Racquets Round Up
Adult Teams
Both the men’s and women’s teams have started their National Premier League Doubles Seasons. The women beat Southampton 4-0 and drew to Solent 2-2. The men beat Solent 4-0 and lost to Campden Hill 3-1. For the next home fixtures we have former top-100 women; national champion men and doubles number 4 in the world, Joe Salisbury representing the men in the below fixtures. If you want to watch some top, national tennis players and support the Club you can do so for the following fixtures:
Saturday 7th December – 1pm Men’s 1 v Canterbury on Poraflex 14 and 13
Sunday 8th December – 9.30am Women’s 1 v Putney on Poraflex 14 and 13
The Men’s and Women’s 2nd – 4th teams have also been competing in the Surrey Winter League with the team winning 6 losing 7 and drawing 6 across all leagues.
Junior Team Updates
The Junior National Trophy group stages after the following results:
16&U Girls Won 2-1 v Woking – (Sophie Dulieu and Holly Dulieu)
9&U Boys Won 7-3 v Esher (Archie Whitaker, Zaal Owen, Thomas Anderson and Hugh Robson)
9&U Girls Lost 1-9 v Westside (Sienna Dickinson, Isabella Brand, Lola Brown and Bea Robson)
10&U Boys Drew 6-6 v Westside (Luca Chesworth, Tom Everett, Frankie Odoni and Archie Whittiker)
14&U Girls Won 2-1 v St Georges Hill (Martha Ground and Eleanor Sadler)
Congratulations to the following teams who have now qualified to the National Trophy quarter finals – 8&U Boys, 9&U Boys, 10&U Girls, 10&U Boys, 12&U Boys and 16&U Girls. 8&U girls have a deciding match this weekend to make the quarter finals.
Individual successes
Joe Salisbury (pictured top) has finished the year impressively as the number four doubles pair in the world with his partner Ranjeev Ram. The pair narrowly missed out on the knockout stages of the ATP Doubles Final last four, losing a deciding set tiebreak in the deciding group match. Joe has also been selected for Great Britain for the ATP Cup in January before the Australian Open.
Arthur Fery won his first professional doubles title in Spain as well as picking up more ATP singles points. Arthur will finish the year playing junior events in Mexico and the Orange Bowl (junior ATP finals) in Florida.
Lloyd Glasspool made the semi finals of an ATP Challenger in Champaign (USA) to finish his year.
Martha Ground won the 10&U regional tour at the National Tennis Centre to qualify for the winter national tour in Sunderland this weekend. Martha also won the 10&U regional tour at Sutton at the beginning of the month.
Matthew Ground 14&U County Tour Winner at Sutton.
Hannah Klugman represented Great Britain against Sweden at the National Tennis Centre in early November.
Adult and Junior Tennis Party
We look forward to welcoming all Members to the Tennis Party from 7pm on 28th November where we will celebrate the various successes of the tennis section in 2019 and the junior tennis party on Saturday 30th November at 4pm.
Drill of the Month – First Volley Points Practice (Net play)
Aim – Improve timing of split and direction on the first volley
Singles specific
– Feed the ball from the baseline from the middle down the middle of the court
– Make sure to split just before they hit it regardless to how far in you have got in.
– Opponent has to hit back at the net players direction but can hit it as hard as they like or at feet to make it as difficult as possible for the net player
– Net player can volley into the open court and the point is free.
Doubles specific
– Feed the ball from the baseline cross court running in behind it.
– Make sure to split just before they hit it regardless to how far in you have got in.
– Hit first volley (often push technique) back cross and then continue to the net.
– Play the rest of the point out cross court.