Fourteen boys and girls battled in beautiful late afternoon sunshine at Framlingham College Prep School for the right to qualify for the Suffolk finals in the National U14 Challenge known as ‘The Road to Wimbledon’.
In the boys event Ollie Currie battled hard to edge out James Aldous 6-4, whilst 10 year old Myles Gurr pushed his older opponent Noah Bowden all the way before bowing out 3-6. The 2 semi finals saw Ben Smart overcome Ollie Currie 6-1, and Nat Salsby defeating Noah Bowden 6-2. The final saw an impressive display of solid all-court play by Nat as he ran out a deserved 6-2 winner.
In the girls event Evie Newton pushed Tabby Walker hard before being edged out 6-3, while 11 year old India Prince made last year’s winner Emma Williamson fight for every point before bowing out 1-6. The semi-finals saw Georgie Gardens beat Tabby to book her place in the final, where she was to joined by younger sister Beth who showed great maturity by knocking out Emma 6-2. The final between the two sisters was a total epic from start to finish, with neither giving an inch as they cancelled each other out game after game after game, with many rallies going way past the 20 mark. So at 6-6 the match was to be decided by the tie-break. Having changed ends at 3-3 in the tie-break it was Beth that finally pulled away to clinch the breaker 7-4.
