This week’s blog is about two of our Corby players - one is just 10 years old now, and the other was 9 when he started with us, in Isaac Redding and Joe Tyler respectively – both of whom have had a successful Summer.

Isaac is one of our up-and-coming young players under the tutelage of Justin Chacksfield. He has been busy this summer travelling around playing a number of LTA Grade 3 events, with a large amount of success. Isaac has had a very productive Summer having initially finished runner up in the Ravensden Finals just losing out to Harris Chacksfield in a 3rd set Tie-break. He followed this with a hat trick of Grade 3 victories at Syston Leics, beating Max Walker from Staffordshire 4v1,4v1 in the final. Pairing up with Anthony Agronosky (Rugby) at West Bridgford to win the doubles competition, and then gaining his revenge over Harris Chacksfield in a thrilling 3 set match, in the Northants County Closed event in August, this time Isaac winning the all important tie-break. Isaac finished runner up at Shrewsbury Grade 3, coming up against a very exciting opponent, Mudiwa Munyimani plying his trade all the way from Australia. Isaac played in a further three Grade 3 tournaments clinching 3rd place in all of them at Goole, West Bridgford, and Framlingham. This is an excellent set of results and shows how Isaac is progressing nicely on the long journey ahead.

Our attached photo shows Corby Tennis Centre squad friends and competitors Isaac Redding and Harris Chacksfield, who have had a couple of terrific matches this summer.

Those of you who saw my recent post regarding Joe Tyler will know that he has also had a great summer, winning a few 18U ITF tournaments around the world, and then making it through to 18U Nationals at Nottingham. The news just keeps getting better for Joe – as a result of making the final at Nationals, and winning his first Aegon British Tour event at Nottingham, Joe will now receive a wildcard entry into two Men’s Futures events, which is the next level up from where he has been playing to date. This is a new development with the LTA, which I am delighted about, as it was a suggestion I made to them two years ago to help improve the level of juniors playing at Nationals that was on the decline. Possibly even more exciting for Joe is that he has just received notice from the LTA National Training Department that he has been invited to a Men’s Training Camp at the National Tennis Centre, Roehampton at the end of September with Davis Cup Captain Leon Smith, and Davis Cup Coach Nick Weal heading up the staff that will be putting the players through their paces for a week.  How exciting is that?

Also, while blogging – don’t forget to keep up with the tennis action from USA for the next 2 weeks. Andy Murray began in good form with a straight set win, while Kyle Edmund beat 13 seed Richard Gasquet, also in straight sets. Also through the first round are Dan Evans and Naomi Broady, who beat fellow Brit Laura Robson.