After having six weeks of training the day had finally come for the 9U Aegon County Cup. The team consisted of four boys and four girls.
The players were Maksim Balas (Gravesham), Tommy Harrison (Parklangley), Caitlin Mcloughlin (West Heath), Alaia Rubio Perez (Bromley Tennis Centre), Nina Sherwen (West Heath), Katie Swindell (Parklangley), Joshua Ward (Parklangley) & Vaughan Watson (Parklangley).
The format of the day was three boys singles, three girls singles, boys doubles, girls doubles and to finish with mixed doubles. In total nine rubbers in each match. Kent were to play Sussex, Surrey and Essex.
Kent’s first match was against Sussex. The Kent boys were up first, Vaughan lost in 3 sets in a well fought match, Josh also lost in straight sets. Tommy was in a dog fight of a match in which he found himself a set down. He was in a very tight 2nd set which he came through to win. The momentum was with Tommy and he comfortably won the final set. After the boys singles Kent were 2-1 down.
The Kent girls were up next & Katie lost in straight sets with a very tight first set, which changed the match for Katie. Caitlin and Alaia both performed well and brought Kent back to 3-3 with straight set victories. Well played Girls!!
Josh and Maksim were then up for Kent. All the training paid off with Josh and Maksim showing great teamwork to win in straight sets to put Kent into a 4-3 lead. Nina and Katie were in a great position to seal the match for Kent. The girls didn’t disappoint, with their great volleying they beat the Sussex girls in straight sets to win the match for Kent. Tommy and Alaia played the mixed match and lost in straight sets. Kent won the match 5-4, next up Surrey!
Kent took a 2-1 lead after Josh and Tommy won in 3 sets, Vaughan lost in a narrow defeat in 3 sets. The Surrey girls won all 3 rubbers in straight sets to take a 4-2 lead. All the doubles went to the wire, Kent lost in 3 sets in all the double rubbers. The Kent team showed great fight to take Surrey to their limits.
Kent’s final match was against Essex. Josh put Kent into an early lead with the game of the day. Tommy and Vaughan both lost in epic matches. This meant that Kent were 2-1 down. Nina and Katie both lost in straights to give Essex a 4-1 lead. Alaia fought hard to win in three sets to keep Kent in the match.
Josh and Maksim needed to win to keep Kent in the match. Unfortunately the Essex team won comfortably in straight sets. Essex take the match 5-2. Then Kent had to play two more rubbers, the players could have rolled over and just accept the match was over. Both pairs Katie & Alaia and Tommy & Caitlin would never have let that happen! They won both of their doubles in three sets and showed unbelievable character to bring the final score to 5-4 to Essex.
Kent came third overall and were extremely tough to beat in every rubber and match. I would like to thank all the players and parents for their commitment to the training for representing Kent. The players did everyone proud with all their efforts and couldn’t ask for more from them. Well done team!
Matthew Healy