Gerrards Cross LTC Junior and Senior Open Tournament LTA Grade 3 August 8th to 13th 2016
The 37th Annual Tournament was a great success with all players enjoying their tennis and benefitting from extra matches on the 17 courts at Bull Lane. Players aged from 6 to 35 years old competed over six days in various singles and doubles events. The standard of play was astonishing in many of the events. We had glorious weather all week meaning the seven grass courts were in play all the time. This allowed many age groups to have extra events (a bonus two event for first match win and second match loss) and all matches were the best of three long sets.
Tennace at Gerrards Cross LTC players competed extremely well in the younger age groups. Ashni Sangha (10 from Stoke Poges) won the under 10 (Green) singles against Sophie-Marie Lowe from Essex (who beat top seed Isabelle Lacy in the semi-final) 5-3 4-2. Ashni then teamed up with Cassandra Emmanuel (Bucks) to beat Sophie and Isabelle 5-3 4-2.
The boys under 8 competition saw a repeat of the Club Championships final where Josh Fienberg (7, Gayhurst School) and Ben Carby (8, Thorpe House) played another exciting match but Josh’s bigger serves and consistent groundstrokes gave him a 10-7 win. Alex Thomas (GXCofE) was knocked out in the quarter finals of the Orange (under 9) tournament but had match point in the second set against Lorenzo Casseli the eventual runner up.
Ben Smith (Gt Missenden) played 14 matches over the six days. His under 16 final against Krishan Taneja was excellent with both players showing great resilience in a hard fought entertaining encounter. Ben just missed out 7-6 4-6 7-6. Partnering Miles Groom from Chesham Bois in the under 16 boys doubles final against Ethan Chow and Edwin Lau (Berks) the Bucks pair were 7-6 6-6 5-1 points down in the seven point tie-break but stormed back, winning the next six points to draw level at one set all then won six of the next eight games. Ben also lost the under 18 doubles with Brendan Emmanuel (Bucks) against Nathan Fernandes and Alex Zuckerman (Gosling Tennis Centre and Finchley Manor) 7-6 4-6 6-2.
Oscar Glenister (Halton) also had a great week losing the U18 final to ‘double’ champion Matthew Carroll (Herts) 6-1 6-4 but having beaten the huge serving Joseph Southcombe 4-6 6-2 7-5 he badly damaged his knee so had to retire from the Mens final against Carroll and doubles semi-final. Doubles specialists and USA University tennis scholars Seb Rey and Brad Marriott (both from Oxford) dominated a strong mens doubles event beating top seeds Alex Juniper (1.2 rating) and Joseph Southcombe (6ft 6 inches tall) 6-3 7-6 and number two seeds Jake Williams (Halton) and Ed Harwood (Herts) 6-3 6-1 in the final.
Top seed Sophie Ivansky (Iver Heath) in the under 16 final fought hard against Jacquelyn Ogunwale (Herts) before losing 6-2 6-3.
The Mens singles had over 30 competitors and the Ladies singles had 16 players with number 4 seed Jenny Gogova (Hazelwood) beat number 8 seed Maria Pandya (Roundhill) 7-5 6-3 in an entertaining final played on court 1.
The Tournament was organised and Refereed by Andy Scholfield with assistant referees Peter Bresnen, Charlotte Thistle and Nick Higginson. Prizes were awarded in all events including gift vouchers bought from Amazon.
The Tennace Autumn Term Courses for all ages and standards start early September; for more information and sign up see www.tennace.com
The next junior competition is the one day Tennace tournaments on 27th and 28th August.
The next adult event is the ITF International Veterans Competition 7th to 11th September, for all young adults aged 40 to 80 years old (singles and doubles) call 07875604872 for more information.