Sussex Players Sweep All Before Them

Falmers Sam Venn continued his recent run of form by winning the recent Grade 3 Indoor Series event at West Worthing with victory over James Salter of Hampshire in three very tough sets.

Venn started with a tough win over Surreys Sasha Modica, coming from a set down to take the match 10-5 in the 3rd set champions tie break. A double bagel win in the quarter finals set up a semi final against Surrey’s Andrew Watson. With both players hitting winners from all angles of the court, it was no surprise that Venn was yet again taken to a 3rd set Champions tie break. Venn digging deep to take the set and match 10-7 and a finals appearance against Salter of Hampshire.

The victory has helped Venn secure a career high ranking of 25th nationally and now holds the County No. 2 position.

Meanwhile in Kent, in the County Indoor Series events Sussex players were in dominant form as the Weald’s Peter Molloy secured his third career title with a great win over Falmer’s Logan Burgess Hayes the No.1 seed.
Molloy secured his place in the final with a win over Kent’s Elliott Ward, whilst Burgess Hayes gained victory over fellow Sussex player Rob White of Withdean.

With both players having not met each other in competition before, the 1st set saw both players looking for their opponents’ weakness; however, none was forthcoming, as the set went to a tie break. Molly taking the tie break 7-4. The 2nd set saw Molloy obtain the break, only to serve a double fault on the 1st match point, with Burgess Hayes saving match point No.2 with a glorious winner down the line. 
Having allowed Burgess Hayes back into the match, Molloy regrouped to break straight back to secure the title and gain entry into qualifying for the Grade 3 event later this month.

On the Girl side, Flamers’ Elise Van Heuvelen secured her second County Indoor title in as many weeks as she defeated friend and club mate Holly Bennett in the 16/u Girls event at Falmer. The previous week in Eastbourne, Elise’s, Justine Henin type back hand had done the damage as she beat Compton’s Sophie Jones to secure the 14/u title.

Finally Chichester’s Sam Kilhmas has secured the final spot in the 18/under County Cup team.