Young Dorset stars Toby Samuel and Danielle Sebata both experienced their first taste of the Nike 12&under Winter National Tour Finals recently after they travelled to the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
Up against some top opposition, the duo had a rude awakening in their respective first round matches of the main draws. Samuel, who is Dorset number one 12&under boy’s player and is ranked fifth nationally, came up against a tough opponent in the form of third seed Alexander Groves, Essex, whilst Sebata, who was part of the Talbot Heath School year 8 team who became national Aegon school champions in 2013, was drawn against the third seed in the girls’ event.
Both results went as you would expect on paper, both the seeded players proving too much for Samuel and Sebata on the occasion. Samuel was beaten 6-0, 6-3 by eventual finalist Groves, whilst Sebata went down 6-2, 6-1 to Leicestershire’s Anna Michelle Chesca. Despite their losses, both players weren’t finished there as the consolation event began soon after.
Putting the loss behind him, Samuel put together a brilliant run in the consolation draw. He breezed through two matches and into the final dropping just four games in as many sets. His form continued in the final as he took full control of the match, he won 6-1, 6-3 to claim a deserved victory in the draw. Another tough draw saw Sebata up against it in the consolation. She was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Hertfordshire’s Indianna Spink, who is ranked fifth in the country for 12&under girls.
The junior tour includes some of the Britain’s top young tennis players and provides a stern test for any juniors trying to get their way in the sport. But with a number of notable achievements and great potential to their names, Samuel and Sebata are in with a chance of becoming regular performers on the tour.
Click Here for more information on the Nike Winter National Tour Finals – 12&under boys and girls
By Harry Lund