_0_175x-.jpg)
The title was the third of Horn’s junior ITF career, but her first at the grade 3 tier, after two grade 5 successes in 2010. With the victory, she achieved a new world ranking of 216; putting her third in the list of British girls.
After a runners-up medal in both singles and doubles the week previously, the 16 year old from West Harling defeated the top two seeds en route to victory on the hard courts of Sarawak, but was forced to recover from a set and 5-0 down against Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia in the semi-final.
A gutsy fight back saw the former Wymondham College student triumph in three long sets, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.
Horn went on to beat Switzerland’s Karin Kennel 6-4, 6-2 in a competitive, but ultimately comfortable final.
“The semi-final was my toughest match in the tournament. It’s a long way back from a set and 5-0 but you have to keep fighting and I pulled it round. I’m pleased with my new ranking but it’s really just a good start that I can build on as it will get me into higher grade tournaments.”
In the third and final tournament of the trip, Horn reached the second round of a grade 2 event in Thailand after defeating Siriporn Phakamad 6-2, 6-1, before falling to Indonesia’s Tami Grende in three sets.
Horn’s three week trip to Asia was not without drama however as the young Norfolk star misplaced her passport in Thailand and was forced to spend 50 hours at Bangkok airport, sleeping on the floor, while a temporary passport could be arranged by the British Embassy. The situation was made all the more alarming by the fact that severe flood warnings had been put in place and British nationals had been recommended to leave the country immediately.
“The tournament in Thailand was stopped at the semi-final stage because of the flood warnings. It’s the worst flooding there for 50 years and it was not a great time to lose my passport. The embassy was closed when we arrived but somehow we got a temporary passport sorted so I could get home with our coach Jane. These things happen on tour but it was not a nice experience.”
Earlier this year, Horn made her junior grand slam debut after being awarded a wildcard into the Junior Wimbledon Championships; losing to American Stephanie Nauta in a tight match.
In 2010, the Norfolk number 1 became the youngest ever winner of the British Junior National Championships which helped earn a place on Team AEGON, the funding and support scheme for the elite of British tennis.
Horn expects to join up with the Norfolk Ladies team in Swansea next month for Winter County Cup before heading off to Mexico for a grade A event and Costa Rica for the prestigious Coffee Bowl over Christmas.
Horn has received funding from the Norfolk Sports and Cultural Foundation, which supports young talented athletes and artists on the road to London 2012.
Bloomfield in Form
Richard Bloomfield maintained his pleasing form of late with a semi-final appearance at the $15k Futures event in Cardiff, defeating British number 4 Dan Evans along the way.
Bloomfield was eventually toppled by Marcin Gawron of Poland in a pair of tie-breaks but the second round win over Evans came after the Norfolk man trailed by a set and 4-1.
His eventual 5-7, 7-6 6-2 victory was the first of two fight backs in a row as he went on to beat Andrea Arnaboldi of Italy, the world number 248, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.
The result means Bloomfield has crept back inside the world’s top 500 and now sits at 495 in the world rankings. The British number 14 claimed his first title since November 2008 six weeks ago when he came out on top at the $10k Futures event in Nottingham.
The 28 year old from Alpington has been plagued by a back injury for two years but seems to have found a fitness regime that has aided his recovery.