July 2016 - The Essex Open 2016

The summer tournament’s began with lots of great performances and success at the Essex Open Tournament 2016. This was our 12th year of sending players to compete in the tournament.

Twelve Appeti players, four coaches and various parents, grandparents and siblings made the trip to Billericay to compete starting on Sunday 24th July.

The week began strong with Marta Poreite having the standout match of the day, beating the more experienced and higher rated Dalanda Bah from Surrey in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 10-7. Marta then backed up this up with another 3 set win, beating the number 4 seed from Essex, Deniz Sower 6-1, 2-6, 10-8.

As the week progressed all of our players continued to play well, Amelia Monteith, who is one of our newest tennis school pupils, sailed nicely through to the Girls 12U final and Ulrich Nienaber moved into the boys 10U final.

In the older categories 14 year old Ollie Richards was competing in the 16U boys. Ollie had a good week before falling to the number 4 seed Matthew Doe in the semi finals.

The Essex Open always provides many matches and the longest match of the week for Appeti Tennis saw Joseph Richards and Seb McDonnell Palomares win an epic doubles against Sean Lomas and Jacob Smith, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 10-5!

The later end of the week saw 2 tennis school pupils compete in finals. After a nip and tuck first set Amelia lost to Hertfordshire's Ekua Youri 3-6, 1-6.

In the Boys 10U final Ulrich took on Cambridgeshire's Ganesh Mullaparthi. After battling through a big draw of players Ulrich played exceptionally to win the final 4-0, 4-2.

The week came to a close on Saturday 30th with Ashleigh Hannah and Chas Appeti competing in the 8U draw. For Ashleigh this was her first tournament away from the tennis centre and she attacked it with confidence. The tournament was a Round Robin event with players competing in boxes. Ashleigh played some seasoned players but still put in a great performance.

Chas was competing in Essex for the second time and battled through his box to make the quarter finals, unfortunately losing here but not before taking the eventual champion Saha Kapilasena to a 13-15 match.

The day and the tournament was rounded out with Charlie, Ashleigh and Chas’s younger sister, Esme, playing some friendly tennis before departing. Esme at 2 years old is very keen to follow in her brothers footsteps and was on hand throughout to support and cheer him on.

See you next year Billericay Tennis Club!!!

Click here to see photos from the week.