CCLTA held the Annual Championships at Hoole LTC, Mickle Trafford, Chester despite the current problems linked to the coronavirus. Special thanks go to the club for allowing the event to go ahead. It was obviously disappointing that only a limited number of spectators could be allowed but it was still great to see so many players taking part with a pleasing increase in the number of entries in the Ladies events.
In the Men’s singles event it was good to see that the two players who won through the qualifying event perform so well. Matthias Matellini achieved a fine 7 -5, 7 – 5 win in the first round against his doubles partner Werner Zimmermann, whilst Patrick Talbot only just lost to number 4 seed Tom Owen in a 3rd set tie break. The other three top seeds also faced tough opposition in their first matches with 3rd set tie breaks deciding all these matches. 15 year old Oliver Hague played with real confidence against number 1 seed Llewelyn Bevan taking the first set 6 – 1, before Llewellyn bounced back to level the match and eventually take the tie break 10 -7. It was a similar story for Matt Chadwick (no. 2 seed) and Seb Jackson (No. 4 seed) who faced tough matches against Ben Nicol and Matt Cooper. They eventually used their greater experience to win but great credit goes to both Ben and Matt who played really well. Another player who was not affected by facing an experienced men’s county team player Jordan Young was junior county player Andy Brisdon. Andy had shown good form at the recent U18 Junior Challenge finishing runner up and he took the confidence gained from this event into his match and played some very impressive tennis to defeat Jordan in straight sets 6 – 4, 6 – 2. In the quarter finals the top four seeds really stepped up their games winning their matches in convincing style. Llewelyn Bevan showed greater consistency in his semi final against Tom Owen and won in two sets. The other semi final proved very different with Seb Jackson starting very fast and comfortably taking the first set against number two seed Matt Chadwick. The second set proved much closer however, Seb still achieved a service break but could not close out the match when serving for it which resulted in a tie break that Matt took 7 – 4. Matt used the momentum well and dominated the final set tie break 10 – 4. The first set of the final was very similar to Matt’s semi final with his opponent and top seed Llewelyn dominating and taking it 6 - 0, however, Matt bounced back from this disappointment to take the second set 6 - 2. Just as in his semi final win Matt took an early grip of the tie break and took it convincingly 10 - 4. Congratulations go to all players who took part and for providing some excellent tennis. Matt collected his third county singles title which is quite an achievement.
In the Ladies singles there were some equally close matches with most of the players taking part already having shown their quality at the recently played U18 Junior Challenge event. The youngest player in the Championships was Lara Abraham and who proved that at 14 years of age she could compete really well with the older players and managed to win a really close first round match against Alice Kraunsoe that went to a final set tie break. Lara then played number 4 seed Amy Redman in the quarter finals and was involved in another tie break shoot out to decide the match. This time Amy put her greater experience to good use winning it 10 – 7. Number 1 seed Ellie Tsimbilakis faced a real challenge in the first round from Jessica Purdy, however, she managed to win in two very close sets 7 – 6 (4), 6 – 4. In the top half of the draw Jemma Cave secured a place in the semi finals with a straight sets victory against fellow junior county player Ella Walker, however, Ellie showed more variety and consistency winning a place in the finals 6 – 2, 6 -1. Meanwhile in the bottom half of the draw Phoebe Mitchell, the recent winner of the U18 Junior Challenge event won her first match convincingly 6 – 1, 6 -1 against Giulia Bitti, but in the quarter finals came up against an in form number 2 seed Olivia French who proved to be more consistent winning in straight sets 6 – 2, 6 – 2. Olivia therefore met Amy Redman in the second semi final, and it was Amy who proceeded to dominate the first set 6 – 1. The second set proved much closer, but Amy managed to secure a place in her first Ladies singles final taking it 6 – 4. The score in the final (6 – 2, 6 – 1) did not do justice to how closely contested the match was but Ellie won the key points in many of the games and therefore was a deserved winner. Well done to Ellie for winning her second singles title.
The Ladies and Men’s doubles provided both entertaining and some very competitive matches. The ladies top seeds Amy Redman & Alice Shields (1) and Olivia French & Jessica Purdy (2) both won through to the final with Amy & Alice winning in two close sets 6 – 3, 7 – 5. The men’s finalists were also the two top seeds with Matt Chadwick & Jordan Young (1) playing Llewelyn Bevan & Lewis Denton (2). There was very little to choose between the pairs so it was no surprise when the match reached a set all with a final set tie break needed to decide the outcome. The top seeds edged home 10 – 6 in a match that resembled the sort of competitive matches that regularly take place at County Week!
John Hilton (Tournament Organiser)
September ‘20
