Charley Gregory, a pupil at Solihull Junior School, has won the AEGON U10 National Tennis Championships.
Charley, from Balsall Common, was winner of the Under 10 National Summer Tour Grade 1 at the West Hants Club in Bournemouth, without losing a set. The end of season tournament featured the top 16 boys in Britain, who each qualified as a result of their performance in the five tour events throughout the season.
This completed an excellent season for Charley that has seen him claim three national titles and finish as number one in the Under 10 national rankings.
Charley’s path to victory in the Grade 1 event was a tough one. He had to fight through a grueling first round to defeat the local favourite, but played excellently in the quarter and semi-finals winning both in straight sets. The final was delayed due to the rain, but the eventually went ahead indoors and ended with Charley battling superbly well to win, again in straight sets 4-1 5-3.
Charley trains at the University of Warwick Tennis Centre and is coached by Head of Performance at Warwick, Matt Thomas who also lives in Solihull. Matt was delighted with Charley’s progress over the last year, ‘Charley has had a superb year. Not only has he learnt a wider variety of skills and tactics, but he has become an exceptional competitor”
Charley was delighted to end his U10 season with the national title. “I enjoyed my matches and especially playing the final in front of my friends who I have met playing tennis”
Charley now moves into Under 12 tennis in September. Matt agrees this is a big step “Charley now has to work even harder on his physical and technical game in preparation for the under 12 season”.