County Cup Debut For Austin

ADAPT performance player Austin Durman, who trains at Totally Tennis with coach Debbie, represented Hampshire & IOW in last Sunday’s U8 Boys County Cup held at Bucks Indoor Tennis Centre in High Wycombe.

The Hampshire team were playing in Group A against teams from host county Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Sussex and South Wales. Durman was playing alongside teammates Edward Wood, Hugo Kirkness, Rafael Butler and Charlie Reeves. Sussex won overall on most rubbers won with team Hampshire finishing in the runner-up spot after defeating Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire and Sussex and a draw against South Wales.

The Hampshire & IOW U8 Girls team were also runners-up in their event.

County Cup events give players the opportunity to represent their county in a team competition for junior players from 8U to 18U. The 8U County Cup is a one day event for players competing in teams of four to six players and acts as an introduction to County Cup tennis and is aimed at those who have not competed in a County Cup event before.*

Team photo used with courtesy of Hampshire & IOW Tennis via X

* Information via the LTA website – click HERE for more details.

ADAPT Performance Players Win at County Closed | 2023

Well done to all the ADAPT performance players who played and won at this year’s Hampshire & IOW County Championships 2023.

In the U12 boys singles, second seed William Durman was crowned champion after beating Oluwamurewa Egbeyemi in the final 6-2, 2-6, 10-5. He was also U12 doubles champion with partner Zachary Kleiner defeating second seeds Ollie Wright and Jasper Yu 4-2, 4-1.

In the U14 doubles event, Durman and Kleiner finished as runner-up after they lost to top seeds Daniel Rutorov and Edwin James Vopson 4-2, 4-1. In the U14 singles quarter-finals, Durman lost to second seed and overall winner Daniel Rutorov 6-3, 7-5.

Younger brother Edward Durman was U10 doubles champion with partner Campbell Purdie. It was an all ADAPT players final with Durman and Purdie beating teammates Connie Soon and Josh Reid 4-3. Second seeds Durman and partner Filip Kaminski were U11 doubles runner-ups after losing to top seeds Archie Rossiter and Daniel Vopson 4-2, 4-1.

Totally Tennis coach and top seed Isla Hignett won the woman’s doubles title with partner Charlotte Howard beating second seeds Scarlett Doman and Ivana Maynard 6-3, 7-5.

ADAPT Performance Tennis at Totally Tennis

What is ADAPT Tennis? ADAPT Performance Tennis at Totally Tennis is a programme designed by performance player and coach Debbie Hale to ‘create a buzz about training together’. The programme offers an opportunity to bring county level (or above) players together without imposing on their own programmes at their respective club. Simply, players can access great coaching with similar level players at a great facility.

Why Totally Tennis? Hale played at the club with Tennis Director Nigel Long aged 14-18 years before she headed to Bath University where she continued her tennis journey. She has have fond memories of playing as a junior here and a great relationship with Nigel so together they decided to make something work. Basingstoke is also great a location for a hive of players to join together to train and court facilities are all that’s needed to run a performance programme. 

What is the aim of ADAPT? Hale wanted to created a programme where coaches and clubs feel they can send players for bonus training sessions while still playing in their existing coaching/club schedule. The aim is that going forward Hampshire County teams are filled with more depth and a volume of players that can make National level. Like the old days when Hale was young and there were ten players minimum at Nationals.

How does the ADAPT programme work? If parents have permission from their son\daughter’s own coach who agrees to the benefits of additional training at ADAPT, Hale is happy to coach those players. Clear communication between the coaches and parents is key for everyone to work well together. 

How often can players join the ADAPT hive? Players can sign up ad-hoc day-by-day or pay for a course. 

What does Hale offer? With over twenty years experience and the last fifteen in performance, Hale has produced and supported many players to National and European level. She cares about the players and their individual journeys. ADAPT is a high intensity training environment with basket and rally drills plus detailed coaching tips to improve a player technically, tactically and mentally. 

What does Hale look forward to in the tennis year? Hale loves a day at Wimbledon and  county week, county matches and county cups, both playing herself or as a captain. She enjoys the team aspect of tennis and how players represent each other and the team. 

To find out more information about ADAPT Performance Tennis telephone 01256 358815 or visit www.instagram.com/adapttennis/

Hignett Features in Tennis Head Magazine

Prior to lockdown, performance player and coach Liam Hignett worked with Tennis Head magazine to test and review some rackets and ASCIS tennis shoes.Hignett, along with three other players tested the ASICS Solution Speed FF shoe with Rene, the top product designer from ASICS – Hignett said, “It felt like I didn’t have anything on but I did have to loosen the laces to avoid a small amount of rubbing in the heel.” The article, which was published in June, can be read in full online by visiting tennishead.net/asics-solution-speed-tennis-shoe-review/

Read more about the Head Prestige Tour tennis racket review online here tennishead.net/head-prestige-tour-2020-tennis-racket-review/

Tennis Head magazine has been the World’s leading destination for tennis fans & players for 15 years with the best news, analysis, opinion, writers, tennis racket & gear reviews, videos, competitions & social media commentary.

Information and photos used with courtesy of tennishead.net

Runner-up Spot for Hignett at British Tour Edgbaston

Performance player and coach Liam Hignett was runner-up in the Men’s singles at the British Tour Edgbaston event held at the Edgbastom Priory Club last week.

Third seed Hignett beat William Mclenneghan 7-5, 6-4 in the first round followed by Euan Wilson-Baig in round two 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0. In the quarters he defeated eighth seed Tom Welsh 7-6(10), 6-4 and then sixth seed Mattias Southcombe in the semi-finals 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. In the final Hignett lost to top seed Jake Hersey 6-3, 6-2 to finish as runner-up.

Congratulations Liam 😉

Read more about Hignett competing in British Tour events HERE

Runner-Up Finish for Cooper Kirby in Mexico

Former Totally Tennis performance player and Sherfield School Tennis scholar Dean Kirby Cooper competed in his first grade 4 ITF doubles event in Tampico, Mexico at the end of February.

Cooper Kirby, who is now residing and playing tennis full-time at the Gomez Tennis Academy in Florida, competed in the doubles tournament with his American partner Ethan Muza. In the first round they beat Mexican duo SebastianGarcia Escorcia/Juan PabloLazo Becerril 6-1, 6-1 followed by the eighth seeds GianlucaCitadini/LucioRatti from Argentina 6-4, 6-4 in the second round. 

In the quarters Cooper Kirby and Muza defeated American duo and second seeds Jameson Corsillo & Ekansh Kumar 7-5, 6-2 and in the semis they beat another American pairing Sebastian Sec and EvanWen 7-6(4), 6-3. In the final they faced sixth seeds Felipe Lopez Comper and Benjamín Ignacio Torres Fernandez from Chile, after winning the first set 7-5 they lost the second 6-2 followed by the tie-breaker 10-1 to finish as runners-up.

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 Cooper Kirby’s Florida journey HERE

 

Runner-up medal for Cummings at Hale Gardens

Performance player Hayden Cummings was runner-up in the Grade 4 South West Winter County Tour 14 & U Boys Singles held at Hale Gardens on 1st March.

In the quarters Cummings beat William Addleton 4-1, 4-0 followed by Oliver Hopper in the semis 1-4, 4-3(7), [10-3]. In the final he lost to Olivier Paris 4-2, 4-2 to finish in second place.

In the recent Oxstalls SP Winter Regional Tour, Cummings finished fifth in the 12 & under Boys singles. In the first round he defeated Ethan Scott 6-1, 6-1 but lost in the quarters against Sebastian Griffiths 6-4, 6-1. In the first play-off match Cummings beat Harrison Vickery 1-6, 6-4, [10-8] and in the second Felix Mihaylov 6-3, 6-2.

Cummings Wins Muswell Hill Title

Performance player Hayden Cummings won the 12 & under Boys singles event at the Our Lady of Muswell Christmas Tournament in Middlesex.

After a bye in the first round Cummings beat Daniel Ben Yair 3-4(5), 4-2, 1-0(6) in round two, Dylan Powell 4-1, 4-2 in the quarters and Obi Budworth in the semis 4-2, 4-0. In the final he defeated former clubmate Nikesh Reddy Bomma 4-2, 4-1.

Congratulations Hayden 😉

Runners-up Medal for Isla at the Eastleigh Open

Performance player Isla Hignett played in the 16 & under girls singles at the Eastleigh Open 2019, held at the David Lloyd Club in Southampton, finishing in the runner-up spot.

Second seed Hignett had a bye in the first round and then beat Daisy Doherty 6-1, 6-1 in the quarters and fourth seed Isabella Hope in the semis 6-1, 6-2 before losing in the final against third seed Nora Khediri 6-3, 7-5. In the 16 and under Girls Doubles Hignett and partner Tillie Reid defeated Olivia Higgs and Polina Ivanushkina in the quarters 4-0, 4-0 but lost out in the semis to top seeds Helen Coomber and Amelia Monteith 4-1, 4-0. Reid also competed in the singles but lost in the first round against Scarlett Doman 6-1, 6-0. 

In the 12 & under boys singles Hayden Cummings lost in the first round against second seed Olivier Paris 7-6(2), 6-1. He also played in the 12 & under Boys Doubles with partner Oliver Rycroft  losing in the quarters to Jack Ford and Henry Hughes 4-2, 4-2. The pair were runners-up in the 12 & under Boys Doubles consolation event after losing to Thomas Hargreave and Noah Mayers in the final 4-2,2-4, 10-6.

 

 

Hignett played in the LTA British Tour Masters

Performance player and coach Liam Hignett was invited to compete in the LTA British Tour Masters held at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) in Roehampton, London last week.

Hignett was one of the eight players who competed in the event. In the quarters he beat Michael Shaw  4-2 (retired) but was drawn against top seed Sean Hodkin in the semis and lost 6-2, 6-2. Hodkin went on to will the event. Hignett then played in the Tiebreak Tens competition beating Hodkin 10-8 and Joshua Rose 10-7.

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.

Read more about Liam’s previous British Tour events HERE

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