The third day of the HSBC Road to Wimbledon 14 and Under National Challenge saw the quarterfinalists in the boys and girls singles main draws decided.
The grass courts were playing fast thanks to the hot weather at SW19 and a number of the players took advantage of the quick conditions.
In the girls draw all but one of the seeds made it through to the quarter finals. Top seed Anna Southam from Staffordshire continued her unbeaten run to overcome Wiltshire’s Chloe Moxham 6-2, 6-2 in the first round. Fourteen-year-old Southam then went on to defeat Leicestershire’s Harriet Comley 6-3, 6-3 setting up a quarter final match against fellow Staffordshire representative Elle Stokes.
“I’m excited to be in the quarterfinals. I played on grass last year and I’m playing okay on it now, it just depends on how my game goes!” Said Southam.
“It’s such a good experience to be here and I’m enjoying myself,” she continued.
Nottinghamshire’s unseeded Lynsey Cover beat Dorset’s Amelia Stuart (8) in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 battle in the second round to qualify for a place in the final eight.
“I’m so pleased to have won. When I saw my opponent I thought that I could give it a good go and battle for it and I did,” said Cover.
“I’ve never played on grass before so I think I’ve adapted my game quite well, I’m used to the big serves now and I’m improving.
“It’s a dream to play here. Playing on the grass courts where the professionals play, it’s amazing.” She added.
Yorkshire’s Harry Edwards and Peter Ashley were both successful in their matches. Seeded number one and two respectively the boys are down to the last eight.
Fourteen-year-old Edwards claimed victories over Hertfordshire’s Lewis Andrews and Buckinghamshire’s Kushal Kansagra to set up a quarter final tie against another Bucks player, Dean Kelleher.
Tournament director Paul Hutchins said: “Another perfect day of sunshine and grass at Wimbledon with the top two seeds in the boys and girls going through.
“We’re looking forward to seeing some really competitive matches in the next three days leading up to the final on Saturday where many of the youngsters will also have the opportunity to have a tennis clinic with Tim Henman.”.
Play starts tomorrow from 11am and will see the boys and girls quarterfinals contested in both the main and consolation draws.
For full draws and results CLICK HERE
One Comment
My daughter, Marie Berlouis, West of Scotland, has just returned home from the tournament after a fantastic few days at Wimbledon. Many thanks to all the organisers and fellow competitors who made Marie’s time there so very memorable.