Player Profile: Louis Case

LOUIS CASE

Age: Six

Squad: Indians

How old were you when you first started tennis?

4 years old

How were you introduced to the sport?

My Daddy wanted me to play tennis.

What made you come to Totally Tennis?

Because I want to become a Wimbledon champion

Who is your favourite professional tennis player?

Andy Murray

What do you like most about the sport?

Rallies and matches

What do you consider to be your best shot?

Forehand

How often do you play?

Once a week

Do you play any other sport?

Football, swimming and golf

What’s your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

I moved up to Indians and I can play with my daddy and we sometimes play a match.

More Wins in Wessex League

In the latest matches in the Wessex Heartbeat the U14, U9 and U8 teams were in all in action recording two wins and one loss. The U14’s boys team of Alex Dawson, Dylan Allemby-Ryan, Andrew Dingwall, Rohith Manikonda played the team from Denmead Tennis Club at the indoor centre. It was an exciting match that the team won 10-8 in a match deciding tie-break after the final score was level at 6-6. In the singles Dawson beat Scott Salway 6-2, 6-1 and Dingwall beat Michael Farrell 7-6, 5-7, 11-9. Allemby-Ryan battled in three sets but lost to Ryan O’Leary 7-6, 3-6, 11-9 and Daniel Elliott beat Manikonda 7-5, 6-3. With the scores level at 3-3, the doubles did nothing to separate the teams with Dawson/Allemby-Ryan defatting Salway/O’Leary 6-2, 6-1 but Dingwall/Manikonda lost out to Farrell/Elliott 4-2, 6-4.

Under 14’s team member Andrew Dingwall

With things all square at the end of all the matches, the decider was a 10-point doubles contested by Dawson/Allemby-Ryan against Denmead’s number one pair Salway/O’Leary. Denmead managed to save four match points when the Totally Tennis boys were 9-4 up but they held their nerve and closed out the tie break and the match 10-8. The team is now sitting in second place in the Division behind Thornden Tennis Club.

Head coach James McIntosh said “Totally Tennis were without their two regular players Liam Hignett and Miles Bromilow for this fixture so Dylan and Rohith were brought into the team and overall the team played well to win the fixture.”

The U9 mixed team of Daniel Prickett, Aaron Dawson, Nina Williams and Kirsty Da Silva were up against Portsmouth Tennis Academy. In the singles the boys won all their matches with Prickett beating Louis Bowden 10-9, 9-7 and Ben Midgley 7-1, 7-3 and Dawson defeating Bowden 7-3, 6-8, 7-5 and Midgley 7-4, 7-4. The firs did not fare so well with Williams losing against Jack Curtis 7-3, 7-2 and Theo Shaw 7-3, 7-1 and Da Silva also losing to Curtis 7-5, 7-2 and Shaw 7-1, 7-4. With the fixture tied at 5-5, the boys played a deciding 10 point shoot out in a very competitive tie break with Prickett/Dawson finding themselves match point down at 10-9, they played really well managing to save the match point and another one later on and went on to win 15-13.

McIntosh said “The Totally Tennis team were without Chris Adeshina and Tillie Reid for the fixture so it was a great opportunity for Nina to play in her first team tennis event for Totally Tennis and for Kirsty to step up from Red to Orange.”

“Daniel and Aaron to played a fantastic 10 point shoot out against Portsmouth’s number one pair to decide the match, saving two match points along the way.  There was some great tennis played and all of the players did very well. This win takes the team to the top of the table with just one match left to play.”

(L to R) Chapman who played for the U8 team and Da Silva who competed in the U9 fixture.

Amberly Chapman, Melissa Toner, Dylan Hall-Jones and Spencer Hayes made up the Totally Tennis U8 Mixed team that travelled to the south coast to face a strong Portsmouth Tennis Academy team that beat them 34-2. Chapman was the only player to win one of her matches 10-4.The team are now in third place in Division one behind Portsmouth at the top and River Park Tennis Club.

McIntosh commented “Portsmouth had a very strong team but there were so closely contested matches even though the overall score may not reflect that. It was a great opportunity for both Dylan and Spencer to play in their first competition for Totally Tennis, with Spencer losing out just 11-13 on two of his matches. Unfortunately Amberly was the only player to win one of her matches overall.”

Player Profile: Athyantha Mariappan

ATHYANTHA MARIAPPAN

Age: Five

Squad: Pirates

How old were you when you first started tennis?

Four

How were you introduced to the sport?

By my dad

What made you come to Totally Tennis?

My sister comes here for tennis lessons so I wanted to try and now I enjoy playing the game.

Who is your favourite professional tennis player?

Andy Murray

What do you like most about the sport?

Forehand and serving

What do you consider to be your best shot?

Forehand

How often do you play?

Once a week but I am planning to play at least twice to improve my skils.

Do you play any other sport?

No

What’s your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

Taking part in the TT tour.

World Tennis News: Update

The latest round up from the world of Tennis

Fed Cup

The Aegon GB Fed Cup Team played in the group stages of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Europe/Africa Zone Group I competition last week that place at the Syma Event and Conference Centre in Budapest, Hungary. Captained by Judy Murray, the GB team was made up of Johanna Konta, Heather Watson, Tara Moore and Jocelyn Rae but were without British Number One Laura Robson who was forced to withdrew from the tie due to an on-going wrist injury and was replaced by Rae. In the group matches, the GB team beat Latvia 2-1 but loss to Hungary and Romania 2-1.

British Fed Cup team with captain Judy Murray (source:www.lta.org.uk)

in the centreIn their playoff match, wins for Moore and Watson guaranteed a 2-0 win against Austria so event though their hopes of promotion were dashed in the group stage they did end the Fed Cup experience on a high.. Team GB did not advance to the World Group II Play-Offs that will be played on 19th-20th April.

Wins for Tara Moore and Heather Watson ensured Great Britain ended their Fed Cup campaign on a positive note with a 2-0 victory over Austria in Budapest.

ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament – Rotterdam

British number one Andy Murray lost in the quarter finals of ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament after Crotia’s Marin Cilic beat him 6-3, 6-4. Murray, who was second seed in the Rotterdam tournament defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 6-3 in the first round and Dominic Thiem 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the semi-finals.

Murray lost in the quarter finals of ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament (source:www.bbc.com)

Tomas Berdych won the event and his first ATP tournament title since October 2012, beating Cilic  6-4, 6-2 in the final yesterday.

Michigan Tournament

British number three Heather Watson has won the $100,000 Midland Tournament in Michigan, American. Watson, 21 beat Ksenia Pervak from Russia 6-4, 6-0 in the second-tier event final. She has now had an unbeaten run of winning nine matches since the Australian Open, which includes four singles match victories in the Fed Cup.

Watson on her way to victory (source:www.lta.org.uk)

This latest victory in one of the biggest events on the ITF circuit should ensure that Watson rises about 40 places in the world rankings where she currently sits at 161. The player from Guernsey, who did not drop a single set in Michigan  also picked up a second title when along with partner Anna Tatishvili, they defeated second seeds Sharon Fichman and Maria Sanchez 7-5, 5-7, 10-6 to win the Doubles event.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships got underway on Monday (17th February) starting with women’s week which sees the worlds top female players in action. After the Women’s final this Sunday, play continues next week when Mens week kicks off on Monday.

World number one Serena Williams is competing in the event and hoping to win the title that has eluded her to date. Alongside Williams, six other top ten players from the Womens Draw are competing including Agnieszka Radwanska, Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani, Jelena Jankovic, Anqelique Kerber and Simona Halep.

Williams beat Ekaterina Makarova from Russia 7-6(8), 6-0 in the opening round of the Dubai event (source:http://www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com)

In the Mens draw five of the worlds top players will be in action including Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

 

Player Profile: Jill Gibson

JILL GIBSON

Age: Over 21

Squad: Ladies B Team (occasionally)/Social tennis

How old were you when you first started tennis?

About 10

How were you introduced to the sport?

Green Shield Stamps free tennis lesson

What made you come to Totally Tennis?

Recommendation about great coaching so I brought my son and joined in myself

Who is your favourite professional tennis player?

Bjorn Borg

What do you like most about the sport?

Fun side of the sport and social side these days

What do you consider to be your best shot?

 Used to be my serve and backhand but now forehand

How often do you play?

Irregularly

Do you play any other sport?

Badminton

What’s your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

Playing County Doubles in my teens

U12’s Are Top Of The Wessex League

The Totally Tennis 12 and under Boys team beat Avondale 8-4 in the latest fixture played at the indoor centre over the weekend in Division One of the Wessex Heartbeat Winter League.

The team of Harry Feast, Owen Robinson, Matthew Berry and Chris Bundoo won three of the singles matches and one of the doubles to claim overall victory and secure their place at the top of the league. Feast and Bundhoo have tough three sets matches bit both played well to win. Feast defeated Thomas Brook after a close third set 4-6, 7-6, 12-10 and Bundhoo beat Michael Presland 2-6, 6-4, 10-8 and Robinson won his match against William Sargent 6-2, 6-2. Berry was beaten by William Jones 6-1, 6-2. In the doubles Feast and Robinson teamed up to beat Brock/Sargent 6-3, 7-5 and Bundhoo/Berry lost to Jones/Presland 6-3, 6-0.

The successful 12 and under team of Feast, Robinson, Berry and Bundhoo.

Head Coach James McIntosh said, “It was a good match with Harry winning an extremely close third set tie break to secure the win for Totally Tennis. The team are now top of the division with one match left to play against Portsmouth who are currently in second place.”

The team, who beat Thornden Tennis Club and Winchester Racquets and Fitness Club earlier in the competition, now face second place Portsmouth Tennis Academy in another home fixture this coming weekend and if successful they will win the division and progress to the next stage, no pressure then! Good Luck Boys!

More Success For Theo

Young Mini Performance player Theo Harrison has started February with the same gusto he finished last month, by winning matches. Harrison won the 8 and under Boys Singles title at the Virgin Active Riverside Northwood Club Indoor Tournament in Northwood near London. He won Group C in the Grade 5 event after winning all four of his matches beating Aleksandar Daskalovic 10-6, Matthew Evans 10-3, Jack Groves 10-7 and Kishan R Patel 10-4. In the semi-final he defeated Taman Kustermann 10-5 followed by Alexander McKenzie 11-9 in the final to win the event overall.

He then had a third place finish at the Kingsley Tennis Club Super Saturday Indoor Grade 5 winter tournament held at the indoor centre in Bordon last weekend. Playing in Group B, Harrison, 8 won three matches defeating Evangeline Howard 10-3, Honor Whittome 10-4 and Lewin Myles 10-3 but lost to Thomas Le Marchant in a close match 11-9. He then lost to eventual winner Kester Harvey in the semis 10-6 but won the third/fourth playoff in a rematch of the group stage against Le Marchant, this time beating him 10-5 to finish in third place overall.

Coach Jamie Jordan commented on Harrison’s latest success “Fantastic results again for Theo. He works really hard in training and all that effort is really paying off.”

QMC On Track For Bolton Finals

The Queen Marys College (QMC) Boys A team have won their latest fixture and are now just one match away from the National Finals in the Senior Students Competition to be held at Bolton Arena next month. The team of Loic Armstrong, Nick Dingwall, Ali Olrog and Adam Hood beat Whitgift School from Surrey 10-2 in the home fixture contested at Totally Tennis’ indoor centre, to secure their place in the last sixteen.

The victorious QMC Boys A team (L to R) Hood, Olrog, Dingwall and Armstrong 

In the singles, the team won three of their four matches to lead 6-2 (3-1) going into the doubles. Armstrong won 6-4, Dingwall 6-4, Olrog 6-0 and Hood lost 6-0. In doubles the boys won both matches to give the team the overall win and fast track them into the final knock out round with Armstrong/Hood winning 6-2 and Dingwall/Olrog 6-4.

QMC PE teacher and tennis team manager Sarah Goldson said “This was a great win by the QMC team, the match could have easily swung the other way in the singles with Nick and Loic’s opponents getting many balls back but their patience and greater consistency paid off allowing us to take a 3-1 lead going into the doubles.”

“Our first pairing of Loic and Adam played really well together making many decisive interceptions at the net and in the other pairing, excellent serving from Ali and some an early break of serve enabled them to serve out the match 6-4.”

The team will now travel to play in an away fixture against either Bede’s School from Sussex or Kent’s Tonbridge School which will be decided when the two play each other in their fixture which was postponed due to inclement weather.

Goldson added “This is a great run by the QMC team and with our top three singles players still unbeaten we are confident going into our final knock out match but know we have to be in top form to secure a place at the Finals in Bolton.  We await to see our opposition – Bedes or Tonbridge School – either way the match will be away.”

The Mixed team are also through to the final rounds of the knock out stage after they won their group with a last win at the end of last year when the team of Nick Dingwall/Laura Jones and Ali Olrog/Beth Lowe beat Rikkyo School in a shot out 10-6 after the match finished in a tie. This final victory added to previous wins against Bede’s School and Lancing College and the team then benefitted from a bye in the first knock out round.

Goldson said at the time of the Rikkyo match “With the match tied it went to a shoot out which Beth and Nick won 10-6.  This was a tightly contested match with QMC not at their best in this match but we managed to come through to have an unbeaten run in the group and qualify for the knock out stages which is brilliant.”

The team now face local rivals Peter Symonds College from Winchester in a tough home fixture at the end of February that will determined who will represent the county in Bolton at the National Finals.

First TT Tour Winners of 2014

Players didn’t need to travel down under to compete in their own version of the Australian Open but just down to Totally Tennis’ Indoor Centre in the War Memorial Park, to play in the first event in this years TT Tour calendar.

The Red event attracted lots of young keen players, some competing for the first time. The competition was divided into two boxes with the winners and runners-up of each box progressing through to the semi-finals. Luka Williams was Box A winner after winning four matches beating Harry Bale 10-9, Ria Mistry 10-1, Prahlad Prabu 10-7, Samridda Mariappan 10-1 but lost to group runner-up Ollie Steer 10-5. Steer won three matches defeating Bale 10-7, Prabu 10-5 and Mariappan 10-1 but lost to Mistry 10-7. Bale also won three matches beating Mistry 10-5, Prabu 10-6 and Mariappan 10-1. Along with Steer, Mistry also beat Mariappan 10-6 and Mariappan won against Prabu 10-8.

Edward Lakatos was Box B winner after winning all five of his matches beating Harry Rushbrook 10-2, Hayden Cummings 10-3, Ben Hastings 10-8, Athyantha Mariappan 10-0 and Alwxandrro Posolache 10-6. Hastings finished as runner-up after defeating Rushbrook 10-1, Cummings 10-2 and both Mariappan and Posolache 10-2. Rushbrook, Cummings and Mariappan were all beaten by Posolache 10-2, 10-5 and 10-4 respectively. Rushbrook won two matches against Cummings 10-9 and Mariappan 10-0. Cummings beat Mariappan 10-1.

In the semi finals Hastings beat Steer 10-6 and Lakatos defeated Williams 10-4. In the final, Lakatos beat Hastings 10-7 to become the first Red winner of 2014. In the third/fourth playoff match Steer beat Williams 10-2 and Rushbrook came fifth after beating Bale 10-6.

(L to R) Winner Edward Lakatos and runner-up Ben Hastings

Ben Jubin, who organised the event said, “We had a lot of entries and was good to see new players getting involved in matches including Ben Hastings and Harry Bale are from Sherfield School. The matches where very close and there were some good rallies in the final.”

“Edward was very consistent and found form to beat Ben. All the players seemed to enjoy the event despite the cold day and hopefully we will see them all back playing in the next event on the 26th February.”

Orange winner Nina Williams and runner-up Alex Feast

It was a great day for Nina Williams as she won both the Orange and Green events. In the Orange competition she beat Alex Feast 7-0, 7-5, Tinkue Adelakun 7-0, 7-2, Mohan Thondapu 7-2, 7-5 to win overall. Feast was runner-up defeating Adelakun 7-5, 5-7 and Thondapu 5-7, 8-6, 7-5. Thondapu beat Adelakun 8-6, 9-7. In the Green event, Williams beat Daniel Hastings 4-3, Alexander Heath 4-2 and Jake Mundy 6-3. Mundy was runner-up after he beat Hastings 5-2 and Heath 5-3. Heath beat Hastings 4-3.

Green winner Nina Williams on the left along with fellow competitors and runner-up Jake Mundy on the right.

Jubin added, “Nina had a good day winning the Orange and Green events. For most of the players it was their first event and it was good see them gaining valuable match experience and competing against other players.”

TT Tour 2103 Champion Travis Clayton won the Yellow event defeating Harrison Feast 5-3, Alexei Studd 6-0 and Ollie Brown 9-1. Feast was overall runner-up beating Studd 9-0 and Brown 3-1. Brown beat Studd 6-2.

Yellow competitors with runner-up Harrison Feast and winner Travis Clayton in the centre

The TT Tour is for Development Squad and Mini Performance Squads players (players will play against players of the same age group). There are eight tournaments throughout the year and the top eight players from each squad will be invited to play in the finals for the chance to win a trophy. There will be an up to date leaderboard showing players rankings.

Over in Melbourne there were two new names on the Australian Open trophies with Stanilas Wawrinka and Na Li winning the first Grand Slam titles of the year. In the TT Tour Lakatos, Williams and Clayton all picked up the the maximum 1,000 points from this Grand Slam event.

The next event on the TT Tour 2014 calendar is the Brazil Open taking place on Sunday 23^rd February. Please contact reception to sign up. All mini events will take place from 10:00am-12:30pm followed by the Junior events from 1:00pm – 3:30pm. Each event costs £6 per player.

Player Profile: Rosie Blackburn

ROSIE BLACKBURN

Age: Six

Squad: Pirates

How old were you when you first started tennis?

Six 

How were you introduced to the sport?

I came to Holiday Camps

What made you come to Totally Tennis?

I wanted to learn to play tennis

Who is your favourite professional tennis player?

Andy Murray

What do you like most about the sport?

Learning the different shots

What do you consider to be your best shot?

Overhead

How often do you play?

Once a week

Do you play any other sport?

Swimming

What’s your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

I have only been playing since September so still learning