Milton Keynes’ Chris Pearce eased into the quarter finals of the AEGON British Junior National Championships with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Robert Mitchell. The 14-year-old has previously won the 12 and under title and is hoping that he can replicate that success at the 14 and under level.
The AEGON British Junior National Championships is the highest domestic accolade available to Britain’s most promising young players and past champions included the current men’s and women’s British number ones, Andy Murray and Anne Keothavong.
“I was pretty pleased with the result as I was moving really well and executing the shots the way I wanted to,” said the AEGON FutureStar who represents Buckinghamshire at county level.
“These courts are really good for movement so although my game is necessarily suited to clay I am able to get round my backhand and play a lot of inside-out shots. I have been playing a lot of tournaments abroad this season, where the standard is very high, but the nationals are pretty similar so I’m used to what to expect. I had a tough three setter in the first round [beat Adam Glynn 5-7 6-3 6-1] which I think helped as it gave me a bit more court time and helped me adjust.”
More than 400 of the best boys and girls in the country will compete across qualifying and main draws for the National Championships, which has been running for 101 years, at both the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton and West Hants tennis club.
As mentioned former winners include Murray and Keothavong, as well as former British Number One Tim Henman, and the aim is that the AEGON British Junior National Championships will produce more British winners.
“Every title that you win is memorable and I know that becoming the national champion in your age group is something very special for these players. I know it was for me,” said Keothavong.
“I've got great memories of winning the junior nationals and it was a big step for me because it gave me the confidence to pursue my career. I hope this year's winners come away believing the same thing."
The Grade 1 tournament, for boys and girls, is split between four different age groups; 12 & under, 14 & under, 16 & under, whom will all compete in Bournemouth while the 18 & under tournament will take place in Roehampton. A 9 & under and 10 & under Invitational Tournament will also run alongside the Championships at both West Hants and the NTC respectively.
Since 2006 there has been a 300% increase in the number of young people who play six or more tournaments a year, but this is a figure British Tennis is driving to increase even further in order to create more winners.
Last year’s 14 & under title was won by Wiltshire’s Samuel Hutt who beat Nottinghamshire’s Joshua Ward-Hibbert 6-1 1-6 7-6 (4) in the final, while Hutt also picked up the doubles title with Suffolk’s Myles Orton.
This is the first year that the prestigious competition has been supported by AEGON, a leading life assurance company. In September 2008, AEGON was announced as the first Lead Partner of British Tennis. AEGON backs the game at all levels, from grassroots programmes through to international events.