comfortable 6-3 6-2; Chris Eaton and Dominic Inglot bagelled fellow Brit Dan and his Belarussan partner in the first set but had a much closer contest in the second before taking it, and the title, in the tiebreak 7-5.

Well done you three

Mel has the chance to add to the tally in the singles having won her semi today 6-4 7-5. She now faces Barnstaple champion Larsson of Sweden. Good luck Mel

Sadly, Dan Evans was unable to make much headway in his final against the top seed from Belgium, Yannick Mertens, who won the title 0&2

Larsson lifts the title

Sometimes you give your best but have to accept that someone else is better on the day. Sweden's Johanna Larsson has enjoyed her tour of Britain following up her singles and doubles titles in Barnstaple with the singles here. No disgrace, therefore, just disappointment for Mel in going down 1-6 6-1 3-6