Newcomers Excel in Competitive Start-Rite Tournament
Our biannual Start-Rite tennis tournament took place this past Saturday, with 14 players taking to the courts under some welcome spring sunshine, all eager to put their newly acquired skills to the test.
Pairs were drawn by coach Alex, and the opening phase was played in a round robin format, with each match decided by a competition tie-break to 10 points. That didn’t stop some memorable battles from unfolding – Bushra and Parul fought hard to edge out Jack and Rob 14-12, while the match of the day produced a stunning 20-18 thriller as Nana and Tom narrowly overcame Anu and Kenix.
After the round robin phase, the semi-final line-up was confirmed. Round robin leaders Kirstie and Tomas were in fine form, seeing off Emma and Kate 10-2, while Nana and Tom made it through yet another close match against Anu and Kenix, winning 11-9.
The final proved a fitting conclusion to the afternoon. Kirstie and Tomas brought their best tennis when it mattered most and, maintaining the form they had shown throughout the day, ran out convincing 10-2 winners. Congratulations to Kirstie and Tomas, finishing the day as worthy champions.
Winners – Kirstie Lane and Tomas Lozano Fernandez
Runners-Up – Nana Sarfo-Taiwah and Tom Brassington
Well played to everyone who took part – it was brilliant to see so many players enjoying competitive tennis – some for the very first time! A big thank you to coach Alex for running such a great event.
This tournament is specifically aimed at those who have attended our Start-Rite and Play-Rite courses over the past year and has proved to be a great gateway into competitive play for many members. We will be running another Start-Rite tournament in October – keep an eye on the noticeboard in the Racquets corridor and our regular newsletters for details closer to the time.
Our Start-Rite and Play-Rite courses run continuously through the year in four-week blocks, on Mondays from 7 to 8pm. If you are just starting your tennis journey, or returning to the sport after a break, we would recommend the Start-Rite course. All Racquets members who have not attended before can sign up free of charge.
