'Crazy Gang' spirit drives Marray into last four

The weight of expectation in British tennis was given a novel twist yesterday when a steward hurried along the walkway above the courts here at Bolton Arena urging promenading spectators – chiefly LTA officials, coaches, family and media – to move down into courtside seats because their numbers were straining the structure.

Martin Lee, the top seed, was in the process of ending Lee Childs' two-year reign as the men's singles champion at the Hastings Direct National Championships and advancing to the semi-finals for the first time. Lee's 6-3, 7-5 win brings him into conflict today with Alex Bogdanovic, the Belgrade-born 18-year-old prospect from Kilburn, who was beaten by Childs in last year's final after eliminating Lee and Arvind Parmar. Yesterday the fourth-seeded Bogdanovic defeated Cheshire's Mark Hilton, the fifth seed, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.

An abundance of Sheffield steel reassured those who watched Jonny Marray overcome David Sherwood, his fellow Yorkshireman and doubles partner, 6-3, 7-6, to reach the semi-finals for the first time. Marray, whose lively attacking style impressed Peter Fleming enough to say that there are not 20 players in the world who can serve and volley better, is an old-fashioned type in more ways than one.

A non-LTA-funded late developer, the 21-year-old did not start playing tennis full-time until he turned 18. Before that he concentrated on his school examinations and relaxed by playing club tennis and local Saturday league football. Having escaped the LTA's attention, Marray had the good fortune to join Jim Edgar's squad at Bolton Arena.

Edgar, 38, is a throwback to the old-style vocational coach. He is employed by Bolton Arena and allowed court time with his protégés, a group of players, including Marray and Sherwood, who are delighted to be be given a chance to work towards fulfilling their potential, however high or low that may be. They pay Edgar a nominal fee and have a special deal for accommodation at nearby hotels.

"You can't write off any players who happen to be over 21 if they are committed to work hard to get the best out of themselves," Edgar says. "Our little group has the spirit of the 'Crazy Gang' at Wimbledon." (The Dave Bassett Wimbledon of John Fashanu and Vinnie Jones, that is). "We're a bit off the wall."

Edgar has asked for LTA funding, but none has been forthcoming, which is a shame in one way, although it has enabled him to show what can be achieved outside the establishment. As he says: "I'm just doing my own sweet thing in my own sweet way in my own sweet building."

Marray's opponent in today's semi-finals is the third-seeded Jamie Delgado, of Warwickshire, who was leading Luke Milligan, of Middlesex, the eighth seed, 6-7, 6-4, 5-2 when Milligan pulled up with a hip injury.

Jane O'Donoghue, a 19-year-old from Wigan who has had an encouraging season after recovering from a knee injury that put her out for six months last year, will play Julie Pullin, the 1996 and 1998 champion, in the women's singles semi-finals. O'Donoghue, the fourth seed, overcame Melissa Gibb, a qualifier, yesterday, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Pullin, the top seed, defeated Helen Crook, of Essex, the sixth seed, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.

Hannah Collin, the defending champion, defeated the second-seeded Lucie Ahl, of Devon, 6-4, 6-2, an impressive performance considering that Ahl had not lost a set in her previous two matches. Collin's semi-final opponent is Anne Keothavong, of Middlesex, the third seed. Keothavong extended her run of straight-set victories by beating Jo Ward, also of Middlesex, the 1994 champion, 6-0, 7-5.