Mini Wimbledon matches providing great entertainment

HENMAN HILL, Murray Mount - Rosaire Rise as Guernsey's answer to Wimbledon came alive at the weekend. Parents, friends, relations and players had the opportunity of seeing some excellent matches at the end of the first week of the Guernsey Schools' Tennis Club tournament.

The nine-and-under girls matched two of equal ability in Georgie Fletcher and Simone Blanchard. Both players serve and hit the ball well, but on this occasion Fletcher held her nerve to take the title.

Third and fourth places were very evenly matched.

Bethany Hobson took the first set 7-5 only for Annalise Falla to step up a gear to take the second 8-6.

The final tiebreak set was just as close with Hobson winning 7-5.

Jack Oldfield was a deserved winner of the nine-and-under boys against Anthony Robert, while William Dodd won through a close battle with Georoid Lee for third place.

With eight boys of different ages and abilities contesting the beginners' section, it made for an interesting competition.

In the younger group, Brent Oldfield came through with a fine win over the youngest player, Barnaby Wolfe, 7-4.

Jack Wallis took the older title and went on to win the overall competition 7-2, 7-3 from Brent Oldfield. Gabriel Wegerer took third spot from Harry Giles 7-1, 1-7, 7-3.

Wolfe won the plate competition 8-6, 7-3 from Jack Smart. Newcomer David Tailby improved throughout the competition and ended up a narrow winner over Max Thornton in the round robin stage.

The beginner girls were very evenly matched with Alex Veron taking the title from Ellen Morley, the youngest player in the tournament. Emily Priaulx was third from Sophie Smart.

The best matches of the week were the semi-finals of the 11-and-under boys.

Jack Oldfield beat Lucas van de Hauawt in a third-set tiebreak. With contrasting styles - van de Hauawt the passionate, aggressive, topspin player against Oldfield, cool under pressure and very consistent.

Van de Hauawt took the first set 4-2, but Oldfield bounced back to take the second 4-0. Always edging the tiebreak, he put pressure on his opponent and Oldfield came out the winner at 10-5.

The other semi-final was just as absorbing. Over two hours in soaring temperatures, Jack Totty needed all his strength to overcome a determined David Campbell.

Both players worked each other hard, looking for the openings, but as the energy levels fell, it was a matter of whoever made the least errors on the day would win. This time it was Totty 2-4, 5-3, 10-4.

With some shocks in the open competition at the quarter-finals stage and a strong 13-and-under competition, the finals on Saturday at the Old Girls' Grammar School courts will be worth watching.