Veteran South Wales tennis player Chris Hill has reached another British final to retain his world top-10 ranking.
Hill, from Abertillery, and his playing partner, Tony King of Birmingham, beat Swedish pair Mats Euranis and Goran Sundh 6-2 6-0 in the semi-final of the British Open veterans over-55 doubles championship in Bournemouth.
Euranis has played above five-times Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg in Sweden’s veterans’ team.
This was Hill’s and King’s fifth consecutive British O55 final together, having won the national indoors and grass courts titles last year. Both players retained their top-10 world rankings.
In the final, they were defeated by world number one Paul French and Jeremy Trafford 6-3, 6-4, having led in both sets.
They will now set their sights on retaining their British grass courts title at Wimbledon in August.
Both players are also included in the Seniors club of GB team to play against the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, also in August.
They are also considering an attempt at the European title to be held early in 2014.
Chris Hill is the school coach to Christ College Brecon and is also the Crickhowell Tennis Club’s head coach. In the South Powys area he teaches over 200 children per week with development help from Powys Sports Development department.
“Chris is a real inspiration,” said Tennis Wales chief executive, Peter Drew. “Tennis is one of the few games that can be played competitively and recreationally at all ages.
“Clubs throughout Wales welcome players over 50 – not just those looking for competition, but especially those who want the social and health benefits of sport, even if they haven’t picked up a racket since school.
“With new ways to play, such as touch tennis and cardio-tennis, there has never been a better time for people over 50 to take up the game.”