Some of Somerset’s top players were in action at the County Closed event, sponsored by RBC Capital Markets, at Taunton Tennis Club with James Mitchell the pick of the bunch after he won two singles titles.
Mitchell, who lives near Burnham on Sea, was victorious in the 16-and-under and 18-and-under boys’ events after coming through tough draws. In the 16’s, he was the top seed and duly delivered as he dominated the field to win the title having dropped just six games in the process. He beat Philip Bettles 6-0, 6-2 in the quarter-finals, third seed Henry Field 6-2, 6-1 in the semi-finals before completing a 6-0, 6-1 win over fourth seed Hamish O’Mahony in the final.
In the 18’s, Mitchell, seeded second, came through the quarters and semis having conceded only six games after he beat Max Prestwich 6-0, 6-2 and Jordan Clayton 6-2, 6-2 respectively. He then upset the seedings in the final by beating top seed Cameron Lambden 6-1, 4-6, 1-0(7) to claim the title.
The girls’ 18-and-under also saw an upset to the seedings after County Cup team member Vanessa Brill from Cheddar, beat top seed Erika Cotton 6-3, 6-0 in the semi-finals before securing the title with a 6-1, 7-6(5) win over Amelia Davies in the final.
Louis Skupien, from Wellington, was the winner of the boys’ 12-and-under event after he successfully navigated the draw by beating second seed Matthew Crofts 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals and Oliver Monteiro 6-3, 6-0 in the final. Skupien, who trains in Exeter, visited Wimbledon earlier in the year as part of the South West Performance squad.
Skupien was in action again in the boys’ 14-and-under event, but was beaten by eventual finalist Tristan Coore in the quarter-finals. Coore, the second seed, was beaten in the final by the top seed Edward Shattock 7-5, 6-1. Shattock, who live in Taunton, went into the final having only dropped 3 games in two matches after he beat Reece Munston 6-2, 6-1 and third seed Matthew Crofts 6-0, 6-0 respectively.
The winner of the mixed 10-and-under draw was top seed Billy Hayball, who is a pupil at All Hallows School. He beat James Kelly 4-2, 4-0 in the last four to reach the final where he faced Richard Hillgrove who had beaten second seed Megan Rundle in the semis. In the title match, Hayball secured a 4-2, 4-2 win over Hillgrove.
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