Both Suffolk 12U teams performed well in the Aegon County Cup Qualifying Competition last weekend.Competing against Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridge and Norfolk, the Boys’ quartet of Zvonko Bencedic, Travis Ireland, Haadi Shah and Harper Mills finished as runners-up to Hertfordshire, going down 2-6. Bedfordhire were beaten 8-0, with Cambridgeshire and Norfolk also defeated when rain forced the 2nd day format to be reduced.
Travis Ireland dropped just 3 points in the tie-break sets, and special mention should go to Haadi Shah, who won all his matches over a great weekend. The Girls’ team of Harriet Petley, Sofia Khalyaeva,Macey Hendin and Morgan Frost beat Cambridgeshire to finish a creditable 3rd overall, Harriet Petley playing at number one and notching up a good victory.
Suffolk’s young players continue to do the county proud, the 10U Girls’ team putting up a superb performance in the recent Aegon National Finals at Bolton. One of the team members maintained her fine form at the weekend, Maddie McLoughlin winning a national Grade 2 title in Southampton. Maddie had to call on all her fighting qualities before capturing the title, winning the 3rd set tie-break 13-11 in the decider !!
It is very exciting to have so many talented youngsters coming through, and no doubt they will be appearing in the “East of England” in years to come. This popular post-Wimbledon tournament takes place at Bath Road next week, though it takes on a different format as a British Tour event, tier 1 for the Ladies and tier 2 for the Men. There will also be a Grade 4 Seniors’ event from the Thursday to the Sunday, so there will be plenty of great tennis to watch.
These events provide a great opportunity after Wimbledon to watch a number of our up-and-coming players, and it is good to see that there will be local interest in the draw. Suffolk Men’s Champion Matt Hough will be challenging himself against the country’s best, as will James Ling and Paul Midgley. Jared Bones, Matt Kirby and William Cooke-Wharton are also featured, though they will have to do it the hard way as they start in the Qualifying Competition.
Surrey’s Adam Skalsky tops the Men’s list, closely followed by Lincolnshire’s Andrew Ponder and Ben Wood, from Hertfordshire. Wood’s county colleague Jake Munns is another player to watch, with George Davies from Middlesex and Devon’s Jack Findel-Hawkins also expected to do well. Sadly there will be no Suffolk interest in the Ladies’ Singles, which is headed by the Surrey duo of Charlotte Pearce and Lauren Harrington.
Spectators will be very welcome at the club as usual throughout the week, with play starting daily at 10am. Refreshments will be on sale, and the Bar will be open for all to enjoy. Next week will be dedicated to the various school comprtitions, which are now coming to a conclusion at all levels. One can never overstate the importance of schools’ tennis to the participation and progress of our future players, and Suffolk continue to enjoy a very vibrant programme.