Woodland Lawn Tennis Club’s championships got off to an exciting start with the junior singles events.

WOODLAND Lawn Tennis Club’s championships got off to a spectacular start with the junior singles events.

The boy’s group was keenly contested and there were a few surprises in the early round robin stages when Alex Price managed to tie with the reigning champion Jonny Clarkson and knock out the third seed, Michael Gray.

By the time the tournament had reached the semi-finals, however, three of the four seeded players had all made it safely through.

The first semi between Jonny and Oliver Fuller was a tense affair. Jonny’s variation proved too much for Oliver. The second semi-final between Thomas Deverson and Alex Price saw Alex on the back foot as the consistent length and pace of Thomas’s play got the better of him despite some long rallies.

Jonny and Tom’s final was not to be a repeat of their round robin match where Jonny won 3-1. Defending champion Jonny, seemed to feel the pressure and his game lacked the accuracy of the earlier rounds. Thomas was able to hold his nerve and won the match impressively, becoming the junior boy’s champion.

The girls’ final saw a repeat of last year’s match between sisters, Lydia and Stephie Buckingham. This year is was to be a much closer affair. Both girls raised their games and the match turned out to be an epic three setter.

Lydia’s consistency of play was pitted against Stephie’s aggressive all-court game. In the opening set, Lydia managed to return well and won 6-3. Stephie began to find her range in the second set and hit some stunning backhand winners to take it 6-4.

The third set was equally close, Stephie’s aggressive play increased and Lydia began to struggle in the heat and Stephie held firm to take the title of girls’ junior champion from her sister.

Club secretary Annie Buckingham was delighted by what she saw. She said: “It makes me very proud of our juniors when I watch the intensity of their play and the way in which they conduct themselves so impeccably on court.”

For more information on the club and its activities, contact membership secretary Judy Cannon on 01934 629819 or visit the website at www.woodlandtennisclub.co.uk