SODBURY Tennis Club has progressed through regional rounds to reach the national finals to be held at Wimbledon.
The club which is based on the Ridings in Chipping Sodbury is celebrating ahead of the finals which will take place in August.
The LTA sanctioned “Play your way to Wimbledon” tournament is designed to afford club players the opportunity to play competitive tennis at the All-England Club Wimbledon SW19 on grass courts.
The journey began with members participating in the club rounds, Men’s and Ladies Doubles, 18U doubles and 14U singles.
The regional round finals were played at Sodbury for the second year running.
Both Sodbury’s ladies and men’s pairs that had reached this stage of the competition won their way to the final round.
In two very close matches against top regional players the ladies Anna Webster and Abi Matthews, who were unseeded, reached the final against the top seeds, Lottie Forsyth and Chandani Rathnam from the University of Bristol/Coombe Dingle losing 6-2, 6-0.
The men’s pair, Clint Webber and Ben Hardwick played brilliantly to reach the final, where they met the, Sharif Naim and Torin Redman. In a very exciting final, which went all the way to a third set match tie break decider, the Sodbury pair won, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8.
A thrilling match that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile at Oxstalls Club in Gloucester, Sodbury’s Under 18 pair Dan Mora and Arthur King, seeded at 1, battled out a tight fast fours match to win through 4-2, 4-1.
All the finals will be held at Wimbledon, the home of British tennis between August 11 and August 17.
The club will be represented at the County Round of the boy’s singles, to be held on July 13 and July 14 in Bristol.
Club members are also representing their school in the same event, County Winners will earn the opportunity to play at Wimbledon
Joining the National success, Sodbury’s Over 60s men’s team had a win against Milford Tennis Club, Hampshire, to move onto the quarter finals of the Seniors Interclub Championship.
Awaiting their next opponents, likely to be from the London area.
Sodbury Tennis Club has a professional programme of coaching for all ages but is run by a volunteer committee.
Kathy Ryan club chair said: "I would like to congratulate all the players who have achieved these recent successes and thank the proactive members of the committee and the members who work tirelessly to keep Sodbury Tennis Club as a top club to play and socialise for everyone."
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