Matt Coombes, Head Coach/Manager of the Bournemouth Gardens Tennis Centre has been made Captain of the Great Britain Over 45 team to play in the Seniors World Team Championships held in Turkey this March. Great Britain will compete against 24 other nations at the Club Ali Bey resort in Manavgat where they have an amazing 70 red clay courts. The other team members joining Matt are James Turner (Avon), Paul Scullard (Hampshire) and Ben Knapp (Gloucestershire). The format of the competition is, each match will consist of 2 singles and a doubles with group winners progressing to a knock out stage.
Matt has had a very successful year in the Over 45s, winning the Over 45 Indoor Championships of GB in Dudley and the Over 45 British Open Hard Court Championships at West Hants. He also competed in the World Team Championships in San Diego finishing 4th, The Potter Cup in Barcelona and The Wallenberg Trophy in Bordeaux. The points Matt accumulated from these events took him to a personal high in the ITF Rankings of World No3 and No1 in Great Britain. He also helped Dorset gain promotion to Group 1 in the Over 45 Inter County Championships.
Matt Said " Representing GB is very special at any level, but to be Captain is a real honor. I love team events anyway whether its for club. county or country, but to do it in the sun at a beautiful venue is even better. The great thing about seniors tennis is that it's a game for life and with the age groups going up to Over 85, I'm looking forward to another 40 years of competing".
SENIORS WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Antalya, Turkey 18th - 23rd March