Sussex Winter Postal 18 and Under Finals

Sunday 31st January saw the finals of the boys and girls 18 and under take place at Withdean.

The boy’s final was contested by Ben Blackwell and Elliot Moyle, the number 1 and 2 seeds respectively. On route to the final Ben beat Alexander Goodsell 6.3 6.1 in the quarterfinal and David Lewis 6.2 6.1 in the semi final. Elliot beat Victor Panic 6.3 7.5 in the quarterfinal and Patrick Keane 6.2 7.6 in the semi final.

The first set of the final was a close affair with both players some excellent tennis. Ben playing predominantly a serve and volley game with Elliot playing from the base line. Both matched stroke for stroke until Ben broke Elliot’s serve at 5.4 to close out the first set. In the second set Ben stepped up the pace and despite some close games ran out a winner 6.0.

The girl’s final saw two fourteen year olds, Claudia James and Mary Southgate, contest the final. Both players beat older players to reach the final. Claudia James, number 2 seed, had a tough semi final against Catherine Lawson eventually winning 6.2 6.7 1.0.  Mary Southgate, who was undefeated through her qualifying matches to the main draw, beat the number 1 seed Lisa Coppinger, in the semi final, 6.2 6.3.

The final saw some closely contested games with winning shots from both players. However it was the steadier Claudia who took the first set 6.2. The second set mirrored the first in many ways with Claudia winning three games in a row, from 3 all, to close out the match and win the final.

Both Ben Blackwell and Claudia James have secured their places in their respective 18 and under County Cup Squads.