Oct 26 Combined JW - Flipbook - Page 43
Hayling Herald
World Junior Real Tennis
Championships
By Tory Weaver from Seacourt
THE World Junior Real Tennis Championships took place at Seacourt at the end
of August.
The top 16 Juniors in the world U-19 were
invited to play, and players from Australia,
France, USA and UK took part.
For the first time in the UK, this tournament included the Girls World Championships running alongside. Friday saw
the final of the Plate competitions with
Zoe Neville (Wellington) defeating Isabelle
Wylie (Queens) in the Girls Plate and Kurt
Mueller from Tuxedo, USA defeating Tom
Macnamara from the Melbourne club in a
truly international World Championship
Plate Final.
Jonah Serotta (Philadelphia), playing in
his first World Championships, pulled off
a major win in the Semi-Final of the main
draw, defeating No.1 seed and current holder Max Warner to win a place in the final
against Archie Watson (Oratory).
On Sunday, the finals kicked off at noon
with the Girls. Katherine Carney (Oratory)
defeated Riya Bharwad (Cambridge) 6/0
6/0. Despite being overwhelmed by her
older and more experienced opponent, Riya
put on a really good display and must be
one to watch in the future.
The World Championship final that
ensued must go down as one of the most
exciting junior matches ever played! Seacourt was completely packed with standing
room only for the entire length of the side
galleries. Jonah narrowly won the first set,
followed by a tight set won by Archie. With
some brilliant tennis taking place from both
boys, they finally found themselves at 5-5
all, 30-30 all in the last and deciding game,
each striving to become champion.
John Lumley, right, presents Archie Watson with the trophy, with Paul Weaver, Director of Junior Tennis
For almost the first time in the match,
players, with Jonah incredibly generous in defeat and Archie overcome by
Jonah faltered, and Archie won the last two points and the coveted title of
emotion in victory.
World Junior Champion.
Seacourt presented itself as the perfect venue for this prestigious event.
The girls’ trophies were presented by Tara Lumley (ladies number 3) and
The players and travelling spectators had a fantastic week on sunny Hayling
the co-chairmen of the LRTA, Juliette Lambert and Sarah Sullivan. The
Island.
World trophies were presented by John Lumley (world number 2) and the
Seacourt is considered to be a top venue for junior real tennis and togethT and RA Director of Junior Tennis, Paul Weaver.
er with its friendly members and fantastic facilities, it lived up to expectaThe presentation ceremony was marked by emotional speeches from both tions. This event now moves on to the USA, where it will be played in 2028.
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