Gabriella Taylor Wins Nationals

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Southampton’s Gabbi Taylor was crowned National 12&U Girls Champion this week at the AEGON Junior Nationals being held at the West Hants Club in Bournemouth.

Britain’s top junior players competed all week on the clay courts, and Gabbi Taylor successfully cemented her place at the top of the AEGON British Rankings by winning the biggest title of her junior career.

Gabbi, who is coached by Dave Ison at David Lloyd Southampton was seeded one for the event, and she lived up to the ranking, by making her way through to the final without dropping a set. In the final she faced Jazzi Plews. Despite being taken to three sets, Gabbi closed out the match to complete a fantastic week.

Speaking after the match, the 12-year-old who is an AEGON FutureStar said:

“I was really pleased with the way I played. I fought really hard especially in the second and third set. In the first set I felt that I stuck to my tactics very well, second set I let it slip a bit but the third set I got it back. I had to be quick on my feet because Jazzi hits the ball really hard. It feels amazing to be champion!”

This years AEGON Junior Nationals have been a huge success for Hampshire’s girls. Also competing this week were Ella Talyor, Alexia Yannaros, Natalie Sayer & Ellie Millard. Alex Gasson also competed well to qualify for the boys 16&U event, whilst Nick Sayer competed in the 18&U competition before flying off to the USA to begin his collegiate tennis career at Radford University.

Simon Johnson, Tennis Development Manager for Hampshire said
“It’s been exciting following all of the players over the last few weeks, seeing them prepare professionally for the largest tournament of the year. The performance centre’s within Hampshire have done a great job in supporting these aspiring players to achieve great things”.

Next week, all attention will be on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight County Championships at the Winchester Tennis & Squash Club as juniors from across the county compete for the County Championships trophies.