After a 40-minute delay due to a torrential thunderstorm 20 players competed in blustery conditions in the Road to Wimbledon Qualifier that doubled up as Framlingham College’s U14 Singles Championships. Using the Fast Four scoring system some 37 matches were completed and played with outstanding sportsmanship.
In the boys event, Ben Smart won two of his matches against boys 2 years older than himself, and pushed top seed Ben Sunderland all the way in their semi-final before bowing out in 3 close sets.
In the other semi-final, Theo Salsby was too powerful for William White but was just outgunned himself by Ben in the final of top quality tennis 4-2 4-1.
The girls event saw twelve year old Tabitha Walker demonstrate what a superb season she is having with two solid straight set wins to set up a final match showdown with her Year 7 classmate Emma Williamson, who had also won her first two matches without the loss of a set. However, Emma just had the greater weight of shot in a final that had several top quality rallies, to take the title 4-1 4-2.
Both Emma and Ben, (and possibly Theo and Tabby as runners up too), qualify for the County finals at Felixstowe Tennis Club on July 9th, where the county winners qualifying for the national finals played at Wimbledon in August.
