The climax to the Leicestershire junior tennis championships saw two tightly fought under 18 singles finals played out in front of a large crowd at the Leicestershire Lawn Tennis and Squash Club in Stoneygate.
In the flagship under 18 event Joe Cook narrowly got the better of Rahil Dhokia 6-4, 7-6. Dhokia had some consolation though, lifting the under 16 crown earlier in the day. In the girls' under 18 singles, Christina Pozerskis look set to retain her tiltle but Elizabeth Allwood came from a set down to take the last two sets in emphatic style.
Tournament director Geoff Bone commented ' We were delighted to have the 'problem' of scheduling a championship record 542 matches over the week. Credit to the juniors who battled on undeterred through the rain on Monday and Tuesday . The standard of play was extremely high in all events with particular mention to the u10 girls, most of whom had represented Leicestershire in the national county finals in Bolton earlier in the summer. I would not be surprised to see all six representing the county at senior level in ten years from now. The under 14 boys winner, Alex Solonenko also took the eye with an assured display of controlled tennis beyond his years'.
This year also saw the inaugural staging of an u21 event, bridging the gap between junior and senior play, with Barnaby Thorold just edging out senior county week debutant, Matthew Richmond, 7-5, 6-3.
County president and former world no 13 player, Mark Cox, was once again on hand to present the various trophies and paid special tribute to the parents and coaches of Leicestershire's young players who provide the opportunities for the children to be able to compete at this level.
Results: Leicestershire Closed Junior Championships :-
u21 young men's singles: Barnaby Thorold beat Matthew Richmond 7-5, 6-3
u18 boys' singles : Joseph Cook bt Rahul Dhokia 6-4, 7-6
u18 girls' singles: Elizabeth Attwood bt Christina Pozerskis 6-7, 6-3, 6-1
u 16 boys' singles: Rahul Dhokia bt Daniel Tarokh 6-3, 7-5
u 16 girls' sngles: Martha Thomas bt Jessica Buchanan 6-2, 6-4
u14 boys' singles: Alex Solenenko bt Ben Moore 6-0, 6-2
u14 girls' singles: Anisha Sood bt Eleanor Shaw 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
u12 boys' singles: Aaron Jinks bt Victor Wiles 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 (in tie break set)
u12 girls' singles : Eleanor Shaw bt Abigail Wilkin 6-3, 6-1
u10 boys singles : Dylan Sanghera bt Jack Minski 4-5, 4-1, 10-6 (in tie break set)
u10 girls' singles : Talia Neilson-Gatensby bt Tabitha Holmes 4-0, 4-0