BEING able to introduce yourself as Scotland's second best male singles tennis player must feel at times like being the punchline to a joke. But Jonny O'Mara is determined to have the last laugh.
The 21-year-old from Arbroath's existence may be a far cry from Sir Andy Murray's status at the summit of the sport but the World No 516 has time on his side and is certainly one to watch. Occasionally noted, and reprimanded, for his exuberant on-court persona - which sees him cracking jokes and offering a running commentary on events - the Glasgow banter was flowing at Scotstoun yesterday as O'Mara battled past Croatian qualifier Fran Zvonimir Zgombic 6-4, 6-4 to be the sole Scottish singles survivor at the AEGON Pro Series.
It wasn't exactly the full gamut often displayed by controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios, but whether it was squealing when he failed to run down a drop shot or exclaiming 'Merry Christmas' when his opponent finally gave him an unforced error in a taut final game, this gallus Scotsman gave the lunchtime crowd which had quietly gathered in here their money's worth. Particularly as entry to this venue for this tournament which runs until Sunday is free. His talents deserve a wider audience.
Back based in Arbroath and Stirling after a stint at the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton, O'Mara has made great strides recently in doubles - the defeat he and his English partner Scott Clayton suffered on Tuesday here snapped a 32-match winning run - but his gameplan is give singles his all for the next two years at least, and is determined to keep smiling while doing so. While he admits to making a few mistakes along the way, it would be wrong to underestimate the commitment which hides beneath that happy-go-lucky nature. He hopes to break the world's top 400 by the end of the year and make it to Wimbledon - where he lost out last summer in pre-qualifying to unlikely SW19 hero Marcus Willis - along the way.
"I have been told off by quite a few of my coaches for talking so much," O'Mara told Herald Sport "I have improved but there is always going to be a little bit of it there. I am quite an energetic person and before I used to just go off on a bit of a rant, lose focus and maybe switch off for a couple of points. But I think now I am at a stage where I can use it.
"That [today] was me in quite a chilled way actually. At the end of the day I am out there enjoying myself. If something funny happens or I hit a good shot, I am going to enjoy it. As long as everything I am saying is positive and making me feel good then I don't see a problem with it. It keeps me focused, and stops me getting nervous."
While O'Mara admits he loves watching Kyrgios, perhaps a better role model for him to consider might be Dan Evans. The previously wayward Brummie has good naturedly soared from 763 in the world 18 months ago to his current spot in the top 50.
"He [Kyrgios] is the same age as me, and while at the end of the day it might not help him that much when I switch on the TV and watch the Australian Open I want to watch him or someone like Dan Evans, someone who is enjoying it, where it isn't just hitting, hitting, hitting," he added. "It is an emotional sport, and I think the crowd enjoy it a bit more when it's like that, and I enjoy it a bit more when I get to see how they are feeling."
O'Mara will face Hugo Grenier of France in the next round, and not what would have been an intriuging all-Scottish clash with Aidan McHugh, after the 16-year-old went down 6-2, 6-4 to the No 6 seed. Grenier, 21 years of age, 6ft 5in tall, and ranked 490 in the world, was always going to be a tall order for the young Scot but it was to McHugh's credit that, up a break in the second set, then with break points at 4-4, it seemed like this match could quite easily have turned in his favour had he taken us into a decider.
"At 4-4, I had break points and I threw in two poor slices which lost me that," said McHugh, who spent time in Miami training with Jamie and Andy Murray this winter. "If you get that break point then you are serving for the second set and I could see he was mentally quite unstable. I know I could have turned it around and I thought I could have won it. That is why it is so annoying."
In the women's singles, Maia Lumsden also dug deep, the 19-year-old battling back to take the second set 6-3 after losing the opener 6-4 to Bibiane Schoofs, the World No 483 from Netherlands who was a surprise winner against her countrywoman, the No 1 seed here, Arantxa Rus, in the first round. This was another match which briefly hung in the balance but Schoofs recovered her poise to take the final set 6-0. Lumsden was back in action later on, alongside her Scottish doubles partner Ali Collins, against Scotland's Jocelyn Rae and her English partner Anna Smith, the No 1 seeds, in the doubles.
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