The Thongsbridge Tennis Club hosted its annual grade 3 Junior Open Tournament in the first week of March. Despite the tournament taking place outside the school holidays in most regions, the entry was once again high, and over 530 matches were played by the final Sunday.
The Thongsbridge Tennis Club has the largest junior training programme in the region. All the hard work by the coaches and the players is paying off handsomely, and it is reflected in their results.
Esa Butt made the final in the 8U category. Ben Parkin and Alex Tikhonov made the quarterfinals in 9U boys, whilst Gabriella Lindley made the semi-final in the girl’s event. In the 10U boys, George Barton, Jacob Chadwick and Adam Boyle made the last 16. Charlotte Margetson made the semi-final in 10U girls, with Matthis Ross making the semi-final in the 12U boys. Finn Murgett lifted the winner’s trophy without dropping a set, as well as making the quarterfinal in 14U boys. Georgia Draper and Lucy Margetson made the last 16 in 12U girls and Stephanie Carter made the semi-final in 14U girls. The club celebrated the best success in the 18U category, where Andrew Atkinson, the no 3 seed, overcame Sean Hodkin 1:6, 6:3, 10:7 in the final match tiebreak to claim the winner’s medal. To put the cherry on the cake, Andrew also took the title, with his partner Ed Lovatt, in the 18U doubles against their team mates, Bradley Whitwam and Isaac Ezro. Holly Horsfall triumphed in the 18U girls, beating the no 3 seed Lydia Burrows 6:3, 7:5 in the final whilst, along with her partner Sophie Dodds, they just came up short in the 18U doubles final, losing to Lydia Burrows and Olivia Noble 6:3,7:5. Congratulations to all the players for their success in the 2014 Thongsbridge Junior Open.

Holly Horsfall

Andrew Atkinson

Finn Murgett