Future stars play in the World Cup
THE Guernsey Tennis Academy is officially up and running following a successful inaugural World Cup team event.
THE Guernsey Tennis Academy is officially up and running following a successful inaugural World Cup team event. The Guernsey Tennis Centre played host to 32 players aged between eight and 15 highlighting the level of cooperation between clubs and coaches.
Players were divided into eight teams participating in football's World Cup. Each team consisted of four players, each playing a singles and a doubles match.
The 'Argentinians' - Johnny Taylor, Jo Dyer, Oliver Lepp and Matthew Stubbington - eventually overcame the Dutch challenge 5-4.
Holland were represented by Oliver Shier, Andrew Milton, Nico Robinson and Alistair Higgins.
In the next game Brazil, featuring Adam Greening, Harry Stephens, Georgina Denton and Imogen Oldfield, took on France.
The French side, consisting of Ben Inder, Elliot Clark, Kirsty Carre and Thomas Ruff, ran out comfortable winners 5-1.
The match between Mexico and Sweden went down to the wire and was decided only in the doubles round. Mexicans Sam Hale and Jack Totty overcame the Swedish duo of Jake and Jack Oldfield 5-4.
Fellow Swedes Charlotte and Jack Coates lost out to the Mexican pairing of Matthew Stokes and Joelle Pengelley by the same margin, giving Mexico an overall 4-2 win.
The most spectacular victory was England's over Trinidad and Tobago. The English foursome of Jadene Coole from Alderney, Joshua Butler, Alex Robinson and Jordan Cameron battled out a draw with Luke Hunter, Ryan Moore (Alderney), Jordan Trebert and Zac Clark.
After the singles and doubles, the match was tied at three each so it was down to a serving shoot-out in which Robinson ensured victory for the English with his service hitting the target.
The academy has been launched with the aim of increasing the number of committed players and to encourage more players at a higher level.
'The island's coaches recognise that tennis already attracts a large band of recreational players and that for more players to consider tennis as their main sport they will need to concentrate more closely on player development and bring together the better players from different clubs,' said Rick Denton, GTA chairman.
The academy has been sponsored by International Private Equity Services and the funding will benefit squad training, coach education competitions and assist juniors in travelling to compete off island.
'Ipes is very keen to support local initiatives and the GTA is doing a great job in encouraging younger players to take part in this exciting sport and we are happy to be a part of that,' said Connie Helyar, Ipes' chief executive officer.
Denton added: 'During the course of the tournament, parents were offered information about player development, tournaments and the pathway to tennis excellence in a game which is technically demanding and which requires regular time on court.'