The cruel injury that looks likely to keep world number two Andy Murray out of the French Open once again highlights the lack of strength in depth at the top of the British game, and next week many of our present and future hopefuls will be out to prove themselves both in the British Tour event at Felixstowe and the Ipswich Sports Club Junior Open. Sadly the weather continues to be depressing for outdoor weather, and we can only hope for some much-needed warmth and sunshine for both events, Felixstowe bravely taking on the role of the first grasscourt tournament of the season.
The British Tour event runs from Sunday 26th to Friday 3lst May, with the main draw players in action from Wednesday 29th. The unusual Friday finish is so that the players can get to Nottingham, with the Ladies’ Qualifying starting on the Saturday. Some familiar names in the draw are Richard Bloomfield, Marcus Willis, Anna Fitzpatrick and Anna Smith, and local tennis enthusiasts have an excellent opportunity to pop down to Bath Road and run their eye over a number of our top hopefuls.
The Ipswich Sports Club once again plays host to a large number of our up and coming juniors, with Suffolk’s top talent needing to be at their best with players travelling from all over the East region as well as from Dorset, Wiltshire, Kent, Surrey, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Staffordshire, Sussex and South Wales. The high number of entries from last year has been maintained, and there are over 100 entries in the Mini Tennis events.
It’s all change since the days of straightforward scheduling saw a round a day played up to the finals, and a much more parent-friendly approach will see the following programme planned for Henley Road next week :-
SUNDAY 26th MAY: 9 and Under (Orange) Singles
MONDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY 27/28/29 MAY: 14U/18U Singles + Doubles
THURSDAY/FRIDAY/SATURDAY 30/31 MAY + 1 JUNE: 12U/16U Singles + Doubles
WEDNESDAY 29th MAY: 10 and Under (Green) Singles
SATURDAY lst JUNE: 8 and Under (Red) Singles
Jonathan Simmonds should go well in the 14Us, and I owe him and his colleagues a big apology with regard to the recent County Cup. Jonathan, along with William Cooke-Wharton, Gabriel Watson, Edward Pomeroy and squad members George Eaton and William Rudolf beat Bedfordhire in fact 6-0, with Jonathan having an amazing weekend and winning all his matches. He recorded a great victory over Tommy Smalley in the Essex match, with Cooke-Wharton also defeating Essex opposition in the guise of James Caddies.
Oscar Cutting and Nia Braidford are also Suffolk hopefuls in the 14s, as are Harriet Petley and Ross Spinner in the 12s. National Fostering Agency Champion Ben Jones will be hoping for further success in the 18s and 16s, with Toby Cutting and Ryan Lambert also likely to feature in the 16s and 18s respectively. Tournament Organisers will be desperate for dry weather, especially at this time of year, with the Suffolk Show deluge of 2012 still fresh in the memory ! The Suffolk LTA will be in attendance on both days, with the popular mini tennis rig in action and information given out to the public about clubs in particular by county administrator Sheelagh Watts and her team.
Finally, first news of our Seniors results as usual, with the 45s team of Gary Keens, Gary Minns, Hussein Ahmed and Andy Bedwell beating Berkshire 4-1. The 55s team of Peter Taylor, Steve Everest, Richard Gillingham and John Clarke just missed out 2-3 to Cambridgeshire, whilst our 65s quartet of Mike Ellis, Peter Aldous, Keith Palmer and Jim Booth did us proud with a 5-0 whitewash over neighbours Norfolk. Next week news of recent developments at Culford, together with an early-season league update from another West Suffolk club, Risbygate.