Warwickshire Tennis Association is celebrating a highly-successful new-look County Closed Championship, which was staged at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club for the first time. There were stand-out performances from 14-year-old Mary Hoggard from Harborne and Solihull’s Luca Pow, 13, last year’s National 12 and Under champion, who each scooped both the 14 and Under and 16 and Under crowns – then combined superbly to win the new Mixed Doubles event in style. Hoggard even made it a clean sweep by taking the women’s singles title into the bargain, beating the gritty Kara Biggs from Warwick Boat Club after Biggs had upset the favourite Mia Faulkner in the semis.
Big-serving Richard Partridge from Coventry, the top seed, survived an entertaining tussle with 17-year-old Alex Griffiths from Solihull to take the Men’s singles crown. Circuit player Partridge, 24, needed all his extra power and experience to overcome the fluent Griffiths who went for his shots and retrieved cannily. Griffiths took the 18 and Under title with an accomplished victory over Daniel Agranovsky from Rugby 6-0 6-3.
High quality matches in the 12 and Unders demonstrated Warwickshire’s strength in depth at the younger age-groups. Kenilworth’s Connor Checketts put out the favourite Anthony Agranovsky from Rugby in the semis then squeaked through against the lively Ferran Redza, 11, 7-5 5-7 11-9 in a compelling final. All four semi-finalists are members of Gary Naughton’s Coventry squad.
In the girls’ 12 and Unders, Cadey Morgan from Edgbaston Priory defeated her junior county teammate Claudia Sheftalia 6-1 6-4.
“The County Closed had a great atmosphere at its new venue,” said organiser Bev Lancaster. “The club staged it superbly, entries were up, everyone loved the new fun day and barbecue and there was some outstanding tennis: the 12 and Under boys’ final between Ferran and Connor was a real highlight - and Mary Hoggard and Luca Pow showed why they’ve done so well nationally. The social mixed doubles events attracted players of all standards, and it was good to see the youngsters playing with smiles on their faces.”
