Two players from Wales were among the winners at the Marbella ITF (International Tennis Federation) seniors Grade 2 event.
Jonathan Howell from Newport partnered Damien Pound of Australia to take the O35s doubles title, while Chris Hill (Abertillery) teamed up with fellow Brit, Rajiv Batra, to win the O55s title.
The previous week, Hill had reached the final of the ITF Grade 4 event at the Royal Club El Casco with Emlyn Jones of Penarth.
This was Hill’s fourth major ITF title of 2016, finishing the year in the British no 1 position on ITF points and a world ranking position of 23.
“Jonathan and Chris – and their playing partners – deserve every credit for gaining the titles in Marbella,” said Peter Drew, chief executive of Tennis Wales.
“It caps off a great season for Chris – in the summer he became the only Welshman ever to win five British tennis titles.
“Tennis is one of the few sports that can be played competitively at all ages. New fun and accessible ways to play mean it’s never too late to take up the game, and successes in these senior competitions are a real inspiration.”
Meanwhile, Local Tennis Leagues are being formed around Wales to enable players of all standards, aged 18 and over, to play competitive matches on local courts.
Local Tennis Leagues offer the chance to meet other players and play in competition, without the need to join a club, as matches are arranged to suit the players.
Information is available at www.localtennisleagues.com or from Tennis Wales.
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Roedd dau chwaraewr o Gymru ymhlith yr enillwyr yn nhwrnamaint Gradd 2 adran hŷn yr ITF (International Tennis Federation) ym Marbella.
Cipiodd Jonathan Howell o Gasnewydd a’i bartner Damien Pound o Awstralia deitl adran y dyblau Dros 35, a llwyddodd Chris Hill (Abertyleri) a’i bartner Prydeinig, Rajiv Batra, i gipio’r teitl Dros 55.
Yr wythnos flaenorol, cyrhaeddodd Hil rownd derfynol twrnamaint Gradd 4 yr ITF yn y Royal Club El Casco, gydag Emlyn Jones o Benarth.
Dyma’r pedwerydd teitl ITF mawr i Hill yn 2016, a orffennodd y flwyddyn ar y brig ym Mhrydain o ran pwyntiau ITF, ac yn safle 23 yn rhengoedd y byd.
“Mae Jonathan a Chris – a’u partneriaid tennis – yn haeddu pob clod am gipio’r teitlau hyn ym Marbella,” meddai Peter Drew, prif weithredwr Tennis Cymru.
“Mae’n goron ar dymor gwych i Chris - yn yr haf daeth yn unig Gymro erioed i ennill pum teitl tennis Prydeinig.
“Mae tennis yn un o’r ychydig gemau y gellir eu chwarae’n gystadleuol ar unrhyw oedran. Mae ffyrdd newydd difyr a hygyrch o chwarae’n golygu nad yw hi byth yn rhy hwyr i ddechrau chwarae’r gêm, ac mae llwyddiant yn y cystadlaethau hŷn yma’n ysbrydoliaeth go iawn.”
Yn y cyfamser, mae Cynghreiriau Tennis Lleol yn cael eu sefydlu ymhob cwr o Gymru i ganiatáu i chwaraewyr o bob safon, 18 oed a throsodd, i chwarae gornestau cystadleuol ar gyrtiau lleol.
Mae Cynghreiriau Tennis Lleol yn darparu cyfle i gwrdd â chwaraewyr eraill a chwarae mewn cystadlaethau heb orfod ymuno â chlwb, am fod y gornestau’n cael eu trefnu i siwtio’r chwaraewyr. Mae gwybodaeth ar gael ar www.localtennisleagues.com neu oddi wrth Tennis Cymru.