Try a FREE Tennis Tots session

Tennis Tots, the fun sessions for three and four year olds, will restart after Easter for all the younger members of the family to get involved with learning co-ordination, balance and agility skills. The sessions will run with coach Jamie for 5 weeks from Tuesday 23rd April to Tuesday 21st May 2019 at a cost of £25 per child.

TRY FOR FREE

with at the taster session on

Tuesday 2nd April from 11:15pm – 12 noon

At Totally Tennis we believe in tapping into a child’s potential from an early age which can prove invaluable in later life. Early development of agility, balance, co-ordination and speed is essential if a child is to develop their full athletic potential. Tennis Tots is a fun session focusing on these skills through play and games which help to build confidence and social skills for any pre-schooler.

The sessions are not just tennis specific but does teach basic skills along with hand-to-eye coordination and sending and receiving skills. No equipment is required and parents are expected to join in the fun.

For more information and to book your place telephone Totally Tennis on 01256 358816, visit our website http://www.totally tennis.co.uk or e-mail tt@totally tennis.co.uk

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World Ranking For Dean Cooper Kirby

Former Totally Tennis performance player and Sherfield School Tennis scholar Dean Cooper Kirby competed in the  ITF Junior Masters Grade 4 tournament at La Libertad in El Salvador.

Cooper Kirby, who is now residing and playing tennis full-time at the Gomez Tennis Academy in Florida, won all three of his qualifying matches to gain a place in the main draw.  He won his first round match against Rodrigo Zelaya 6-1, 6-1 and moved into round two where he found himself up against Alvin Tudorica, a giant 6ft 6 Canadian ranked 551th in the world and although he played really well he lost 6-4, 6-4.

Dean’s Columbian coach Raul said, “I am very pleased with Dean and he could of won.” After his first ITF tournament everyone now knows Cooper Kirby’s ability is to the standard needed for these world level tournaments. If he had won this match he would have won five games in a row and gained ITF points and a world ranking but unfortunately four wins didn’t result in any points so he now had to win two doubles matches to win any points.

He played doubles with Sam Scherer, a player from the IMG Academy in Sarasota, Florida. The pair won their first match, a close and evenly matched game against a pair from the home nation, El Salvador 6-2, 6-0. Their second match was against a Mexican duo who last month had played in two quarter finals for Grade 4 ITF’s so it was always going to be a tough match. This match was not only crucial for the pair to progress into the quarters but would also guarantee Cooper Kirby earning those important ITF points. The boys won the first set, lost the second 6-3 so it went to a tie-breaker but they held strong and gained a two point lead 9-7 with Cooper Kirby serving for the set and the match, he held his nerve and they won 10-7.

Cooper Kirby said “I was nervous going into the serve knowing this point would win the match and more importantly ITF points.”

The pair were then in the the quarter finals but sadly lost against a South American pairing 6-1, 6-2. Cooper Kirby now has those much needed ITF points and a world ranking which will make it a lot easier for him to plan his tournament schedule as he knows he will be accepted.

The ITF Junior World Tennis Tour* gives young players all over the world an opportunity to compete, develop and travel the world, with many of the best players going on to be hugely successful on the professional tours. The ITF Junior Circuit provides opportunities at all levels of the game and to develop the stars of the future.

*Information used with courtesy of www.itftennis.com/juniors/

Read more about Dean Cooper Kirby in previous posts HERE

February In Pictures

50+ players escaping the cold at the indoor centre

 

The QMC boys team beat Bedales School at the indoor centre

Sherfield Tennis Scholar Aaron Dawson (pictured far right) won the Boys 18 & U Doubles with Partner Alexandria at the South West Winter County Tour held by Liam Hignett at TT

LOVE was in the air on court

Lots of fun was had at the February Half Term Tennis Camps (above & below)

Winners and fair play medals for Harry Dolman and runners-up trophy with partner Riley Webb in half term tournaments

Girl Power

Matchplay during the Adults Mixed Morning session

Dean Cooper Kirby competed in the ITF Grade 4 tournament in El Salvador

Finally some winter sunshine meant squads on the outdoor courts

Half Term Medals For Dolman

Mini performance player Harry Dolman won the 9U Boys singles tournament at the Wey Valley TC Winter Regional Tour in Dorset. In the group stages Dolman won Group A beating Herbie Andrews 5-7, 7-5, 8-6, Ben Randall 7-2, 7-2 and Eric Lorimer 7-4, 4-7, 9-7.  In the main draw he defeated Thomas Keeler 7-3, 8-6 in the semis followed by Zach House in the final 7-3, 5-7, 7-2 to win the event. Dolman was also presented with the fair play award for the event.

Dolman then played with partner Riley Webb in the 9 and under mixed doubles February Half-Term Grade 5 Festival held at Sherborne Tennis Club in Dorset where they finished as runners-up. In the quarters they beat Lily Halliday and Grace Golsworthy 10-3 followed by Charlie Prynne and Alexander Roper in the semis 10-7 but lost in the finals to Jacob Tait  and Lucy Vosper 10-6.

Well done Harry 😉

Hignett Competes in Corby

Totally Tennis coach and performance player Liam Hignett competed in the Mens singles at the British Tour Corby held at Corby Tennis Centre in Northamptonshire.

Hignett competed in the main draw and was up against sixth seed Lamar Bartley in his first match which he lost 7-6(4), 6-4. His next event is the British Tour Loughborough at the beginning of March.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) British Tour 2019* provides a circuit of tournaments designed to give up and coming players the opportunity to gain experience in their quest to become professional tennis players, to provide competition for professional players in between competing in professional events at home and abroad, as well as providing a national level open competition circuit.

Good luck Liam

*British Tour information used with courtesy of www.lta.org.uk/britishtour

 

Doubles Win For Dawson

Totally Tennis performance player and Sherfield School Tennis scholar Aaron Dawson and his partner Alexandru Runcianu won the 18 & under Boys Doubles title at last weekend’s South West Winter County Tour held at the indoor centre.

In the event, run by Liam Hignett, second seeds Dawson and Runcianu (pictured below right) beat Sebastien Muller and Christian Yeates in the quarters 4-2, 4-0 followed by a semi-final win against Elliott Lowe and Freddie Simpson 4-0, 4-3(1). In the final the boys defeated top seeds Charlie and Darcy Pycroft in three sets  3-4(2), 4-1, 10-9 to win the event.

In the girls event, Totally Tennis’ Isla Hignett and Tillie Reid finished in fourth place overall. The second seeds beat Rebecca Fisher and Lauren Foster in the quarters 4-0, 4-1 but then lost in the semis in three sets against eventual winners Genevieve Doe and Amelia Monteith 4-1, 2-4, 10-7. Number seeds Aleia De Buretel and  Leyla Elmas were runners-up after losing against Doe/Monteith in the final  4-3(3), 4-3(2).

The next South West Winter County Tour at Totally Tennis Basingstoke is the 12 & U Boys & Girls singles on Saturday 16th February – click HERE for details.

 

 

 

Victory For QMC Boys Against Bedales At The Indoor Centre

The Queen Mary’s College boys tennis team were action last week in a friendly match against Hampshire’s Bedales School at Totally Tennis’ indoor centre, winning with an impressive 8 – 0 scoreline.

(L to R) Ollie Brown, Jonathan Duggan, Chris Bundhoo & Matthew Berry

The team of Totally Tennis squad player Ollie Brown, Matthew Berry (who is coached by Liam Hignett) and former club players Jonathan Duggan and Chris Bundhoo won all their matches convincingly. In the singles, Berry won 6-0, Duggan and Brown 6-2 and Bundhoo 6-3 and in the doubles matches Brown/Duggan won 6-0 and Berry/Bundhoo won 6-3.

Sarah Goldson, QMC PE teacher and Tennis Team manager said, “It was good to get a match in as have not had many competitive opportunities since going out of the senior students group stages.”  She added. “Our next match will be in the National Cup, where we await the winner of Bradfield College vs. Clare’s Court having been given a bye in the first round.“