Adult News | Basingstoke and District Winter League Starts This Month

After the successful post-pandemic restart of the Basingstoke and District Tennis League in May it’s now time for the winter league which starts this month and will run until March.

Totally Tennis have entered four teams for the upcoming season across the various categories and divisions: Men’s A, Mixed A and B and Ladies A. While some of these teams are local league tennis veterans there are also some new players who are keen to represent the club. 

We have had great success over the past twenty plus years competing in the local summer and winter leagues with several trophies won. The 2021 winter season will run from October to March with all the teams playing doubles matches in home and away fixtures against local clubs. 

Tennis Director Nigel Long said, “It’s great to have some of our regular adult players representing the club in the local winter league. Good luck everyone.”

The Mixed B team (L to R Harry, Sandra, Chris & Mike) have already played their first match and got their season off to a great start with a 5-3 win away against Whitchurch B. Captain Mark said, “Harry & Sandra fought back from 5-1 down to win the first set 7-5 against the opponents strongest pair.” Well done team.

There are two leagues a year, with a winter season running from October to March and a summer season that runs from May to September. If you are interested in contributing to a team, or would just like some more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch with reception who will put you in touch with our Match Secretary.

Good luck to all our teams for the winter season.

Adult News | Basingstoke and District Tennis Summer League restarts this month

It’s exciting news for the local tennis community as, after two seasons being cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Basingstoke and District Tennis League Summer 2021 season starts next week. In a change to previous years the upcoming season will be run as a more informal and friendly league with no promotion or relegation between the divisions.

Club match secretary and Mixed B captain Chris Farrar said “This is the first opportunity in the best part of a year that our teams can play some competitive tennis and we’re sure all our participating players are looking forward to competing again.”

Totally Tennis have entered six teams for the upcoming season across the various categories and divisions: Men’s A (Division 1), Men’s B (Division 3), Men’s C (Division 4), Mixed A (Division 1), Mixed B (Division 2) and Mixed C (Division 3). While some of these teams are local league tennis veterans there are also lots of new players who are keen to play and represent the club this summer.

As a club we have had great success over the past twenty plus years competing in the local summer and winter leagues with several trophies won. The 2021 summer season will run from May to September with all the teams playing doubles matches in home and away fixtures against local clubs.

Farrar added, “Although the new season is about to begin, we’re always on the look out for more Totally Tennis players who would like to get involved either by being added to an existing team, or by forming a new team in either the Men’s, Ladies or Mixed doubles competitions.”

Tennis Director Nigel Long said, “It’s great to have some many players keen to represent the club in the local league. I look forward to seeing them at drills and match practice sessions to further hone their skills. Good luck everyone.”

There are two leagues a year, with a Summer season running from May to September and a Winter season running from October to March. If you are interested in contributing to a team, or would just like some more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch with reception who will put you in touch with our Match Secretary.

Good luck to all our teams and players for the summer season ahead.

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

 

Share of the prize money for Hignett in Sutton

Totally Tennis performance player and coach Liam Hignett competed in the LTA British Tour Sutton in the Open Mens Singles and Doubles events at Sutton Tennis & Squash Club last week.

In the opening round of the singles Hignett beat ninth seed Tom Hands 2-6, 7-5, 10-5 and then defeated Oscar Glenister in their second round match 7-5, 6-2. He was then beaten in the quarters by second seed and eventual runner-up Alexis Canter 6-4, 6-1.

It was a similar story in the the doubles where Hignett teamed up with fellow Hampshire teammate Austin Gwilliam to beat Glenister and his partner Oliver Matthews 7-5, 6-0 in the first round before losing in the quarters to fourth seeds Sean Hodkin and Millen Hurrion 6-2, 4-6, 10-2 .

Hignett said, “The Sutton tournament is a premier tier British Tour event and the biggest of the year so offers the best prize money. I was very happy to get to the quarters in both singles and doubles.”

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.

This week Hignett will be competing in the British Tour in Cumberland followed by the Roehampton event early next month. Read more about Hignett’s previous British Tour events HERE

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

 

July in Pictures

Liam Hignett (right) & partner Miles McDowall won the British Tour FAST4 Doubles at the National Tennis Centre

Some of our coaches enjoyed visits to the year’s Wimbledon Championships

Coaches Liam and Jamie (along with Tillie & Isla) played against each other in Warsash

Dean Cooper Kirby played in the Grade 4 ITF in the Bahamas

Mini Performance player Hayden Cummings (left) and partner Tuna won the 10 & U Doubles in Bath

Liam Hignett was part of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight team that participated in Group 4 of the LTA Summer Mens Doubles County Cup 2019

Isla Hignett won the 16 & U singles title in Woking

Tillie & Isla won the 16 & U doubles title in Woking

Summer Tennis Camp Fun

 

Summer Titles for Isla and Tillie

Totally Tennis performance players Isla Hignett and Tillie Reid won the 16 & under Girls Doubles title at the 92nd Woking Open held at Woking Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

After a bye in round one, the girls, who were top seeds, beat  Ellen Alliston and Allegra Hodson in the quarters 4-1, 4-0 followed by third seeds Rebecca Fisher and Daniella Scotland in the semis 6-4, 6-3. In the final they defeated Sofia Maine and Sienna Rolland from The Bourne Club 6-0, 6-3 to win the title.

It was a double celebration for Hignett who also won the 16 & under girls singles title beating eighth seed Hodson in the final 6-4, 6-0 to win her second trophy of the tournament. A first round bye top seed Hignett defeated Sofia Maine  6-4, 6-2 in round two, Raga Ram in the quarters 4-0, 4-2 and sixth seed Anya Hamilton in the semis 4-1, 4-2.  Third seed Reid also had a bye in the first round and then beat Isabella Calvert 6-3, 6-3 in  round two but was then knocked out of the competition by Hamilton in a three set quarter final match 2-4, 5-4(5), 1-0(6).

In the 18 & under Girls Singles competition Hignett beat Rebecca Scofield 6-3, 6-0 in the quarters but was then knocked out in the semis by second seed and eventual winner Jorja Reynolds 6-4, 6-1. Reynolds, who plays at Manor Park Tennis Centre, also defeated Reid in the quarters 6-0, 6-2. 

Well done girls!

More Titles for Cummings

Totally Tennis mini performance player Hayden Cummings and partner Tuna Lokman from Portsmouth won the  10 & under Boys Doubles title at the 22nd TeamBath CoMpete G2 Tennis Festival 2019.

The Grade 2 event was held last weekend at the University of Bath and after a bye in the first round, top seeds Cummings and Lokman beat Evan Lendrum and Takunda Muzvarwi 4-1, 4-1 in the quarters. In the final the Hampshire pair defeated Daniel Joita and Conrad Plum 1-4, 5-3, 10-6 to win the title.

Cummings also competed in the 10 & under Boys singles event where he finished in seventh place. In the group stages he beat Niall Pickerd-Barua 4-0, 4-0 but lost against Group winner Pavana Nrshinga 4-0, 4-1. He progressed to the main draw where he won his first round match against Daniel Joita 4-2, 4-2 but then lost in the quarters to Rocco Richardson 4-1, 4-1. He then competed in some extra ratings matches beating Kaaviyan Pradhaban 4-2, 4-1 and losing to Tommy Cuomo in three sets 2-4, 5-3, 10-4.

Cummings also played in the 10 and under Boys Singles at the Windsor Open held last week at Windsor Lawn Tennis Club. He won Group A beating Adhrit Rajagopalan 4-0, Harry Cartledge 4-0 and Joseph Gibbard 4-1. In the main draw he defeated Zak Bergandy 4-1 in the quarters, Finlay Plummer 4-0 in the semis but lost in the final against Castor Chute 4-2 to finish in the runner-up spot.

British Tennis FAST4 Doubles Title for Liam

Totally Tennis performance player and coach Liam Hignett won the British Tour FAST4 Doubles title with partner Miles Mcdowall at the National Tennis Centre in London.

The pairing were top seeds in the Open Mens Doubles event winning all their matches to claim the title. After a bye in the first round they beat Andreas Whelan Merediz and
Kian Yazdi in the quarters  4-3(2), 4-1, Eliot Glaysher and Josh Reynolds 4-1, 4-2 in the semis and then defeated second seeds Alex Fox and Elliot Stevens in the final 4-1, 4-2.

Congratulations Liam and Miles 😉

Hignett also competed in the LTA British Tour in Nottingham where he went out in the first round in a three set match against qualifier James Davis 6-3, 4-6,6-0. Next up is the LTA British Tour Sutton on 11th August.

 

Isla and Atinkue Win Hampshire Schools Doubles Title

Totally Tennis performance players Isla Hignett and Atinuke Adelakun from Robert Mays School won the Hampshire Schools U16’s Doubles Event beating club mates with Tillie Reid and Jasmin Bromilow (Sherfield School) in the final.

The girls won their first match against the Hampshire Collegiate pair, then beat a pair from St Swithen’s and won the semi-final against Toynbee. They won 10-8 against Tillie and Jasmin in the final.  Aaron Dawson and Daniel Prickett (Sherfield School) were winners of the boys event beating the pair from Wilderness School in the final. There were fourteen girls and sixteen boys pairs competing and overall a great day for Totally Tennis as six of the eight finalists were from the club.

It was the first time ever that a Robert Mays girls pairing have won the competition, Tillie and Jasmin had won the event in the previous two years.

Totally Tennis Players Scoop ISA Titles

Totally Tennis performance players and Sherfield School tennis scholars collected a prize haul in the annual Independent Schools Association (ISA) tournament. Tillie Reid won the U15 Girls singles title at the annual National Tennis Event last week, Daniel Prickett won the U15 Boys Singles title and Prickett and Aaron Dawson won the U15 Doubles event.

Th event, held at Queenswood School in Hatfield, saw many of the club’s players representing Sherfield School. In the early stage of the competition, Reid won Group E winning both her matches 4-0. Fellow Totally Tennis clubmate Jasmin Bromilow won Group A and Kirsty Da Silva won two matches and drew her third in Group D. In the semi finals Reid beat Bromilow 3-1 and won the final 5-3 against Helsby from Tower College. 

After winning Group C in the U15 Girls Doubles Reid and Da Silva lost to Tower College pairing Helsby/Yared in the semis 10-7.

Dawson and Prickett won Group C in the U15 Boys Doubles and then beat Schaetlin Coffey/Torres from ISA School in the semis 7-4. In the final they beat Em Tan and Er Tan fromNorth Bridge House School 10-9 to win the event.

In the Boys U15 singles event Dawson won Group E, Prickett won Group B and Oliver Almany won Group D in the Boys U13 event. In the U15 semis Dawson beat Martei from The Gregg School 3-1 and Prickett defeated Shahar from Tettenhall College 3-0. In the all Sherfield final Prickett emerged the victor beating Dawson 5-4. Almany lost in the U13 semis against Mcmillan from Wetherby Senior School.

Congratulations to all our Sherfield tennis scholars 😉