World Junior Real Tennis Championships 2018
August Festival of Junior Tennis
During August the best young Real Tennis players in the world are coming over to the UK to take part in 2 major junior competitions which run back to back.
On 17th/19th August the Queen's Club hosts the British Junior Open Singles and this is followed on 20th/21st August by the inaugural running of the World Junior Real Tennis Championships, sponsored by The Dedanists’ Society and held at Seacourt. All of the top 16 players in the world under the age of 18 will be taking part in both competitions including 12 players from the USA.
Paul Weaver, Tournament Director for both events encourages all Tennis enthusiasts to come along and watch. Sunday 19th is finals day at Queens and Tuesday 21st will see the first under 18 World Champion crowned at Seacourt. There will be a drinks reception at Seacourt at lunchtime on finals day for all spectators.
The World Championships will also be streamed on the internet and if you are unable to go along in person then take a look on the following links:-
Monday 20th https://youtu.be/yE4lWzJ98Oc
Tuesday 21st https://youtu.be/FkLYPjSVzuc
Results
Round of 16
- Erik Barker (1) bt Eli Drake 6/0 6/2
- Alfred Backhouse bt Huw Thomas 6/4 4/6 6/5
- Ben Dickinson bt Zak Ramjane 6/4 6/0
- Spencer Yager (4) bt Max Jones 6/2 6/0
- Freddie Bristowe (3) bt Harry Purton 6/4 6/2
- Ivan Barker bt Woody Wilson 6/3 5/6 6/3
- Ed Crowstone bt Dawson Chisholm 6/2 6/5
- Ned Batstone (2) bt William Flynn 6/5 6/5
Quarter-finals
- Erik Barker bt Alfred Backhouse6/1 5/6 6/4
- Spencer Yager bt Ben Dickinson 6/4 5/6 6/4
- Freddie Bristowe bt Ivan Barker 6/0 6/1
- Ned Batstone bt Ed Crowstone 6/1 6/3
- Erik Barker bt Spencer Yager 6/1 6/0
- Freddie Bristowe bt Ned Batstone 6/4 6/5
- Freddie Bristowe bt Erik Barker 2/6 6/1 6/0
World Junior Championships 2018
Seacourt Tennis Club
The inaugural running of the World Junior Championships (U18) took place at Seacourt over 2 days 20th/21st August. The top 16 players in the world were invited back in January to take part and all 16 accepted that invitation and the opportunity to be the first junior to win this coveted title. The draw included 6 players from the USA.
The first days’ play saw very few upsets but contained several performances where young players rose to the occasions and played their best ever tennis. In particular, William Flynn (Seacourt) and Harry Purton (Radley) can be very proud of their performances.
The same pattern continued on Day 2 with outstanding tennis from losing quarter-finalist Alfred Backhouse (Radley) and losing semi-finalist Ned Batstone (Radley).
The top 4 seeds got through to the semi-finals with Erik Barker (1) from Washington playing Freddie Bristowe (3) from Wellington. The final itself was junior real tennis played at the highest level with some extraordinary rests and retrieving that Camden Riviere would be proud of! After a hard fought first set that went to Erik the pendulum swung and Freddie somehow found another gear to overcome his opponent in the final two sets. A great final in front of a huge and appreciative crowd.
Many thanks go out to tournament sponsors, The Dedanists’ Society, for their support of this event and for all they do for junior Real Tennis.
Freddie Bristowe (Wellington) bt Erik Barker (Washington) 2/6 6/1 6/0
Photographs: Tim Edwards
