Warwickshire women’s tennis side made a bright start to their Aegon County Cup campaign in the elite Group 1 at Eastbourne, beating newly-promoted Middlesex 6-3. After the last minute withdrawals of former junior internationals Alannah Griffin and Emily Smith through injury, captain Katie Shaw split the experienced Coventry pairing of Soumeya Anane and Natasha Hillyer, partnering Anane with Katie Malazonia, 18 at first pair while Hillyer played with the highly-rated left-hander Summer Yardley, 17, from Solihull. Yardley made her County Week debut in style as the pair underlined their class, winning three out of three without dropping a set. Hillyer’s consistency and canny tactics complemented Yardley’s explosive hitting and they go into today’s match against Surrey brimming with confidence. Anane and Malazonia won two of their rubbers, squeaking through against the Middlesex first pair on two hard-fought tiebreaks, while the Warwickshire thirds Luisa Cowper (Sutton Coldfield) and Leyla Ogan, the Edgbaston Priory Racquets Manager used clever strategy and variation of pace to defeat their opposite numbers in their crucial opening rubber. Holly Reid from Moseley substituted for Cowper in the third rubber and gained valuable experience despite a narrow loss to the Middlesex Firsts.
“I’m really proud of how all the girls kept battling today” said captain Katie Shaw. “I had to split our experienced pairing of Soumeya and Natasha to help our youngsters who have far less experience in doubles and on grass.and they did even better than I could have hoped. Leyla and Luisa won a vital rubber at third pair too, so I’m hoping we can keep up the momentum in our next match, against the reigning champions Surrey who are stronger than ever.”
Warwickshire Men, desperate to win promotion from Group 5 at Felixstowe, did not hit a ball in anger as the whole day’s play was rained off. However they are hopeful that their strong side including three teenage debutants can reverse the county’s run of relegations. Captain Nathan Rooney from Solihull will partner the talented junior international Luke Hammond, 19, at first pair when they take on West of Scotland today (Tuesday.) The highly experienced Steve Lee (Leamington Spa) and Simon Ferguson from Coventry are playing at second pair, with Richard Partridge and 19-year-old Oliver Nolan from Sutton Coldfield selected at three.
Results: Aegon Inter-County Cup, Women’s Group 1 at Eastbourne
Warwickshire beat Middlesex 6-3 (Warwickshire names first.)
Warwickshire 1st pair Soumeya Anane/ Katie Malazonia bt Middlesex 1st pair Constandena Nicolaou/ Louise Ronaldson 6-4 7-6
lost to Middx 2nd pair Holly Hutchinson/Ella Taylor 4-6 3-6
beat Middx 3rd pair Danielle Daley/ Destinee Martins 7-6 7-6
Warwickshire 2nd pair Natasha Hillyer / Summer Yardley beat Middx 1sts 6-2 6-2
beat Middx 2nds 6-4 6-4
beat Middx 3rds 6-3 6-1
Warks 3nd pair Leyla Ogan/ Holly Reid lost to Middx 1sts 5-7 5-7
Leyla Ogan/ Luisa Cowper lost to Middx 2nds 6-7 2-6
Leyla Ogan/ Luisa Cowper beat Middx 3rds 6-2 4-6 6-4