NATIONAL
NEWS
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JAMES MARSALEK AND JOCELYN RAE WIN 18&U
NATIONAL TITLES The AEGON 18&U British National Championships were contested at the
National Tennis Centre at Roehampton where the singles titles were decided in
exciting fashion with James Marsalek and
Jocelyn Rae eventually emerging as the country’s top juniors Seeded 5, Marsalek, from Somerset and last year’s 16&U champion, came through an epic five sets battle against Lewis Burton, eventually beating the big serving right hander from Kent 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 7-5. The best of five set finals were introduced last year and it certainly helps to show the fitness of the individual players. “I think we both played well, although I was definitely not on form the whole way through the match,” reflected Marsalek. “The fifth set was especially tough, I think we were playing some amazing tennis throughout and it would have been a really good match to watch. It’s been a really good experience, I’m so happy that I came out on top and get to go home with the trophy, its brilliant.” |
Top seeded Rae, who has been in excellent form all week having not dropped a set en route to the final, was made to work hard for her victory as she came from behind to defeat her doubles partner, Essex’s Stephanie Cornish, 2-6 6-3 7-6(3). “It was a fairly scrappy match and although we both played well, neither of us played as good as we can and it probably could have gone either way,” said Rae. “She played some really good points and I think I was lucky to come out on top because it came close at several points during the match. I thought the game was going to run away from me about four or five times. I’m really pleased to have won; it makes all the hard work worthwhile.” Following the singles presentation, at which British No.1 Anne Keothavong was on hand to present the trophies [pictured with Marsalek], Rae and Cornish returned to action but this time on the same side of the net in the doubles final. Seeded No.1, the two singles finalists were also dominant on the doubles court as they defeated Nicola George and Lisa Whybourn 6-2 6-2. The 9&U national invitational was played alongside the
18&U event with Jodie Annie Lawrence-Taylor winning the girls’ title on
and Ewen Lumsden lifting the boys’. |
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