Juniors rise to challenge

PLAYERS spanning a wide range of ages took part in the first of the Ipes Open Winter Tennis Series.

Sunday was the first Open A event in the new series of singles matchplay days with the aim of attracting more players to tennis competition, as well as raising the standard.

With the support of International Private Equity Systems, the Guernsey branch of the Channel Islands Lawn Tennis Association has put in place events aimed at all ages and standards of players who enjoy competing or who may want to try matchplay for the first time.

Juniors benefit greatly from playing different opposition and the senior/older players also seem to enjoy the opportunity to play more singles as club tennis is often doubles-based.

Ben Inder had good wins over Imogen Oldfield and Sam Hale and the first set between Inder and Hale, which Inder took 12-10 in a tie-break was 'match of the day'.

Both players covered the court well and retrieved many difficult balls to stay in the point.

Earlier Hale had also produced a good win in another hard hitting match against Jack Lucas, 6-4, 6-3.

Jack Oldfield who in August won the island U16 title at the age of 11, also had a good day winning two of his three matches.