In the same week as Andy Murray was ruling the roost at Wimbledon in the Olympic Tennis, Dorset’s Adam Glynn was scoring two victories of his own in both the U18’s and U16’s categories of the 91st Bournemouth Open.
The sixteen year-old, who is ranked as the national number one for U16s and the national number three for U18s, raced through both draws without any trouble whatsoever. He conceded just 15 games in his six matches over the course of the U16’s draw and only 13 games in his six matches in the U18’s draw.
Amazingly, the final of the U16s tournament proved to be as routine a task as every round preceding it for Glynn. He dominated from the first game and didn’t ease off until match point had been won. Glynn was up against a fellow Dorset player in the form of sixth seed Josef Dodridge, who had also experienced a relatively straight forward route through to the final, but that was about to change as Glynn was out of the blocks almost as fast as Usain Bolt, as he raced away to take the first set 6-0. Dodridge managed to get himself on the scoreboard with a game and avoid the double bagel, but it would prove to be small consolation as Glynn continued to dominate. The second set ended 6-1 as Glynn completed an impressive tournament victory.
The U18’s tournament was a similar story for Glynn and for Dorset as well. He had dropped just seven games in the entire tournament before the final and was on track for a memorable double victory. Only Dorset’s Adam Watson, 18, stood in his way. Watson had played a great tournament so far and had even beaten the number one seed Alexander Gasson in the semi-final. He won the first set 6-4 against Gasson before having his place in the final booked thanks to his opponent retiring for the match. Gasson had been pushed to the limit in the quarter finals by Dorset Tim Prossor and was sure to be tired after a mammoth three setter. The final was a close affair with Glynn winning the first set 6-3 before the second set went the same way, also 6-3.
Dorset’s girls also gave the county something to shout about as they showed some of the form that took them to glory in the recent AEGON Team Tennis finals. West Hants player Ema Lazic went all the way to the final of the U14’s, but came up against national number two in the age group, Emily Arbuthnott, and was beaten 6-2 6-1. Dorset’s Hannah Gamage, also a West Hants player, fought to the semi-finals of the U16’s tournament but was also beaten by eventual champion Arbuthnott 6-1 6-0.
The men’s draw held high hopes for Dorset and with a number of player’s being seeded highly in the tournament, there was a good chance of a home-county champion. Tenth seed David Hill made it through to the final after a very tight semi final match against top seed Tom Gutteridge, also of Dorset. The pair slugged out a three setter which Hill eventually won after having been a set down. The length and intensity of the match arguably affected Hill in the final in which he faced Nicholas Sayer, the thirteenth seed. Sayer had already beaten second seed Alexander Gasson and Dorset Tim Prossor en-route to the final and was in great form coming into the last tie of the draw. In the match Hill was under pressure almost immediately as Sayer opened up a lead and took the first set 6-2. Any chance of a comeback from Hill faded in the second set as Sayer secured an early break. The second set went 6-1 in Sayer’s favour and in turn, the match and tournament did as well.
Dorset can be proud of it’s players across the whole of the 91st Bournemouth Open and for those who fell short of their tournament goals and aspirations, there will be several chances to return and try again over the coming weeks. The August schedule is packed full of tournaments including: the Dorset County Closed, the Southbourne Junior Open and the Shaftsbury Open.