Dorset can boast an abundance of young Tennis stars and Josef Dodridge has become to the latest of those to be in the spotlight after a tremendous performance at the Oman International Junior Grade 5 tournament, which is sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
After having to come through the qualifying stage, Dodridge was drawn in the same side of the tournament as the number one seed, Turkey’s Mert Adanali. But the Dorset player’s first opponent was Peter Bothwell from Ireland. Dodridge took a close first set 6-4 before dominating in the second set and completing the victory, winning it 6-4, 6-0.
His second round opponent was Turkmenistan’s Georgiy Pochay, who is almost a full year- older than Dodridge (16). The Dorset star got off to a good start and won the first set 6-2. He then mimicked the feat by taking the second set by the same score line, winning the match 6-2, 6-,2 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Dodridge was forced to battle for a place in the semi-finals by his opponent Ata Hergunvarim, from Turkey. A close first set went to the Dorset player 6-4 and an even tighter second set followed. Dodridge emerged the victor after edging it 7-5 in a tie-break, taking the match 6-4, 7-6(5).
The top seed Adanali was waiting for Dodridge in the semi-finals. The Dorset youngster showed his class by upping his game at the right times and getting past the number one seed in a tough 6-4, 6-3 victory.
The final awaited and the opponent was fellow-qualifier Tallon Greikspoor from the Netherland. Another stern test for Dodridge followed and for the first time in the tournament, including qualifying, he dropped a set. Meaning he would have to come behind to win.
Unfazed by the occasion and the early set-back, the Dorset player showed his class by taking the second set 7-5 and securing a break in the deciding third set. He then finished off the match by winning the decider 6-3 to complete a 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Click Here for more information on the ITF Oman International Junior Grade 5 tournament
By Harry Lund