PERSHORE Tennis Centre juniors Imogen Looker and Lucie Palmer have enjoyed some highly impressive results this summer.
Fourteen-year-old Imogen began a successful month with victory in a 16 and under Grade 4 tournament at Oxstalls in Gloucestershire and she followed this the next weekend by playing in Knighton, Leicester, in an 18 and under Grade 4 girls’ tournament.
Imogen won through both the quarter and semi-finals in straight sets and in the final met a higher rated and ranked player and, despite a good effort, Imogen lost out and had to settle for runner-up spot.
These results gave Imogen confidence as she headed to a National Tour Grade 2 tournament in Bath in which 32 of the country’s top players competed.
Imogen was thrilled to have been accepted into a tournament at this level – the last one of the summer season – and was even more excited when a confident performance saw her win her first round match in three sets.
She looked in control and took the first set 6-3 but then became anxious and lost the second set 6-3. However, staying calm and with some strong serving, she won the tie break 10-5.
Unfortunately she did not play her best tennis in the next round and lost in straight sets to a top player she would not have expected to beat anyway.
Last week, Imogen and club-mate Lucie, 15, travelled to Northampton for an 18 and under Grade 4 tournament which was heavily affected by rain.
In the girls’ singles, both players had a bye into the semis which Imogen won convincingly and Lucie also had a fantastic result as she beat a higher rated and ranked player in three sets.
Lucie went 3-0 down in the tie-break final set but kept her cool and served and rallied well to win 10-7 to reach the finals, in which she would face Imogen.
Imogen won the first set but Lucie fought back in a tough second set which Imogen eventually won 7-5 to triumph.
It was great to see Pershore Tennis Centre players as winner and runner-up and the success did not end there as then came the 18 and under doubles.
The girls again had a bye into the semis, which they won without losing a game.
In the final they met twin sisters, who play more doubles than singles and were strong net players, and the Pershore duo were edged out 7-5 to finish runners-up.