Dreadful weather may have disrupted matches and prevented play on the grass courts but it did not stop this popular Grade 3 Open Junior Tennis Tournament from reaching its conclusion or being a cheerful event.
The Men’s U21Singles was an outstanding match. Richard Abbott (Uxbridge) eventually beat Matt Frost (Ware) but only after taking a final set tie-break. Both players kept up attacking play throughout this 3 set match with Abbott making excellent use of the drop shot. The Boy’s U18 Singles, Myles Orton (Stowmarket) v Dean Kelleher (Aylesbury) was a much closer affair than the winning score of 6 – 2, 6 – 3 by Myles suggests. Whilst Dean hit some great angled shots Myles continued to hit a good length throughout and took the opportunity to go to the net.
Another fine and entertaining match was the Boy’s U16 Singles with Owen Richards (Halton) beating Brad Marriott 6 – 4 in the third set. It was any ones match with both players producing some superb retrieving, hitting an excellent length as well as varying the pace with topspin and sliced shots. Owen won by keeping up the attacking play right to the end. The U12 Boy’s Singles was a sea saw affair with Jack Macfarlane (Ruislip) beating Troy Dixon (Banbury). Troy was on top and won the first set 6-2 with some big hitting but Jack came back with some sharp angled shots and a consistent length to gain the ascendency and win the third set 6-0.
Local player Barnaby Smith (Gt Missenden LTC) had an excellent tournament winning the U10 Boy’s Singles and the U12 Mixed Doubles. Barnaby first played in the U10 tournament four years ago when he was 6 years old and this playing experience put him in a different class to his hard working opponent Sebastian Harris (Maidenhead).
Barnaby nearly won the Boy’s U12 doubles final with Jack Clark (Leighton Buzzard) against Scott Duguid and Toby Rogers, both Berkhamsted. This close encounter saw all four boys using the full width of the court with fine angles and good use of the lob and it was Barnaby’s excellent anticipation when volleying which looked most impressive. However, Toby and Scott’s determination managed to bring them a win of 10-8 in the championship tie-break 3rd set.
The girl’s tournaments saw Cassandra Dix (Dallington) win both the U21 and U18 titles against Samantha Williams (Stevenage) and Claudia Marsala (Aylesbury) respectively. Claudia had played outstandingly earlier in the week beating three far higher rated player’s than herself but she looked very unsettled in the U18 final. However, she acquired some degree of composure in the U16 final which was a close tussle where she eventually overcame Liberty Crawford (Halton LTC) 6-2 in the final set.
In the U12 Girl’s Singles final Sophie Drakeford – Lewis( Reading) let a 5 – 2 first set lead slip as determined Emily Arbuthnot (Harpenden) fought back to 5-5 but Sophie managed to take the set 7-5 and became more attacking in the second set to take it 6-2 and the title.
The U10 Girls final saw a much more experienced Sophie Russell (Halton) beat Katie McCarthy (Chesham Bois LTC). Sophie’s powerful forehand was much too strong for Katie who was playing in her first final.
Other successful local players were Tom Miller (Gt Missenden LTC) and Jamie McKinnon (Chesham Bois LTC) who beat the No.1 seeds to reach the Men’s U21Doubles Final and in the final showing sound doubles knowledge and good shot selection when beating No 2 seeds Owen Richards and Brad Marriott 6-4, 7-5.
Brad Marriott did have some consolation at the end of the day when with Georgina Todd (Oxford) they beat last year’s U21 Mixed Doubles winners Stuart Pugh (Halton) and Lottie Haywood-Cook (Gt Missenden LTC) in the last match on court and the pouring rain in a last set championship tie-break 10-6.
The players showed much patience either waiting for the rain to stop or by continuing to play in the rain and were most fortunate to have the additional use of courts at Chesham 1879. The tournament was sponsored by TTK sports equipment and was refereed by Peter Herke.