Kira Reuter, from Hemingford Grey produced a superb performance to pick up the Silver Medal as runner up in the Scottish Junior Open Tennis Championships held at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre in Edinburgh last week. The tournament, which attracts entrants from across the UK for age groups 18 and Under, 16U, 14U, 12U, 10U, is classified as an outdoor clay court event, however due to the rain the event was moved to the indoor courts after the first rounds.
It was Kira’s (11) first appearance in Edinburgh and her run through to the final was by no means straight forward. After a prolonged rain delay Kira’s first round match finally got underway on Tuesday afternoon against the number 2 seed Alice Thane from Yorkshire. Kira adapted quickly to the cold and blustery conditions and following an early break of serve for both players took control of the set 6-3. The second set followed a similar pattern with Kira’s strong backhand and consistency proving the difference, Kira running out the winner 6-3 6-3.
Kira’s second round match was against another higher ranked player, Hannah Davies from Avon, but Kira again over turned the rankings winning comfortably 6-1 6-0.
The backlog of matches caused by the weather meant that the players had quarter finals and semi finals on Thursday. In the quarters Kira took on the left handed number 6 seed Hannah McColgan from Cheshire. In a highly competitive and tense tie both players had set point before Kira eventually held on to take match 7-6 6-4.
In the semi finals Kira was up against the number 3 seed from Surrey, Emily Appleton. Having had only a short break between matches both players were keen to take control of the rallies, and it was Kira’s strength and accuracy especially on her backhand side that proved the difference as she ran out a comfortable winner 6-3 6-0.
In Friday’s final Kira took on the number 4 seed Nell Miller from Kent. In another highly competitive match the defensive qualities of Miller were the difference and after a stronger showing from Kira in the second set it was Miller who took the title 6-1 6-3.
Speaking after the event Kira was disappointed not to have won, but delighted to have made it to the final.