Jones guides Britain to final

University of Bath sporting scholar Ben Jones helped Great Britain cement their growing reputation as one of the leading nations in the world for university tennis by reaching a second successive Master’u BNP Paribas final. The United States gained revenge for their defeat at the same stage last year, winning 4-1, but it could not detract from another excellent weekend of tennis by the Brits at the world’s leading university tennis team tournament. Chemistry student Jones, supported by a Buchan Jones scholarship, was a last-minute call-up to the British team for the 2018 tournament but took the opportunity with both hands as he won all of his rubbers. Britain were 3-1 down and facing elimination in the opening round against hosts France when Jones and Jack Findel-hawkins started a spirited comeback by winning their men’s doubles match 6-2 7-5. Jones then teamed up with Manisha Foster to win 6-1 6-4 in the mixed doubles and complete a stunning turnaround, securing a 4-3 overall victory. Saturday’s semi-final against Germany saw Britain play superbly to lead 3-1 after the singles matches, allowing Jones and Findel-hawkins to clinch a place in the final with a 6-2 7-5 victory in the men’s doubles. Jones had to make do with a supporting role on Sunday as the United States reclaimed the title but he, along with his team-mates, will have gained plenty of international experience from the week. Barry Scollo, director of tennis at Team Bath, was once again part of the GB coaching staff for the event alongside team manager Alastair Higham, universities manager for the Tennis Foundation , and team psychologist Julie Blackwood. Visit www.teambath.com/tennis to find out more about the tennis programme at the University of Bath.