Joe Tyler takes the men’s LTA Aegon British Tour title at Corby Tennis Centre.

What a journey it has been for 18 year old Joe Tyler at Corby Tennis Centre. Since embarking on a career playing tennis at the age of 8 at Corby, Joe must have played over 150 matches at the Centre, but few will have given him more pleasure than winning the final of the LTA Aegon British Tour on Saturday. Now aged 18 and standing at 6ft 4”, Joe has developed a counter attacking style that is great to watch, backed up by his rapidly improving serve. He was up against ATP World Ranked 1,700 Sean Hodkin from Lincolnshire who was the No1 seed.

In the 30+ strong audience were no fewer than 3 Members of the LTA Board of Directors – Martin Corrie (president), David Rawlinson (vice president), and latest member on to the Board is Northants LTA Councillor and Corby Tennis Centre Manager, Craig Haworth. It was a great occasion for Joe to produce some outstanding tennis, despite losing the first set of his campaign. The first set went with serve until 4-5, and Hodkin broke the Tyler serve to take the set 6-4. The second set was almost identical, going with serve all the way until 5-6 and Hodkin hit a double fault at 15-15, which was then capitalised on by Tyler, who lives in Great Oakley , who played a couple of outstanding points to take the 2nd set 7-5. This set up a thrilling third set, and Hodkin was beginning to show signs of fatigue, which wasn’t surprising given the physicality of the previous two sets. The dedication Joe has shown in improving his fitness really produced dividends as he was able to take advantage of his opponent. A few more brutal points of over 30 shot rallies were exchanged, but Tyler broke serve in the middle of the set, then held his nerve and his own serve for the rest of the set and won it with the most outstanding point of the match that saw an exquisite straight backhand pass down the line, past the diving Hodkin for a winner. The result saw Tyler pick up a winners cheque for £200, a trophy, and a bottle of champagne.

Event organiser Craig Haworth had this to say – “It was wonderful to be here to see Joe play so well today. I have had the delight of coaching Joe since he was 9 years old, and this is the best I have ever seen him play. This victory means he has now won 3 Aegon British Tour Titles in recent months, and has beaten 4 players with a world ranking. His opponent Sean Hodkin has also been in excellent form having already won 2 British Tour events in 2017, so this was two guys at the top of their game battling it out. It was great to see the vice president and president from the LTA here to watch. They are keen to encourage all the LTA Councillors to get out to support the many events that take place throughout the year in this Country, so are setting a great example. I am delighted to stage the strongest event in Northants, and thank the LTA for their continued support by bringing the Aegon British Tour to Corby each year.”

In the Ladies Final, No3 seed Alisha Reayer beat qualifier Alessandra Ruggieri 6-2, 7-5, in what was also a very good final. Both players had dropped just one set between them on route to the final, and their good form continued. It is often a disappointment when a tournament loses the top two seeds very early on, but this was not the case here, as the two young ladies in the final gave it their all. Runner up, Ruggieri looks a good prospect for the future.