Congratulations to two Hertfordshire stars of now and the future.
Well done to both Sophia Underwood and Oliver Tarvet who both won Grade 2 National Tour events over the weekend of 19th and 20th October in Sunderland and Bolton respectively.
Oliver Tarvet who took a few early round matches on Saturday to find his rhythm and best form. With a place in the last four secured against Middlesex’s Felix Mischker, day two started brightly with Oliver able to take the ball early and get inside the baseline to dominate play on the forehand to win a hard fought semi-final in straight sets 4-2 5-3.
However, things didn’t go according to plan at the start of the final against in form Surrey boy Mukhtar Andu and despite some good opportunities particularly in the second and fourth games Oliver couldn’t close out his advantage and lost the opening four games and with it the first set. To his credit Oliver stayed calm and played intelligently at the start of the second set being more selective on the balls to really attack. With his confidence returning Oliver played some great winning back hands up the line and the drop shot as an effective surprise variation to power. This strategy began to earn him a lot of points and slowly the match started to turn in his favour. With the second set secured 4-2 Oliver maintained the pressure on his opponent in the championship tie break with some fine tennis to take the deciding set 10-3 and with it the first National Tour title of the season