Dorset’s County Closed tournament sponsored by LV Insurance company got under way on Sunday and the action has been coming thick and fast ever since.
The boys under 16’s tournament has reached its semi-final stage after the 16 player-field was whittled down to just four after the first round and quarter final matches were played at the start of the week. In the semi-finals see Kieron Morrissey, the top seed, and fourth seed Scott Jordan for a place in the final against either the third seed Benjamin Battey or Gianpiero Placidi, the second seed.
The players competing in the final of the under 12’s girls’ draw have been decided after top seed Mille Smythe won her semi final against Erin Richardson 6-2 6-3 and Natalie Carter, the second seed, defeated Mirsha Hobbs 6-2 6-2.
The under 12’s boys’ draw is now at the semi finals and three of the top four seeds are in the last four. Top seed Niko Gleed takes on Ben Samuel, the third seed, in the first semi final and Dominic Webb, who beat fourth seed Matthew Young in the first round, is up against the second seed Louis Allen.
The tournament referee Chris Whiting and all those involved with the Dorset County Closed sponsored by LV Insurance will be hoping that the forecast for Wednesday is not as predicted with there being a big possibility of torrential rain hitting Britain’s south coast for most of the day. If the rain does indeed fall, all will not be lost as the indoor courts at the West Hants will allow the tournament to get some matches played.
Click Here to see the Dorset County Closed page on the Tournament Software website. A selection of the results can be seen below.
Selected results from the first half of week:-
16&U boys: Q/F: Kieron Morrissey bt Mitchell Bentley 6-3, 6-0 ; Scott Jordon bt Connor Townsend 6-1, 6-0 ; Ben Battey bt Sam Walrond 7-5, 6-4 ; Gianpiero Placidi bt Ben Skidmoree 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 ; S/F : K. Morrissey bt S. Jordon 6-4, 7-5; G Placidi bt B. Bettey 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) ; Final: K Morrissey bt G. Placidi 6-0, 6-3
16&U Girls: S/F: Elle Bake bt Lily Tighe 6-2, 6-2 ; Florence Bridgman bt Annabel Redding 6-1, 6-2 ; Final: E. Baker bt F. Bridgman 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
12&U boys: Q/F: Niko Gleed bt James Gamage 6-0, 6-2 ; Ben Samuel bt Thomas Powell 6-4, 6-0 ; Dominic Webb bt Harry Pickard 7-5, 6-2 ; Louis Allen bt James Elwood 6-0, 6-1 ; S/F: N. Gleed bt B. Samuel 6-1, 6-3 ; L. Allen bt D. Webb 6-0, 6-0 ; Final; L. Allen bt N. Gleed 7-5, 6-3
12&U Girls: S/F: Millie Smythe bt Erin Richardson 6-2, 6-3 ; Natalie Carter bt Mirsha Hobbs 6-2, 6-2 ; Final: M. Smythe bt N. Carter 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2.
S/F boys 16 & U: Morrissey v Jordon lasted over 2 and a half hours and described as the match of the tournament in terms of the quality of play and attracted a good audience. The longest match of the tournament goes to Placidi v Battey in the other s/f which lasted 4 hours 7 minutes.
Some really good quality tennis was on display in all age groups and all players should be commended on their play and in the manner in which they approached the game.