Last updated: 27/02/2011

Hunt heads British success at North West Challenge

British women's No 3 Louise Hunt claimed a brace of titles at the North West Challenge at South Ribble Tennis Centre, Preston on Sunday, while Alex Jewitt and Kevin Plowman gained another home victory in the men's doubles at Britain's first world ranking event on the 2011 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour.  

After finishing runner-up in the women's singles at the ITF Futures Series tournament for the last two years, top seed Hunt was always in control of this year's final, dropping just the fourth game of the second set as she defeated German third seed Claudia Fornefeld 6-0, 6-1.  

Hunt also left Preston with the women's doubles title after she and fellow Britain Laura Coteman were awarded a walkover in the final when scheduled opponents Emilie Chene of France and Fornefeld had to withdraw.  

Hunt was now won three titles in eight days after winning the women's doubles at the last week's Jura Indoors in Switzerland.  



Second seed Kevin Simpson had to be content with runners-up honours in the men's main draw singles final.  The Scot took a 2-0 lead in the second set against Swedish top seed Dan Wallin, but Wallin came back to wrap up a 6-2, 6-2 victory.   

However, there was British success in the men men's draw doubles final, in which Wallin was resigned to runners-up honours himself.  Reigning men's singles National champion Jewitt and the experienced Plowman won an enthralling contest against Wallin and Britain's Tony Knappett, sealing the title 6-3, 7-5.  

Thirteen-year-old Alfie Hewett, who last year became the youngest Briton to gain a senior men's singles world ranking when he was still 12, won the junior singles title, beating Dutch player Carlos Anker 4-2, 4-0.

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