Club Fixtures – 2010/11 Season
British Open Under 21 & 24 Championships
The British Open Under 21 & 24 Championships are always a look into the future, but frequently that glimpse reveals players who are clearly part of the present.
None more so than Claire Vigrass. At this time an 18 year-old minor seed in both tournaments, and for whom each draw did no favours, she still managed more than credible results. Her run in the Under 24s event included a regulation win over Darren Long, a measured performance against the dangerous Horatio Cary, and an exclamation point in out-playing the seeded Josh Dodgson in straight sets. Her run was ended by eventual tournament winner Paul Knox, but not before she solidly affirmed her status as the world’s best female player.
In the Under 21 event Seacourt’s Louis Gordon showed glimpses of the powerhouse he may well become, with his ballistic forces, deft retrieving and sound tactical sensibilities on show during his four matches during this championship. He was unlucky not to have pushed Mathias to 3 sets in their semi final. Vigrass doubled up the misery on Dodgson beating him even more soundly in this event’s semi-final. Emboldened, she thenen gave short shrift to her MCC scholarship predecessor Mark Mathias to claim the Under 21 title. Her relentless pressure, probing strokes and controlled aggression left Mathias wondering what he had to do to put more than two consecutive points together. One achieves some perspective in this achievement when you realise she can defend this title for 2 more years?!
In the U24s final Paul Knox showed his class and experience in keeping simple a match that, given appropriate opportunity, Tom Weaver would have quite easily made complicated. At 5 games all in the first set Knox did not bow to pressure and calmly put paid to Weaver’s brave challenge with his smooth but aggressive strokeplay. Two new and very worthy names on both trophies.
The cohesion and understanding of best friends was apparent with Tom Weaver & John Dodgson’s doubles semi-final against Gordon & Vigrass. They were able to exact some revenge for the Dodgson’s two singles losses to Vigrass and secure a deserved place in the doubles final. There they met the untried combination of Knox and Darren Long. Both Weaver marshalled Dodgson and Knox marshalled Long but it was the Seacourt combination that gelled better. Dodsgon’s acrobatics at the net and Weaver’s forcing were ultimately too good for their opposition.
Thanks to Neptune and Josh Farrall for presenting the trophies.
Ged Eden
