Goodacre Property Services Beckenham Junior Open
One of the things about tennis is that when you have been knocked out of a tournament you have to pick yourself up and start thinking about next week. I went out of Winchester in the 2nd round so I had some hits with playing partners and then got my head into Beckenham which was the next grade 3 tournament. I was really looking forward to this tournament because I was playing doubles with my partner Sam Taylor and would be staying at his house during the week. I don’t do staying away well, something I will have to get used to but Sam and his mum Alison are really nice and they made me so welcome.
Tournament: Goodacre Property Services Beckenham Junior Open
Date: 21 July 2008 – 26 July 2008
Event: Boys Under 14’s
Draw: 64
My Rating: 7.2
Seeded: No
Venue: Beckenham Tennis Club
1st Round (64)
Bye
2nd Round (32)
Opponent: Jack Lloyd
Seeded: No
Opponent Rating: 8.1
Won/Lost: Won
Score: 7-6, 6-7, 6-1
This match was one of my worst matches of all time I could not get my head around the match, and I did just not turn up. However I stuck in and bit my tongue and just hung on. Eventually after 3 hours and three gruelling sets of tennis, I had won. It had been a tough emotional match but I had been happy with the guts and determination I showed.
3rd Round (16)
Opponent: Ben Blackwell
Seeded: [1]
Opponent Rating: 7.1
Won/Lost: Lost
Score: 6-1, 6-4
In the first set I continued on from my last match and everything went terribly badly. However I said to myself things can only get better, and they did. In the second set I played great and I found myself a break up at 4-3. My opponent then played the most amazing three games I had ever seen I managed 2 points and he hit about 7 winners, I was out of the tournament.
The double with Sam went really well and we reached the semi-finals. Doubles is such fun as there is not the pressure when you are playing on your own. It really helps with your net play as well as you get to volley so much more. Sam is a very different player to me. He goes for every shot and is very laid back. I tend to think more about each point so we are a good combination.
Looking back on the week it was really good fun. The double semi final was fantastic and I achieved one of my goals which was to reach a last 16. Rafa my coach was pleased when I texted him on holiday.