Elated Whiley clinches her first singles trophy
Wimbledon doubles champ tastes success on her own TENNIS
NICK Compton was a proud man after reaching 10,000 first-class runs in Middlesex’s draw with Somerset at Merchant Taylors’ School.
The 32-year-old brought up the landmark in the first innings and has 23 centuries in red ball cricket, with two of them coming in Tests.
Middlesex’s junior sides play at Merchant Taylors’ and Compton recalled sitting in the pavilion as a 16-year-old just hoping to make it
The Wimbledon doubles champion beat Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at Nottingham Tennis Centre to clinch the title.
It came just one day after Whiley had knocked out world number one Jiske Griffioen and saw the Paralympian bounce back from dropping the opening set against van Koot to taste individual glory for the first time.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m used to just being a quarter or semifinalist at Super Series events like this and now I’m here on finals day and I’ve just won the tournament,” Whiley said.
“Today I hope I proved to myself and other players that I’m a contender for the singles and, leading up to Rio next year, a as a professional and, at the time, would have snapped your hand off if anyone had told him he would reach such a milestone.
“I suppose it’s quite nice to look back and think I’ve got 10,000 first class runs. I suppose that’s an achievement. I knew I was somewhere around there, but I didn’t know how many I was away.
“Sometimes you get so immersed in the day to day running and your contender for gold as well. For so long I’ve been wanting to prove myself in singles, but it hasn’t quite worked out.
“I’ve gained a lot of confidence from this tournament, but I’ve also learned a lot about myself and my game to take into the US open. I really pushed myself.
“I’m not in the best form, I’ve said that all week. I think that is what makes it a little more special, because when I am on form imagine what I can do.
“I’m so grateful to all my team and for the Tennis Foundation support and National Lottery and UK Sport funding that has helped me to prepare and achieve results such as this.”
Also on the penultimate day of play, Andy Lapthorne finished runner-up in the quad singles final as South Africa’s Lucas Sithole won his second British Open title in three years.
World number three Lapthorne led world number four Sithole by a set and 4-1 before Sithole fought back, winning 4-6 6-3 6-4 to regain the British Open title he won for first time in 2013. own performances and then you look back and it’s quite strange sitting here where I played my first games for Middlesex.
“I can remember being here as a youngster hoping to play for Middlesex one day, let alone scoring 10,000 runs. It’s quite nice to come back where it all started and reach that figure so that’s cool.”
Compton still harbours hopes of adding to his nine Test caps and, with Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance struggling against Australia, big runs would help him push his case.
He added: “I want to keep playing well for Middlesex and contributing to team performances.
“I’d love to play for England again and believe I’d do a good job.”